Israel has notified the United States of plans to open a new aid crossing into Gaza at Kissufim, located in the central part of the Strip, in the coming days. The U.S. State Department shared this update on Thursday as Washington continues urging Israel to enhance humanitarian access to Gaza.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed on Thursday that Israel has agreed to open the Kissufim crossing to increase the flow of aid into Gaza. Located near Kibbutz Kissufim in southern Gaza, this border point was targeted in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which ignited the current conflict.
Since Israel’s 2005 withdrawal from Gaza, the crossing has largely been closed to civilian use and primarily operated by the military.
“We’ve kept up the pressure, and Israel has taken further steps,” Miller stated, adding that the U.S. has urged Israel to allow at least 350 aid trucks into Gaza each day. On Tuesday, however, only 229 trucks were permitted through, still falling short of this goal.
On Friday, the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced that the Kissufim Crossing is set to open soon, as engineering work in the area has been completed over recent weeks.
COGAT stated that recent efforts included constructing inspection and protection facilities and paving roads within both Israeli and Gaza territories. These developments aim to facilitate the entry of aid into southern Gaza while enhancing security for communities along the Gaza border.
This move is part of a broader U.S. initiative aimed at ensuring that Israel follows specific humanitarian guidelines presented in an October 13 letter from Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
In the letter, Blinken and Austin outlined several key steps for Israel to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. These steps include establishing new, more efficient delivery routes to facilitate the flow of aid, expanding the Mawasi coastal zone as a dedicated humanitarian area, and implementing measures to ensure that vital supplies reach civilians who remain in northern Gaza. The letter underscores the U.S. commitment to improving the situation for affected populations and reflects ongoing efforts to support humanitarian access in the region.
Miller also emphasized Israel’s recent efforts to reopen important aid routes into northern Gaza, including areas around Jabalia, which had been inaccessible for weeks due to military operations. Alongside these actions, the U.S. has urged the creation of a new communication channel between Israeli and American officials to address incidents involving civilian harm. This communication channel, one of the key requests in the October letter, is intended to increase transparency and accountability in Israel’s military activities. The channel is expected to convene for the first time in the coming week or two.
While Israel has begun addressing these requirements, U.S. officials insist that further action is essential. Secretary Austin acknowledged the progress but underscored the severity of the humanitarian situation. However, with the upcoming transition to President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to give Israel more freedom in its military approach, questions remain about the U.S.’s influence over weapon supplies to Israel in the near future.
The U.S. remains dedicated to easing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza while tackling broader regional issues, such as the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and securing the release of hostages. However, with Trump soon to assume office, the direction of U.S. policy toward Israel in the coming months is uncertain.
Miller emphasized that, with 74 days left before Trump takes office, the U.S. will focus on ending the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, increasing humanitarian aid, ensuring the release of hostages, and working to prevent further regional escalation.
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