Pretoria - A Boeing 747 carrying humanitarian aid contributed by the South African public and co-ordinated by Gift of the Givers Organisation on Friday touched down in Cairo, Egypt en-route to Gaza, Palestine.
The humanitarian mission was also supported by the South African Council of Churches, the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
The flight, which carried 84 tons of supplies included medical equipment, medicines, other medical supplies, high energy and protein supplements, plaster of paris, bottled water, cooking oil, milk powder, glucose biscuits, generators, blankets and disposable nappies, also transported a team of 25 South African doctors and journalists to Gaza.
Also included in the consignment of humanitarian aid was an ambulance carrying all vital equipment for medical procedures, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed.
Commenting on the aid to Gaza, South African Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Fatima Hajaig said: "It is truly heart-warming that the people of South Africa could reach out in thought, word and deed to the people of Palestine.
"The South African government commends civil society and non-governmental organisations that have so ardently supported and co-ordinated this initiative.
"The South African government calls on all sides to recommit themselves to realising the vision of a secure Israel and a secure Palestine, living side-by-side within secure borders," the deputy minister said.
He highlighted that South Africa reiterates its view that there can be no military solution to the crisis between the two countries.
Violence between the two parties, he said, only serves to increase tensions between the peoples of Israel and Palestine while also threatening regional and international peace and security.
