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Turkey's deputy prime minister: Israel deliberately bombed Anadolu Agency office in Gaza

August 5, 2014 at 10:24 am

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has accused the Israeli army of deliberately hitting the Anadolu Agency’s office in Gaza. Despite the attack, the agency continues to operate in Gaza and to send news and photos about the Israeli aggression.

Arinc lamented the silence of international media regarding Israel’s attack on the agency’s office in Gaza. “The world media’s insensitivity of the attack is shameful,” he said. The agency has sent a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the media union organised a demonstration on Monday in front of the Israeli embassy in Ankara.

Arinc made these remarks early on Monday during a meeting with representatives of Turkish government bodies that his office oversees. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the cabinet council in Ankara on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. Among the attendees were the director-general of the Anadolu Agency, Kemal Ozturk; the director-general of the Turkish Radio and Television, Ibrahim Sahin; the director-general of the Turkish Directorate of Press and Information, Murat Kara Kaya; and the head of Turkey’s organisation of endowments, Adnan Artam.

Arnic expressed regret that one of Anadolu’s reporters was seriously injured during the Israeli attack and explained that a Turkish airplane was sent to transport the journalist for treatment in Turkey via Egypt following diplomatic efforts.

He stressed the need for media organisations all over the world to carry on with their work and highlighted the importance of protecting journalists, especially when they are clearly identified as members of the press and when the locations of media offices are well known.

The deputy prime minister also commented on the Turkish presidential election, following Turkish expatriates casting their votes on Sunday. Arinc expressed hope that the election will constitute a new birth for Turkey and lead the country to further development. The election’s first round of voting will be held inside Turkey on 10 August.

Arinc praised the performance of the Turkish government bodies under his control and said he hopes they will continue to perform their tasks at the highest level of responsibility.

By Leshem Sirte Kara Aslan, Anadolu news agency