S. Korea offers US$300,000 in aid for war-torn Gaza Strip

(ATTN: CHANGES headline; UPDATES throughout with details)
By Lee Chi-dong
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Monday that it would provide
US$300,000 worth of emergency humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people as
Israeli ground troops continued attacks on the Gaza Strip.

Breaking a week of silence on the latest conflict, South Korea, a key ally of the
United States, also called for an immediate truce between Israel and Hamas.
"The government expresses deep concern that the armed conflict in the Gaza Strip
and nearby areas is expanding, leading to many casualties including civilians,"
foreign ministry spokesman Moon Tae-young said in a press briefing.
"The government urges the related parties to immediately halt the use of force
and respond to the international community's call for a truce," he added.
Moon said South Korea will join global efforts to help the Palestinian people by
donating $300,000 in cash.
More than 500 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing Israeli operation
aimed at ending rocket attacks by Hamas fighters, according to news reports.
The South Korean foreign ministry expressed concern over the conflict in a
statement issued on Dec. 29, shortly after Israel launched its attack. But Seoul
had since kept mum on the matter, apparently due to the sensitivity of the issue,
as it tries to balance its alliance with Washington and push for improved ties
with Arab nations.
lcd@yna.co.kr