ALGIERS - Algeria is to send 40 tons of urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, local APS news agency reported Tuesday quoting Algerian Foreign Ministry's statement.

"Due to repeated Israeli assaults against the population of Gaza, the Algerian government has decided to send urgent humanitarian aid there," the statement said.

The aid consists of medicine, surgical materials and food, according to the statement.

The first load of 14 tons is to be handed over to the Palestinian Red Crescent on Tuesday, while more will be sent in the coming days to mark Algeria's solidarity with the Palestinians.

Algerian Blood Donators Federation (FADS) has called on Algerians aged between 18 and 65 to donate blood for the injured Palestinians in the Israeli raids.