India sends humanitarian aid to Palestine. Twitter/@MEAIndia

India on Sunday sent humanitarian aid for the people of Palestine, comprising medical aid and disaster relief material, Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.

An IAF C-17 flight carried nearly 6.5 tonnes of medical aid and 32 tonnes of disaster relief material for the people of Palestine. It is set to land at Egypt’s El-Arish airport by 3 pm (IST).

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

Fluids and painkillers have been included in humanitarian aid for immediate relief. The disaster relief material weighing approximately 32 tons includes tents, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, basic sanitary utilities, water purification tablets etc.

India has sent humanitarian aid to Palestine amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Israel launched counter-offensive against Hamas after the latter launched a ‘surprise attack’ against the former on October 7.

On Saturday, as many as 20 trucks carrying humanitarian aid were finally allowed to enter the Gaza Strip through Egypt’s Rafah border. However, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that “needs are far higher” in the enclave that has more than 2 million people.

He also called for the “safe passage of additional aid convoys across the enclave”. The Rafah border crossing was opened for a short window on Saturday morning to let 20 aid trucks enter Gaza from Egypt. Though many have welcomed the brief reopening, rights groups have asserted that much more aid is needed.

With inputs from ANI