Qatar Calls off Medical Flight to Gaza after Airport Closed

Published October 8th, 2000 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

The Gulf emirate of Qatar called off a medical aid flight to Gaza Sunday after Israel shut the territory's airport because of a shooting nearby, a Health Ministry spokesman said. 

The aircraft was to have taken off in the morning with seven doctors, two nurses and medical equipment on board to treat Palestinians wounded in clashes with Israel, which have left more than 90 dead. 

The spokesman told the official QNA news agency that Doha regretted the sudden closure of Yasser Arafat International in the southern Gaza Strip and that he hoped the flight would be able to leave soon. 

One of the doctors was to have flown back to Qatar with 12 wounded Palestinians for treatment in Doha. 

Overnight Saturday, Israel banned all flights from using the airport in the Gaza Strip with the exception of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's airplane. 

The decision came after shots, reportedly fired from the airport, hit an Israeli bus, wounding eight passengers - DOHA (AFP) 

© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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