Rwanda’s government has sent humanitarian assistance to Gaza’s Palestinians.

The government’s deputy spokesman, Alain Mukuralinda, told Great Lakes the donation had been sent to Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO) and had arrived in Amman, Jordan.

Mukuralinda wrote that it was made “to support the ongoing international rescue effort”.

The donation consists of 16 tonnes of food, medicines, and medical supplies, he said, adding “Rwanda reiterates the need for a de-escalation to protect innocent civilians.”

Rwanda has close ties with Israel on the continent. Rwanda was visited by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2016.

Mr Netanyahu wrote in the visitor’s book after touring Rwanda’s 1994 genocide memorial that both countries share “haunting similarities”.

In 1994, over 800,000 people were massacred, mainly ethnic Tutsis. During the Second World War, six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust.