Israel-Gaza war: first aid boat unloads as conflict drags into Ramadan
- The vessel was seen towing a barge loaded with 200 tonnes of food for Palestinians threatened with famine after more than five months of war
- Hamas has put forward a new proposal for a six-week ceasefire and the exchange of several dozen Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners
A first aid ship plying a new maritime corridor from Cyprus began unloading its cargo of desperately needed food in Gaza on Friday as Hamas proposed a new six-week truce in the war.
Agence France-Presse footage showed the Open Arms, which set sail from Cyprus on Tuesday, towing a barge that the Spanish charity operating it says is loaded with 200 tonnes of food for Gazans threatened with famine after more than five months of war.
“World Central Kitchen is unloading the barge connected now to the jetty,” said Linda Roth, a spokeswoman for the US charity that is working with Open Arms.
The Israeli military said it had deployed troops to “secure the area” around the jetty. The “vessel underwent a comprehensive security inspection”, it added.
The Hamas-ruled territory’s health ministry said Israeli fire had earlier killed 20 people waiting to receive aid. Israel blamed “armed Palestinians” it said had opened fire on civilians.
