European aid routed through Egypt to Gaza

Jun 19, 2011

Al-Arish, Egypt - Members of a European humanitarian aid mission carried supplies into the blockaded Gaza Strip via Egypt's Sinai Peninsula Sunday.

The aid, brought by the Miles of Smiles ship, was unloaded at al-Arish port, 45 kilometers from the Rafah border crossing, port director Gamal Abdul-Maqsoud told the German Press Agency dpa.

Trucks loaded with 12 ambulances, medicines and food for infants entered the enclave via the Rafah border crossing along with 62 international activists.

Egypt opened the crossing indefinitely on May 28 after four years, lifting restrictions on women, children and men over 40 or under 18 years.

The crossing was closed in 2007, after the Palestinian movement Hamas seized control of Gaza. Since then, Egypt has occasionally opened it for three- or four-day periods.

Israel relaxed its blockade of the strip last year, allowing some civilian goods through, while maintaining a naval blockade.

Source: Monsters and Critics.
Link: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1646366.php/European-aid-routed-through-Egypt-to-Gaza.