India sends 38.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid for Gaza

The material included essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, etc

India on Sunday flew 38.5 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Egypt's Sinai region for Palestinian civilians from the embattled Gaza Strip, the foreign ministry said.

"The material includes essential life-saving medicines, surgical items, tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, sanitary utilities, water purification tablets among other necessary items", Bagchi posted on social media.

🇮🇳 sends Humanitarian aid to the people of 🇵🇸!

An IAF C-17 flight carrying nearly 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster relief material for the people of Palestine departs for El-Arish airport in Egypt.

The material includes essential life-saving medicines,… pic.twitter.com/28XI6992Ph

— Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 22, 2023

War broke out two weeks ago between Israel and Hamas, as the latter rules the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, home to 2.4 million people.

Israel's military has pounded Gaza with relentless strikes in response to Hamas's October 7 attack in which the fighter group killed at least 1,400 people.

The bombing campaign has killed more than 4,300 Palestinians, mainly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and reduced swathes of the densely populated territory to smouldering ruins.

Read More: Indian firm halts uniform sales to Israel police over Gaza war

India condemned Hamas for the attack, but it has also reiterated its longstanding position for an independent Palestinian state.

Israel has repeatedly urged the 1.1 million people in the north of Gaza to move south ahead of any ground operation.

Read More: Mahira to Sonam: Celebrities speak truth to power as Palestinian death toll climbs to 2,670

After negotiations and US pressure, food, water and medicine, but no fuel, crossed from Egypt into Gaza on Saturday.

The Hamas government has criticised the lack of aid arriving, despite the arrival of 20 trucks in the Palestinian territory on Saturday. It said there were now 1.4 million displaced people in the enclave.