Israel has approved transfer of large amount of weaponry by Egypt to Palestinian Fatah security forces in the Gaza Strip to support President Mahmoud Abbas, the Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday.

The shipment, including 2,000 automatic rifles, 20,000 ammunition clips and 2 million bullets, was transferred to Palestinian security forces loyal to Abbas' Fatah movement, the report said.

The arms and ammunition were transferred from Egypt to Israel through the Kerem Shalom crossing in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces and governmental authorization.

Four trucks carrying the weapons were escorted by Military Police, and they entered the Gaza Strip through the Karni crossing.

This was the first time that Israel allowed arms into the Gaza Strip in some six months. It was seen as efforts by the Jewish state to support moderate Abbas as he is in a fierce power struggle with Prime Minister Ismail Haneya from Hamas.

Source: Xinhua