Five Malaysian aid trucks enter Gaza as ceasefire opens Rafah crossing

FIVE humanitarian aid trucks from Malaysia have entered Gaza through the Rafah border crossing, following a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel that allowed limited humanitarian access into the besieged territory.

The aid, coordinated by Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE), comprises four trucks carrying 80 tonnes of flour and one truck transporting 1,000 food packs worth RM360,000.

MyCARE’s Senior Project Manager Kamarul Halim Sakrani said two of the flour trucks, totalling 40 tonnes, successfully entered Gaza on Thursday, according to their local NGO partner Al-Khyr.

“All aid will be stored in a warehouse in southern Gaza, and distribution is being overseen by MyCARE’s Gaza-based General Manager, Dr Ziad Shehada,” he said in a statement.

He added that the opening of the Rafah crossing has enabled MyCARE to launch a comprehensive humanitarian programme in Gaza, to be implemented in two phases from October 2025 to September 2026.

The overall initiative, valued at RM9 million, will span between three to six months of active deployment.

“The first three months will focus on immediate relief, such as food packs, temporary shelter, clean drinking water and baby formula. The following six months will be dedicated to long-term recovery, including the maintenance of water wells, solar-powered water systems, and the rehabilitation of educational infrastructure,” he said.

Additional projects planned by MyCARE include a mobile clinic, income-generating initiatives for affected families, and both short- and long-term rehabilitation programmes tailored to the evolving conditions on the ground.

Since 7 October 2023, MyCARE has channelled RM27 million in humanitarian support, with 80 per cent allocated to Gaza and the remainder directed towards Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and refugee communities across various countries.

“Over this period, we’ve prioritised eight categories of aid, with food security, early recovery, and healthcare being the top three. MyCARE remains firmly committed to its humanitarian mission, particularly in ensuring continued access to food and clean water,” Kamarul Halim said. - October 17, 2025