Israeli offers medical aid to Lebanon after massive explosion

PanARMENIAN.Net - In a rare humanitarian gesture toward Lebanon, Israel has offered medical aid after a massive explosion tore through the capital of Beirut on Tuesday, causing widespread damage and killing scores of people, Al Monitor reports.

“Israel approached Lebanon through international defense and diplomatic channels to offer the Lebanese government medical humanitarian aid,” read a statement from Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi.

According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the mediators who reached out to Lebanon on behalf of Israel were France and the United Nations' peacekeeping force in Lebanon, UNIFIL.

“We share the pain of the Lebanese people and sincerely reach out to offer our aid at this difficult time,” Israeli President Reuven Rivlin tweeted.

Lebanon is surveying the damage to its capital after the massive explosions ripped through the city’s port and surrounding areas on August 4, killing at least 100 people and injuring 4,000 with many still feared to be trapped under rubble. Among casualties, there are Armenians too.