Eighty truckloads worth of medical equipment and food passed into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing.
By SHARON UDASINTrucks at the Kerem Shalom Crossing in Gaza 390 (R)(photo credit: Ibraheem Abu Mustafa / Reuters)
Eighty truckloads worth of medical equipment and food passed into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing throughout the day on Sunday, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) reported.Both the Kerem Shalom and Erez crossings were open Sunday to enable goods to pass through to Gaza, as well as allow foreign diplomats and patients with medical conditions to enter Israel, according to COGAT.16 truckloads of medical equipment, including medicines, anesthetics and disposable items, passed through Kerem Shalom on Sunday in addition to 64 truckloads of food. At the Erez crossing, 35 diplomatic representatives and international organization staff members left Gaza for Israel, as well as 26 medical patients and their escorts, COGAT added.Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories Maj.-Gen. Eitan Dangot worked with senior Palestinian Authority officials and international community members to enable the opening of the crossings, COGAT reported.“Israel is committed to providing continued humanitarian services and cooperation for the benefit of the uninvolved civilians residing in the Gaza Strip,” a COGAT spokesman said.“While Israel is committed to providing continued assistance, it is subject to the limitations created by continuous rocket fire and attacks on the part of Hamas and other extremists groups in Gaza.Rocket attacks endanger the staff manning the crossing and often hinder or prevent the transfer of goods,” he continued.While the Kerem Shalom crossing was closed on Monday, COGAT reported the passage of parts for a CT scanner through the Erez crossing that day. 14 patients needing medical treatment and their escorts also traveled from Gaza into Israel through Erez on Monday.
