- Title: ISRAEL: Israel transfers blood plasmas brought in by sea from Lebanon to Gaza
- Date: 7th February 2009
- Summary: EREZ CROSSING, ISRAEL (FEBRUARY 6, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF TRUCK AND ISRAELI BLOOD BANK AMBULANCE CARRYING BLOOD PLASMAS ARRIVING AT BORDER CROSSING TRUCK AND AMBULANCE PASSING THROUGH SECURITY CHECKPOINT (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) MICHAEL, ISRAELI BLOOD BANK WORKER, SAYING: "We were called by the bank blood of Israel's ambulance services to deliver those blood plasmas from
- Embargoed: 22nd February 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAAULWPE498L3228AFBEH026HRB
- Story Text: Israel transferred to Gaza on Friday (February 6) boxes of blood supplies brought by sea aboard a ship from Lebanon.
A truck and an ambulance from Israel's blood bank delivered the boxes through the Erez border crossing into Gaza.
The blood plasmas were delivered from the port of Ashdod, and Israeli coastal city some 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Gaza, from a cargo ship sent by the Palestinian National Committee Against the Siege in cooperation with the U.S.-based Free Gaza Movement.
The Israeli navy boarded the ship trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip on Thursday (February 5) and escorted it to the port of Ashdod where 20 passengers were being questioned, the military said.
The cargo included about 60 tonnes of medicine, food and toys, plus 10,000 units of human blood plasma which requires constant refrigeration.
Michael, a worker at Israel's blood bank, said the delivery was successful.
"We were called by the bank blood of Israel's ambulance services to deliver those blood plasmas from the ship in Ashdod port to Erez crossing and hand it over to whoever is in charge in the Palestinian side," he said upon arrival at Erez.
It was the first apparent attempt by a foreign ship carrying aid to reach the Palestinian coastal enclave since Israel ended its 22-day offensive in the Gaza Strip two weeks ago.
A military official said humanitarian aid found on the ship would be transferred to the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. Video footage released by the army showed boxes piled up in one corner of the ship and no weapons were found.
Israel maintains tight control of Gaza's access to the outside world, insisting it will not permit shipment of cash, steel or other materials that could be used by Hamas Islamists, who control the enclave, to make weapons.
Sympathisers of Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinians have tried several times in past months to break the Israeli blockade. Some boats with peace activists were allowed to dock, others were warned off.
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