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First shipment of Turkish humanitarian aid reaches Gaza

Xinhua, July 5, 2016 Adjust font size:

The first shipment of humanitarian aid including basic food needs, garments, shoes and toys donated by Turkey, has reached the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Monday, officials said.

Turkish Consul General in Jerusalem Mustafa Sarnic, who arrived in Gaza on Monday, told reporters that the Gaza-bound Turkish container vessel Lady Leyla "is the beginning of the way for lifting the blockade imposed on Gaza."

The Turkish humanitarian aid was allowed into the Gaza Strip through the Israeli controlled commercial crossing of Kerem Shalom.

"This shipment is the start and we will go ahead towards lifting the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip," Sarnic told a news briefing at Rafah border crossing point between southern Gaza Strip and Egypt.

According to the deal, Israel won't completely lift the blockade it imposed on the Gaza Strip right after Hamas violently seized control of the enclave and routed security president Mahmoud Abbas' security forces.

Turkey "will exert all efforts to help the population of Gaza and provide them with all needed services in all levels," Sarnic said.

Meanwhile, Yousef Ibrahim, deputy minister of the Palestinian social welfare authority run by Hamas movement, told reporters that ten trucks were allowed in the Gaza Strip on Monday and will be delivered to poor people.

"400 trucks carrying 11,000 tons of humanitarian aid were brought from Turkey, and they will be gradually allowed into the Gaza Strip," Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim said that the Turkish aid will draw a large smile on the faces of the poor children. According to official figures, rates of poverty in the Gaza Strip have exceeded 55 percent.

Sending the Turkish humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, which has been under a tight Israeli blockade since 2007, was part of the Turkish-Israeli reconciliation agreement signed in Rome last week. Endit