GAZA CITY, Palestine

Over 550 humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing on Sunday, on the first day of implementing the ceasefire agreement.

"Since Sunday morning, 552 humanitarian aid trucks have entered the Strip through the crossings, including 242 for the northern part of the Strip,” a source in the Gaza Ministry of Interior told Anadolu.

The source explained that the shipments included fuel, medical supplies, and foodstuffs, as well as vegetables and fruits.

He also confirmed that efforts are underway to facilitate the entry of more humanitarian aid to meet the needs of the population in Gaza.

Separately, Al-Qahera News Channel reported that 330 aid trucks, including 20 fuel trucks, entered the Gaza Strip through Israeli-controlled crossings in Al-Auja and Kerem Shalom (southern).

The Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect at 11:15 a.m. local time (0915GMT) on Sunday after a few hours’ delay due to Israeli accusations of Hamas delaying the release of a list of captives set to be released. It was originally scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. local time.

Nearly 47,000 people have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 110,700 others injured in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, according to local health authorities.

The Israeli war has left more than 11,000 people missing, with widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed the lives of many elderly people and children in one of the worst global humanitarian disasters ever.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala