The United States has welcomed the arrival of aid trucks from Egypt in the war-torn Gaza Strip, and has urged all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open, AFP reports.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged “all parties to keep the Rafah crossing open to enable the continued movement of aid that is imperative to the welfare of the people of Gaza,” according to a statement.

“We have been clear: Hamas must not interfere with the provision of this life-saving assistance,” Blinken said.

“Palestinian civilians are not responsible for Hamas’s horrific terrorism, and they should not be made to suffer for its depraved acts.”