After months of mounting pressure from aid agencies and international partners, Israel says it has reopened the Zikim crossing to allow humanitarian deliveries into northern Gaza - the first such access point to resume operations in two months. The decision marks a rare shift in a region where aid routes have repeatedly stalled under intense military activity.

The Zikim crossing, located near the Israel–Gaza border north of Beit Lahia, has been at the center of diplomatic negotiations as northern Gaza plunges deeper into crisis. Aid groups have warned that food supplies, medical stock, and clean water have nearly collapsed in the area, forcing civilians to rely on improvised relief efforts or attempt perilous movement southwards.

Israel’s statement said the crossing will allow “controlled humanitarian entry” in coordination with international organisations, though no details were provided on daily capacity, inspection procedures, or whether the reopening will remain permanent. The region’s insecurity — marked by periodic shelling, damaged roads, and restricted mobility — continues to complicate delivery efforts.

For months, global pressure has focused on creating new avenues for aid into northern Gaza after the main corridors through Kerem Shalom and Rafah became bottlenecked or inaccessible. UN agencies have repeatedly warned of starvation risks, with several neighbourhoods in northern Gaza declared at “emergency” classification. Local medical clinics, already running on minimal supplies, have said they cannot sustain operations without a consistent flow of resources.

The reopening of Zikim offers a slim window of relief, but aid workers caution that a single crossing alone cannot stabilise conditions unless access is scaled up and protected. Even before the closure, the route struggled with sporadic openings and logistical hurdles. The coming days will determine whether Zikim becomes a reliable lifeline or another short-term measure in a humanitarian landscape defined by unpredictability.

For civilians trapped in northern Gaza, the crossing signals a rare moment of hope, but also a reminder of how fragile and conditional these humanitarian channels remain.