India Sends Aid For War-Torn Gaza Via Egypt's Rafah Border

India on Sunday sent humanitarian aid for the people of Palestine, comprising medical aid and disaster relief material, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The consignments were sent in a C-17 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force. The plane is transporting the aid to El-Arish airport in Egypt.

"India sends Humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine. An IAF C-17 flight carrying nearly 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster relief material for the people of Palestine departs for El-Arish airport in Egypt," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on X.

"The material includes essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, water purification tablets among other necessary items," he said.

Fluids and painkillers have been included in humanitarian aid for immediate relief. The disaster relief material weighing approximately 32 tons includes tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, basic sanitary utilities, water purification tablets etc., according to ANI.

On Saturday, a total of 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were granted entry into the Gaza Strip through Egypt's Rafah border. Nevertheless, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a warning, stating that the needs within the enclave, home to over 2 million people, far exceed the current aid efforts.

He also called for the "safe passage of additional aid convoys into the enclave." The Rafah border crossing briefly opened on Saturday morning to facilitate the entry of 20 aid trucks from Egypt. While this temporary reopening has been met with approval, human rights organizations have emphasized the necessity for a much larger quantity of aid.

On X, Ghebreyesus stated, "@WHO medical supplies crossed the Rafah border. But the needs are far higher. To meet the urgent health needs of all people in Gaza, we call for: -safe passage of additional aid convoys across the enclave -protection of all humanitarian workers -sustained access for health aid."

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephone conversation with Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas to convey condolences over the loss of civilian lives in an attack on the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza.

During the phone call, PM Modi assured him that India will continue to send humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians. "Spoke to President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas. Conveyed my condolences at the loss of civilian lives at the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza. We will continue to send humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. Shared our deep concern at the terrorism, violence and deteriorating security situation in the region," the PM said on X.

"Reiterated India's long-standing principled position on the Israel-Palestine issue," the Prime Minister added.

This was the Prime Minister's first conversation with Abbas since Hamas carried out the unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7.