As the world anxiously awaits its share of Chinese medical assistance that the planes carry to both east and west, the Medical Aid plane from China landed, carrying tons of medicines, quick medical test equipment for COVID-19 and ventilators for Palestine.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaia recently announced that the People's Republic of China has promised to send emergency medical aid to the Palestinians to strengthen health services for Palestinian patients. "Our country is waiting for the arrival of medical assistance from China to fill the deficit faced by the Palestinians in the health sector," the Prime minister said at a press conference.

The Ambassador of the People's Republic of China in Palestine Guo Wei delivered medical supplies from China to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, where he confirmed that China stands with the Palestinian people in the face of the pandemic, and confirmed that Beijing will continue to support the Palestinians in their fight against COVID-19 and will provide them with all necessary medical equipment and devices to strengthen their resilience, stressing that the Chinese government chartered a private plane for the supplies.

"This new package of aid was transported from Beijing to Palestine by private plane. Five days before this package of aid, there were Chinese non-governmental donations that arrived in Palestine. I am proud of the deep friendship and bilateral relations between the two countries, and I am firmly convinced that the Chinese support for Palestine will continue as the Palestinian people continue to fight this epidemic."

Palestinian Minister of Health Mai Kila, who was present to receive the shipment of aid, expressed her deep thanks to the Chinese people, and stressed that these medical supplies are not available in the domestic and regional markets and therefore being provided with them is of great importance.

"Ever since its takeoff, the Palestinian revolution has had special relations with the People's Republic of China. China had provided great assistance to the Palestinian revolution at that time in all fields. Also, they are also helping us as we are establishing our Palestinian state on the soil of our Palestinian territory. Most importantly, China always stands with Palestine in international forums and votes for Palestine, this is really what has had a positive impact on the Palestinian presence in international forums."

The Palestinian territories have been in a state of emergency since the first cases of COVID-19 were reported on March 5 due to the weakness of the local health sector and the lack of medical equipment, with only 120 ventilators available in hospitals and medical centers in the Palestinian Authority (West Bank and Gaza) to serve more than five million residents, according to data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, which suffers from a severe shortage of medical supplies and the access of screening strips, announced the completion of two quarantine centers north and south of the Gaza Strip to accommodate 1,000 cases. Nevertheless, the shortage of medical equipment and respirators hinders the completion of the two projects and prevents Palestinians from raising the readiness of the health sector, while medical devices and supplies donated by the Chinese government to the Palestinians are expected to be a cornerstone in supporting the centers of medical isolation and providing hospitals with the necessary equipment and medicines.