The border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has opened to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians for the first time since Israel sealed off the territory following Hamas's bloody rampage two weeks ago.Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking filthy water. Hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout.Israel has launched waves of airstrikes

The border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip has opened to let desperately needed aid flow to Palestinians for the first time since Israel sealed off the territory following Hamas's bloody rampage two weeks ago.Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, half of whom have fled their homes, are rationing food and drinking filthy water. Hospitals say they are running low on medical supplies and fuel for emergency generators amid a territory-wide power blackout.Israel has launched waves of airstrikes across the territory that have failed to stem Palestinian rocket fire into Israel.The opening came after more than a week of high-level diplomacy by various mediators, including visits to the region by US President Joe Biden and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.Israel had insisted that nothing would enter Gaza until some 200 people captured by Hamas were freed, and the Palestinian side of the crossing had been shut down by Israeli airstrikes.