Russia Sends Humanitarian Aid to Palestine: Emergencies Ministry

MOSCOW, November 26 (Sputnik) — The Russian Emergencies Ministry has sent humanitarian aid to Palestine, ministry spokesperson Alexander Drobyshevsky said Wednesday.

"Today the IL-76 aircraft departed for Amman, Jordan, from Ramenskoye Airport in the Moscow Region. It carried 26 tons of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people," Drobyshevsky said.

Medicines and medical equipment were sent to Palestine at the request of Palestinian authorities.

In Amman the goods will be handed over to representatives of the Palestinian Embassy. According to Drobyshevsky, the ministry has "organized cooperation with the competent Jordanian charities that will allow the shipment of goods to the Palestinian territories and its distribution among the local population."

In June, Israel launched a military operation against the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip, Palestine. According to United Nations data, the 50-day armed conflict has claimed the lives of over 2,100 Palestinians and some 70 Israelis. Palestinian authorities have estimated that over 60,000 residential buildings in Gaza have been damaged by Israeli airstrikes.

The standoff has aggravated the humanitarian situation in Palestine. In late August, the sides agreed to a truce mediated by the Egyptian government. The agreement envisaged Israel opening border crossings to allow for the passage of humanitarian aid and construction materials in Gaza.