Pakistan on Thursday sent another shipment of humanitarian assistance to Gaza as part of its ongoing efforts to provide urgent relief to Palestinians affected by Israel’s invasion of the enclave.
The latest consignment was dispatched by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in collaboration with the Al-Khidmat Foundation. It marks the second aid shipment sent by Islamabad within the past week, following the dispatch of the 28th consignment on Monday.
Pakistan’s first relief package for Gaza — comprising medicines, tents and other essential supplies — was sent on October 19, 2023, shortly after Israeli bombardment began.
The current batch of relief goods was transported via a chartered flight from Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport to Al-Arish Airport in Egypt, from where it will be delivered onward to Gaza.
Israel, which controls access to the Gaza Strip, has denied allegations that it is restricting supplies to the territory’s roughly two million residents.
According to reports, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has displaced the majority of the population and caused widespread destruction.
The humanitarian situation has drawn sharp international criticism, with organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, along with several experts, describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” — an allegation Israel strongly rejects.