Israel to open 2nd crossing to inspect Gaza-bound cargo

Israel on Monday said it will boost security screening of supplies being sent into the Gaza Strip in order to increase the volume of humanitarian aid.

The Israeli military said that the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza will be open for “security screening to increase humanitarian aid for Gaza.” Currently, Israel’s Nitzana crossing is the only inspection point in operation.

Trucks carrying water, food, medical supplies and shelter equipment will be screened there, it said, and then continue to Egypt, from where the supplies will enter Gaza.

Fighting between Israel and Hamas intensified across Gaza on Monday, fuelling fears flagged by the United Nations on the weekend of a breakdown in public order and a mass exodus of Palestinians into Egypt.

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The narrow coastal strip has been under a full blockade since Israel responded to deadly attacks from Palestinian militant group Hamas on Oct. 7, and the border with Egypt is the only way out.

Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been driven from their homes, and residents say it is impossible to find refuge in the densely populated enclave, with around 18,000 people already reported killed and the conflict intensifying.

Since the breakdown of a week-long ceasefire on Dec. 1, Israel has launched a ground offensive in southern Gaza and has since pushed from the east into the heart of the major city of Khan Younis, with warplanes attacking an area to the west. On Monday, militants and some residents said fighters were preventing Israeli tanks from moving further west through the city. 

There were also reports of fierce clashes in parts of northern Gaza, where Israel had said its tasks were largely complete. Militants and residents said fighting was fierce in Shejaia, east of the centre of Gaza City, the northwestern Sheikh Radwan district and Jabalia further north.

In Jabalia, Palestinians ran to escape smoke bombs fired near tents and other homes and militants said they were clashing with Israeli troops.

Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued a new call on social…