RAFAH, Egypt - The highly anticipated arrival of desperately needed aid for Gaza has been delayed at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, leaving U.N. Secretary General António Guterres "broken hearted" during his visit to the militarized zone. Trucks loaded with essential supplies including water, fuel, medicine, and food remained stranded, frustrating aid workers and exacerbating the dire situation in the besieged enclave.

Despite President Biden's announcement of a deal to facilitate the flow of aid to Gaza during his visit to Israel, negotiations over the conditions of the aid delivery have continued, causing further delays. The U.N. officials had hoped that Guterres's visit would coincide with the resumption of truck movement across the border. Instead, the secretary general was confronted with stalled trucks and disgruntled Egyptian aid workers who expressed their frustration at the prolonged wait to bring assistance to Palestinians just a few miles away.

The aid convoy and the challenging negotiations to expedite its passage represent the initial steps in the ongoing efforts to ensure a steady flow of relief supplies into Gaza. Guterres is scheduled to attend a "summit for peace" hosted by Egyptian officials before returning to New York, where discussions regarding the aid verification process and the continuity of aid distribution will continue.

President Biden assured that the aid would start moving within the next few days, attributing the delays to the need for road repairs due to their poor condition. However, Palestinians inside Gaza emphasized that distributing the aid without a halt in Israeli airstrikes would pose extreme risks to their safety. Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari divulged that Israeli airstrikes in Gaza had surged to unprecedented levels, hinting at the possibility of a ground invasion in the near future.

Under the agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, only 20 trucks out of over 200 prepared by various organizations would be permitted to enter Gaza. The specifics of aid verification and the potential for a continuous flow are still under discussion. Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs blamed the delays on Israel's targeted attacks and refusal to permit aid entry.

Efforts to overcome the obstacles to the delivery of U.S.-approved aid face multiple challenges. The involvement of Israel, Egypt, and the United States necessitates effective and expedited verification processes. While the United Nations has offered its inspectors, Israel insists on having direct oversight of the crossing, presenting a major point of contention. Egypt has categorically rejected the idea of hosting Israeli inspectors on its territory.

As the delays persist, frustration is mounting among Egyptian aid workers and volunteers who have been waiting at the border for days with critical supplies. The urgency for aid in Gaza cannot be understated, as the coastal enclave is running dangerously low on food, fuel, water, and medical supplies. The recent war and the tightened siege imposed by Israel have exacerbated the dire situation, leading to the displacement of around one million of Gaza's 2.3 million population.

Hospitals in Gaza are facing closure due to Israeli shelling, and medical centers are running out of fuel to power generators. The fuel supply at al-Shifa Hospital, one of Gaza City's main medical facilities, is expected to run out within 24 hours. The United Nations refugee agency reports that more than half of the displaced population is seeking refuge in UN schools, hospitals, and storage centers.

During his visit, Guterres expressed gratitude to the Egyptian government for their assistance in aid coordination, emphasizing that they were operating within the sovereign territory of Egypt. However, concerns have been raised about the potential ramifications of a large-scale influx of Palestinian refugees into Sinai, with President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi warning that it could strain the peace between Egypt and Israel.

As efforts continue to expedite the delivery of aid to Gaza, the dire humanitarian situation in the enclave remains a pressing concern. The international community, along with the involved parties, must work tirelessly to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted flow of essential supplies, providing much-needed relief to the suffering population of Gaza.