How Egyptian Truck Drivers Are Eager to Help Palestinians in Gaza

Egypt Today

31-01-2025

Egyptian drivers pose for a picture before driving from Cairo's Moqatam district to the Rafah border crossing on January 26, 2025- Egypt Today/ Samar Samir
CAIRO – 31 January 2025: With feelings of happiness, love, and gratitude, hundreds of Egyptian truck drivers leave their homes for several days to embark on humanitarian journeys to the besieged city of Rafah in Palestine, aiming to alleviate the suffering caused by Israel's genocidal war on the enclave.
Since the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel came into force on January 19, 2025, humanitarian relief efforts continue to flow into the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing, as relief convoys from Egypt, the Arab world, and international relief organizations continue to provide the necessary support to citizens in Gaza who are suffering from the repercussions of the war, the blockade, and the difficult conditions they are living in.
On January 26, the largest humanitarian aid convoy moved from Egypt's Cairo heading to the Gaza border crossing, through which it entered the Palestinian side two days later. This mission was organized by the Egyptian Zakat and Charity House, the Egyptian Food Bank, Long Live Egypt, and various Islamic charity organizations. Egypt Today interviewed some truck drivers about their experiences and their feelings.
Mohammed Abdo, a truck driver affiliated with the Zakat House, expressed his joy and satisfaction in contributing to alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people due to the ongoing war. He mentioned that he has been driving aid trucks to Gaza since the last time humanitarian aid was allowed into the strip in 2023.
'I met some Palestinian residents at the border crossing, who sent messages of gratitude to the Egyptians for their help to the Gazans. They greeted us warmly and treated us like friends,' he said.
Abdo continued, 'The gratitude from the Palestinians was overwhelming. They welcomed us for the huge amount of humanitarian aid Egypt is providing. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi spares no effort in supporting the Palestinians and meeting their needs.'
He explained that this time, with the ceasefire in place, the trucks are inspected at the Karam Abu Salem crossing by Israeli forces before being unloaded on the Palestinian side.
'The last time, the trucks reached the Palestinian side and delivered aid to the Palestinian Red Crescent through the Rafah border crossing before it was targeted by Israeli forces and closed in May 2024,' Abdo recalled.
'We traveled through the Rafah border crossing to the Palestinian side and went to cities like Khan Younis,' he added.
Abdo also spoke about some of the supplies that were previously blocked by Israeli soldiers, including medicines, electronics, and sometimes even bottled water, as part of the pressure tactics on Palestinians.
Addressing some of the delays and frustrating actions by Israeli forces, Abdo revealed that trucks could be left waiting for hours without inspection at the Israeli checkpoint. 'When they [Israeli forces] want to annoy us, they inspect the trucks slowly, but when they are in a rush, they let several trucks pass at once,' he said. He also added that sometimes the Israeli forces force the trucks to turn back without unloading their shipments.
'Drive for free'
As for Islam Abbas, a 30-year-old truck driver from Alexandria, he spent 20 days driving a truck carrying an ambulance for Palestinians. The truck is affiliated with the Long Live Egypt Fund.
Abbas decided to drive without charge for the Palestinian people, saying, "If I continue to deliver aid to Gaza all my life, I will not be able to fulfill even a part of our humanitarian duty towards them." He continued that he loves to do so although he will be for a while away from seeing her two daughters and wife.
The humanitarian aid truck journey could take up to 25 days to reach Rafah due to various circumstances. For example, the truck may have to wait for up to two days at the Suez Canal Ferry to cross to the eastern side of the canal, due to the large number of aid trucks there. Abbas revealed that the number of aid trucks in Al-Arish could exceed 4,000.
He explained that this is his second time delivering aid to Gaza, and the first since the ceasefire agreement. His first journey was last year, when he also delivered an ambulance.
During his first trip, Abbas did not experience any issues with Israeli forces during a two-hour inspection, after which his truck was allowed to enter Gaza. The ambulance was handed over to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Speaking about the aid, Abbas mentioned that other trucks loaded with heavy construction equipment had already reached Rafah in preparation for Gaza's reconstruction.
As for truck driver Khaled Hilal, this is his first journey delivering aid to Gaza. "I'd like to make this journey as a form of supportive participation for the Palestinian people," he said. Hilal left his hometown of Alexandria for the journey, spending five days in Cairo before the convoy set out for the Gaza Strip.