Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided on Thursday to open crossings between Israel and Hamas-controlled Gaza on Friday for deliveries of "a necessary dose of humanitarian aid". The dose amounts to 40 truckloads of flour, sugar, rice and other aid, including a five-truckload donation by Suzanne Mubarak, the wife of the Egyptian president. Wheat will be transferred at the Karni crossing and fuel will be relayed at the Nahal-Oz depot.
The crossings are usually ordered closed after a series of missile attacks on Israel, such as occured on Thursday.In announcing the opening, the Defense Ministry says the decision was made after "requests were directed to the defense minister from a number of sources in the international community."