Cuba sends six tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Cuba sent six tons of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, following Israel's latest devastating military offensive there, state daily Granma reported Thursday. The humanitarian aid, including medications, were delivered Wednesday by the charge d'affaires of the Cuban embassy in Cairo, Alexander Pellicer, to the first counselor of the Palestinian embassy, Basheer Abu Hatab, and to officials of the Egyptian Red Crescent, Granma said.

Abu Hatab thanked "Cuba's noble gesture," saying it will " relieve the difficult situation in Gaza caused by the shortage of medicines and other medical supplies" at hospitals, many of which were bombarded by the Israeli military.

Cuba also said it was willing to receive Palestinians injured during the air, sea and land strikes.

The nearly two-month-long Israeli offensive, which started on July 8 and ended on Aug. 26, killed more than 2,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians. There were more than 70 casualties on the Israeli side, including 66 soldiers, according to the United Nations.

Cuban leader Raul Castro's government strongly condemned the attacks.

Also on Thursday, Havana-based news agency Prensa Latina reported that Palestinian and Israeli delegations will be resuming indirect talks in Egypt's capital Cairo in mid-September to negotiate an end to hostilities.