Erez Crossing

The stranglehold on aid reaching Gaza threatens an "apocalyptic" outcome, the U.N.'s humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said on Sunday as he warned of famine in the besieged territory.

The African Union condemned Wednesday the Israeli military's moves into southern Gaza's Rafah, calling for the international community to stop "this deadly escalation" of the war.

Israel said it reopened the Kerem Shalom border crossing to humanitarian aid for Gaza Wednesday, four days after closing it in response to a rocket attack that killed four soldiers.

Hamas on Dec. 28 prevented dozens of children orphaned during its 50-day war with Israel from entering Israeli territory in a pre-arranged trip, organisers and officials said.
      

The Turkish government faces difficulties in getting permission to bring injured Palestinians to Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay has said, as a Turkish plane evacuated 18 more wounded Palestinians on Aug. 13, raising the number of Gazans being treated in Turkish hospitals to 25.