Trucks appeared to be moving through the Rafah border crossing into Gaza from Egypt, according to images shown on Egyptian state television. Diplomats have been racing to hammer out a deal to get aid into Gaza, where, according to the United Nations, essential supplies like food, water and fuel were running out and hospitals were nearing collapse.
It was not immediately clear what the trucks were carrying, and there was no immediate comment from the United Nations, which has been pushing for movement.
President Biden said on Wednesday that Israel had agreed to allow food, water and medicine into the blockaded Gaza Strip. Aid trucks have been stuck waiting at the crossing for days as the powers involved haggled over the details of getting the desperately needed supplies through.
Most recently, Israel had been objecting to several aspects of plans put forward by aid groups and the United Nations, according to several U.N. and European officials and diplomats familiar with talks, which also involve Egypt and the United States.
The primary concern voiced by the Israeli government was that the aid not strengthen or fall into the hands of Hamas, whose Oct. 7 assault into Israel killed more than 1,400 people and captured about 200 hostages.
Hamas released on Friday two Americans it had held captive after discussions with Qatar. The country has acted as an intermediary between Hamas and the United States. They were identified as Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, 17, who live in the Chicago area.
As the situation in Gaza worsens, Israel is readying a ground offensive in the territory. The timing of any invasion was unknown, but Israel was gathering forces near the border. Military analysts said that an extended campaign could result in heavy casualties on both sides.
In the meantime, Mr. Biden and his top aides are trying to head off any major Israeli offensive on Hezbollah, the powerful militia in Lebanon, believing that Israel would struggle with a two-front war and that such a conflict could draw in both the United States and Iran, U.S. and Israeli officials say.
Here are some other developments:
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The Biden administration tied its request for aid for Israel to Ukraine, formally asking Congress for $105 billion in emergency funding that would include $10.6 billion in military support for Israel and $61.4 billion for Ukraine.
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Israeli authorities began to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona, as cross-border fire continued between Israeli forces and armed groups in Lebanon.
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Violence is surging across the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where 13 Palestinians and one Israeli officer were killed in clashes on Thursday, according to Palestinian and Israeli officials.
