In a significant development, Israel announced the reopening of the Zikim crossing into northern Gaza on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. The crossing, a crucial access point for the war-torn region, will now remain open permanently, according to COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry body responsible for civilian affairs in Palestinian territories. This move mirrors the operational status of the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza, which has been the primary conduit for aid since the conflict escalated in October 2023. Humanitarian aid entering through Zikim will undergo standard Israeli security checks before being distributed by the United Nations. The reopening comes after the World Food Programme reported an inability to collect cargo in northern Gaza since the crossing’s closure on September 12. Despite this progress, aid workers highlight persistent challenges, including lengthy security checks, restrictions on certain items, and the logistical hurdles posed by widespread infrastructure destruction and the risk of looting. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) emphasized the critical importance of direct access to northern Gaza to ensure timely aid delivery. This development follows the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative’s confirmation of famine conditions in northern Gaza in August 2024, a claim contested by COGAT.