Blast, ambulances heard near Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza

CAIRO — Witnesses said a blast was heard in the vicinity of the Rafah border crossing and that ambulances could be heard deploying from the Egyptian side shortly after a second convoy of aid trucks entered the crossing on their way to the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Seven people were wounded and taken to hospital, a witness and a medical source said.

The Israeli military said one of its tanks had accidentally fired and hit an Egyptian position near the border, expressing sorrow for the incident.

A total of around 19 trucks in Sunday's convoy carrying medical and food supplies had been inspected by UNRWA, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, the sources said.

A first convoy of 20 trucks of badly needed supplies had entered Gaza on Saturday through Rafah, which had previously been out of operation after bombardments hit on the Gaza side of the border and amid wrangling over conditions for delivering aid.

Distribution of the supplies began on Sunday, but aid officials are still warning of a humanitarian disaster as supplies of food, water and fuel run low.

Israel imposed a total blockade and launched air strikes on Gaza in response to a deadly attack on Israeli soil by Hamas on Oct. 7.

The Rafah crossing, the main entry and exit point to Gaza that does not lead to Israel, has become the focus of a push to deliver aid as humanitarian conditions in Gaza worsen.

UN officials say at least 100 trucks a day would be required in Gaza to cover urgent needs. Before the outbreak of the most recent conflict, several hundred trucks had been arriving in the enclave daily.

UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told Reuters on Saturday that work was underway to develop a "light" inspection system, whereby Israel could check the shipments but ensure a sustained flow. — Reuters