Israel lets aid into Gaza
2009-01-05 14:10
Jerusalem - Israel allowed a convoy of humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip on Monday, as it pressed on with a massive offensive on Hamas in the enclave, the army said.
"A convoy of 80 trucks transporting humanitarian aid has started to pass through the Kerem Shalom crossing" in the south, a military spokesperson said.
The aid included medicine and food which was sent from Egypt, Jordan, Greece and UN aid agencies, he said.
The Nahal Oz terminal in the north was also opened on Monday to allow the transfer of 200 000 litres of fuel for Gaza's electricity station as well as 120 tons of cooking gas, he said.
The Erez crossing was opened to allow some 200 Palestinian holders of foreign passports to leave the territory.
Meanwhile, Reuters on Monday quoted the International
Committee of the Red Cross as saying: "The situation in Gaza ... has become
both chaotic and extremely dangerous".
Freezing cold is compounding the misery of children caught
in the conflict.
And body bags and sheets for victims are in short supply.
Air raids had damaged hospitals, water supply systems,
government buildings and mosques, but it was difficult for ICRC
staff to move around to assist, it said.
About 530 Palestinians have been killed - at least a quarter
of them civilians - since Israel launched its offensive on December 27 to curtail Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza.
- AFP