Second Bahrain telethon raises $5m for Gaza

Manama: Bahrain's second telethon in solidarity with Gaza raised $5 million and collected six fully-equipped ambulances in seven hours.

The telethon, organized by the Bahrain state-run television and the Royal Charity Foundation, chaired by Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, surpassed the first television fund-raising last week, which raised $3.9 million.

Smaller fund-raising campaigns were organised mainly by religious groups amid pledges that the donations would be handed to Palestinians in Gaza.

Bahrain Medical Society's Dr Ahmad Jamal, who is heading a medical delegation to the Gaza Strip, said that the relief shipments from Bahrain were given to Palestinians at the Rafah border crossing.

Confusion reigned for days at the border point where Bahraini and other doctors were not allowed to cross into Gaza.

"We were able to hand the load of medical relief at around 1pm on Friday. The situation is very difficult and we heard loud blasts that shook the ground and deafened our ears," he said.

Thousands of Bahrainis and expatriates have joined fund-raising campaigns and rallies for Palestinians in Gaza.

On Friday, the Al Adala Society reiterated calls made last week by MPs for the reopening of the Israel boycott office under conditions to sign a free trade agreement with the US.

Gulf Air also donated a fully-equipped ambulance. Ismail Karim, Gulf Air deputy chief executive officer, said the airline has also flown doctors from the Bahrain Medical Society to Gaza via Cairo to provide immediate medical assistance to Palestinians.