Turkish diplomat arrives in Gaza for projects inauguration

Turkish Consul-General in Jerusalem Mustafa Sarnic arrived Sunday in the Gaza Strip to attend the inauguration of several Turkish-funded projects in the embattled enclave.

The Turkish diplomat arrived in the Palestinian enclave accompanied by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) President Serdar Cam whose organization has funded the projects.

Mohamed Mortagi, TIKA’s Gaza representative, told Anadolu Agency earlier that Cam is due to lay the foundation stone for a TIKA-funded residential project that will include 1,000 housing units.

Cam will also open seven water wells dug with Turkish funding and plans to distribute financial assistance worth a total of $2 million to needy Gazan families, he added.

During Israel’s recent offensive, 15,671 housing units across the coastal strip were damaged, including 2,276 that were totally destroyed, according to official Palestinian figures.

More than 2,160 Gazans, meanwhile, mostly civilians, were killed – and some 11,000 injured – during seven weeks of unrelenting Israeli bombardment through July and August.

The Israeli offensive finally ended on August 26 with the announcement of an indefinite cease-fire agreement.