Contact: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Public Relations, 972-2-5303111, pniot@mfa.gov.il

JERUSALEM, Jan 5 /Standard Newswire/ -- Israel continues to ensure that the civilian population in the Gaza Strip receives food, medicines and other humanitarian necessities, even as Hamas and other terrorist groups launch dozens of missiles daily at Israeli communities.

Photo: Humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza

Since the beginning of Operation Cast Lead on December 27, 2008, Israeli defense officials at the Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) have been working together with the international organizations in the Gaza Strip as well as various governments in order to assess the humanitarian needs, requirements and make the necessary response. Since the beginning of the operation, and on a daily basis, the international community has been able to increase the amount of goods supplied to Gaza.

While determined to confront Hamas terrorism, the humanitarian situation of innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza is for Israel a top priority. Israel makes every effort to avoid a humanitarian crisis and cooperate and coordinate constantly and closely with the international humanitarian organizations. Currently there exists no such calamity - international aid groups have even asked that Israel briefly suspend shipments since there is no more room in their Gaza warehouses.

During the first week of the operation, 401 trucks of humanitarian supplies and medical equipment passed through into Gaza with the assistance of Israel, and despite the danger the Hamas attacks pose to the carriers of these humanitarian shipments themselves. These shipments included food, WHO medical equipment, Red Cross relief equipment, UNRWA donations, Palestinian private sector trucks, as well as donations from European and Arab countries. Ten ambulances entered the Gaza Strip from Israel. During the next days ICRC surgical teams are due to enter Gaza to help the Shifa Hospital teams. The Israel Electric Company is working to restore the capabilities of the electric grid in Gaza. Israel will continue to transfer to Gaza all humanitarian aid that is received, in coordination with the aid organizations.

• 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid delivered to Gaza throughout the week
• 226 dual nationals were evacuated from Gaza
• 2000 units of blood were donated by Jordan
• 5 ambulances donated by Turkey
• 5 ambulances transferred from the West Bank on behalf of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society
• 20 people were evacuated to Israel for medical needs, including two injured children.

All reports indicate that there are sufficient medicine and food in Gaza. The crossings to Gaza are open for the transfer of humanitarian aid from all international organizations, in full cooperation with the Israeli authorities and without restriction.