Sending humanitarian aid to Gaza: Pakistan finalising 'modalities'.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan on Monday announced immediately dispatching humanitarian assistance to Gaza, as Israel continued to pound the densely populated territory with air strikes and was preparing for the ground offensive. "In the wake of indiscriminate Israeli aggression and siege of the Gaza Strip, the already oppressed people of densely-pop

ulated Gaza are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance," read a statement issued by the foreign office here. In view of the human tragedy unfolding in Gaza, the government of Pakistan decided to immediately dispatch humanitarian relief assistance to Gaza, to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian brothers and sisters, according to the statement.

"The government is coordinating with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, relevant UN agencies, the Government of Egypt and Pakistan Missions abroad to finalise modalities of delivery," it added. Around 2.3 million Palestinians are facing humanitarian catastrophe as Israeli forces on one hand continued with their brutal assault and at the same time cut off water, electricity and other supplies. Despite the announcement, it is not clear whether Pakistan would be able to send the assistance as other regional countries have been barred by Israel from doing so.

Egypt, the next door neighbour of Gaza, wants to send relief goods through Rafah Crossing in exchange for allowing American and other foreigners standard in the besieged territory. However, Israel hasn't yet agreed to the proposal. Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Sunday termed Israel's ongoing actions against Palestinians as "genocide." "Certainly, Palestine is a very, very, important issue for us. We will certainly discuss the ongoing situation.

There is absolutely no doubt that Israel...