Iraqi gov’t orders urgent Gaza aid

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi government on Tuesday announced that it will send medical and food assistance to the Gaza Strip, which has been bombarded by Israeli war planes. “The aid stuff will be provided by the ministries of health and trade, and in cooperation with the ministries of defense and foreign affairs,” an official spokesperson for the Iraqi government, Ali Al-Dabbagh, said in a statement. Hundreds of Palestinians were reported killed or wounded after Israeli F-16 bombers launched a series of air strikes against multiple targets in the Hamas-run territories. Israel said the operation was in response to rockets fired into Israeli towns and villages by Hamas and other militant groups based in Gaza. SS (P) 1