GAZA CITY
A Turkish aid shipment was allowed Thursday into the Gaza Strip through Rafah border crossing, an official with the Turkish Red Crescent organization's office in Gaza said.
The shipment, which included 92 tons of sugar, was delivered by the Turkish Red Crescent organization, Emad Abu Matar told Anadolu Agency.
"More food and medical assistance would be delivered in the upcoming days to the Palestinian Red Crescent society through Kerem Shalom crossing [between Gaza and Israel]," he added.
An Egypt-brokered cease-fire went into effect on Tuesday, ending 51 days of relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in which 2,145 Palestinians were killed and over 11,000 injured – the vast majority of them civilians.
Over the course of the offensive, which was initially launched with the stated aim of ending rocket fire from Gaza, at least 69 Israelis – 64 soldiers and five civilians – were killed, according to Israeli figures.
The Gaza Strip – home to 1.8 million Palestinians – has reeled under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007, which has all but destroyed the local economy and played havoc with inhabitants' livelihoods.
By Mohamed Maged
www.aa.com.tr/en
