Egypt sends 14 Arab doctors to Gaza

Source: Xinhua | 01-12-2009 08:08

GAZA, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for the Palestinian crossings said that Egypt opened its border on Sunday evening and allowed the entrance of 14 Arab doctors into the Gaza Strip and some medical supplies.

Adel Zo'rob, spokesman for crossings in the deposed Hamas-government, said in a statement sent to reporters that 14 Arab doctors and trucks loaded with medical aids crossed into the Gaza Strip through Rafah border crossing.

"Egypt has for the first time allowed humanitarian and medical aids into the Gaza Strip," said Zo'rob, adding that eight medicine-laden trucks and another eight trucks loaded with Humanitarian aids were allowed into Gaza.

He said the 14 Arab doctors included two Algerians and eight Jordanian and three ambulances was donated by Libya.

Rafah border crossing has been closed down since Hamas movement took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 and routed President Mahmoud Abbas security forces who were ruling the crossing.

The Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip has been suffering from a tight Israeli blockade had been imposed on the enclave since then. The population's suffering mounted after Israel carried out an unprecedented air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip.

During the ongoing Israeli military offensive, Israel killed 901 Palestinians, half of them are civilians, according to medical officials, adding that more than 3,600 people were injured.

"The Arab doctors arrived in Gaza to give a hand to Palestinian doctors to treat casualties injured in the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip for 16 days," said Zo'rob.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei