Rwanda sends essential supplies to Palestine amid crisis

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Rwanda has sent humanitarian support to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip amid an ongoing Israel bombing campaign.

The supplies, delivered by Rwanda’s national carrier, Rwandair, via a cargo plane Thursday, were received by the Jordanian Hashemite Charitable Organization (JHCO).

“We have received today a humanitarian aid cargo plane from Rwanda for the people in Gaza, containing medical supplies, food and milk,” the charity wrote Friday on X.

Food items reportedly included 10 tons of fortified nutritious dry meal composed of grains such as wheat, soya and powdered whole milk.

US President Joe Biden said Friday that an initial tranche of direly-needed humanitarian aid is set to enter the besieged Gaza Strip within 48 hours, about one week after the Rafah border crossing, a pivotal point for aid delivery to Gaza, was shuttered.

Israel launched an operation against Hamas in retaliation for a shocking Oct. 7 attack that included a land, sea and air infiltration from Gaza in which more than 1,400 people were killed.

Hamas said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, and increased settler violence against Palestinians.

As of Friday, 4,100 Palestinians were reported to have been killed by Israel's bombings, including 1,524 children, 1,000 women and 120 elderly victims, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.