The Israel-Syria border’s Quneitra crossing. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The Israeli government has authorized the delivery of humanitarian aid into Syria for the first time since the beginning of the Syrian civil war.

“Israel finally agreed to allow in three types of aid: medical, educational, and food,” said Moti Kahana, an American-Israeli businessman and philanthropist who is leading the delivery project using his own money.

The aid is being transferred into Syria by having the supplies placed inside  a “safe zone” in the Syrian town of town of Quneitra on the Israel border, Kahana said. The supplies include medical equipment so that Syrians can construct a field hospital and treat their wounded inside the country. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is securing the transfer of the supplies.

“Civilians are in a difficult situation and we want to help them and not wait for others,” said Druze Deputy Regional Cooperation Minister Ayoub Kara (Likud), according to the Jerusalem Post.

The Israeli decision comes as the Iranian news agency Fars reported that an an Iranian general has visited Quneitra. While his motives for visiting the town are not known, Arab media outlets are reporting his visit is the first time Iran has officially recognized that one of its chief officials has been near the Israeli-Syrian border, Yedioth Achronoth reported.