First batch of Turkish aid arrives in Gaza

The first truckload of aid from a Turkish convoy arrived yesterday at the Kerem Shalom border crossing, which links Egypt, Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Anadolu Agency reported.

The crossing is the blockaded Strip’s only outlet for commercial goods.

Mounir Ghalban, crossing director on the Palestinian side, told Anadolu that the first aid truck arrived to the Israeli side of the crossing and was now making its way into the Gaza Strip.

Ghalban went on to note that a total of 10 trucks from Turkey’s Lady Leyla aid ship – which docked at Israel’s Ashdod Port yesterday bearing 11 tonnes of humanitarian aid – were expected to enter the Strip yesterday.

In a statement, the Israeli Defence Ministry confirmed that the first aid truck contained a shipment of toys and nappies.

The remainder of aid from the ship, he added, would enter Gaza after the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, which will end on Thursday.

The aid includes flour, sugar, rice, cooking oil, clothing and toys for children, among other things.

Turkish Ambassador to Jerusalem Mustafa Sarnic noted the importance of delivering the aid to Gaza on the last day of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting.

Stressing that the assistance was just the beginning, Sarnic said: “It [the aid] will continue. From now on, we will do our best to solve [Gaza’s] energy problem. There is also a water issue, which we will work to resolve.”

The ambassador went on to note that a delegation from Turkey’s Energy and Natural Resources Ministry would soon hold talks with Israeli officials regarding this issue.