GAZA CITY
Thirty-four Palestinians injured during Israel's recent military onslaught on the Gaza Strip headed to Turkey for medical treatment on Thursday, a Palestinian Health Ministry official has said.
The injured Gazans left the embattled enclave through the Erez border crossing with Israel en route to Turkey, ministry official Yahiya Khedr told Anadolu Agency.
"The injured, all of whom are in stable condition, headed to Turkey because they need surgery, which requires capabilities we don't have," he said.
Earlier in the day, a Turkish Air Force plane left Ankara for Israel to carry injured Palestinians back to Turkey for treatment.
Around 80 Gazans injured during Israel's 51-day offensive have been transferred to Turkish hospitals since the beginning of August.
Injured Gazans will receive medical treatment in the central Anatolian province of Afyonkarahisar.
The Turkish government plans to bring a total of 200 Gazans to Turkey for treatment.
A cease-fire went into effect on Tuesday, ending 51 days of relentless Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip in which 2,145 Palestinians were killed and over 11,000 injured – the vast majority of them civilians.
Over the course of the offensive, which was initially launched with the stated aim of ending rocket fire from Gaza, at least 69 Israelis – 64 soldiers and five civilians – were killed, according to Israeli figures.
The Gaza Strip – home to 1.8 million Palestinians – has reeled under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007, which has all but destroyed the local economy and played havoc with inhabitants' livelihoods.
By Hedaya al-Saidi
www.aa.com.tr/en
