Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Humanitarian Aid Flows into Gaza, Missiles and Mortars Fly Out

Hana Levi Julian

Even as Palestinian Authority terrorists continue to launch mortar and missile attacks at Israel, Jerusalem has given the go-ahead to open crossings into Gaza so trucks can deliver medical and other supplies to the region.. For the second time in three days, truckloads of humanitarian aid made their way from Israel into Gaza through the Sufa Crossing.

In addition, Israeli officials approved passage through the Kerem Shalom Crossing. It is the first time the terminal has been open since a spate of terror alerts seven weeks ago prompted the IDF to close the crossing.

Early Tuesday morning, 80 trucks rumbled through the two terminals and into southern Gaza carrying medications and other medical supplies.

Sixty of the trucks passed through the Sufa Crossing with supplies donated by Jordan and Turkey. Two days earlier, Israel sent 62 trucks loaded with cases of fresh units of blood as well as basic food stuffs such as flour, sugar, salt and oil.

Twenty more trucks laden with other humanitarian supplies drove through the Kerem Shalom Crossing.

The decision by Major-General Yosef Mishlav, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, to open the crossings for delivery of supplies into Gaza came after a request by PA Health Minister Fathi Abu Mogli. According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, the PA official specifically requested supplies from Israel’s Teva Pharmaceuticals firm.

Hospitals in Gaza have complained they are overloaded with people wounded in clashes between PA terrorists and IDF forces, seriously taxing doctors’ ability to treat those who arrive in their emergency rooms.

Egypt opened its border at the Rafiah crossing Sunday to allow 150-200 sick and wounded Gaza residents to enter the country for medical care.

On Monday, two Israeli hospitals accepted seriously ill patients and wounded Gaza residents for advanced treatment as well.

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