European aid convoy arrives in Gaza

A European convoy arrived in the Gaza Strip on Saturday evening, bringing two tons of medical supplies through the Rafah crossing with Egypt, organizers said. The eighth "Miles of Smiles" convoy includes 48 members carrying two tons of medication and 120 specialized bicycles for the disabled, coordinator Issam Yousef said in a statement. The convoy entered Gaza after coordinating with Egyptian authorities, Yousef said. The previous seven convoys brought food and medical supplies to the coastal enclave, which has suffered through years of an Israeli and Egyptian blockade aimed at weakening Hamas. Yousef says more convoys are being planned in the hope that their arrival will focus the world's attention on the Palestinian cause in general and the blockade of Gaza in particular.