RAMALLAH (
A Turkish medical aid shipment is expected to arrive by sea to the Gaza City within a few days to help relieve a severe medical crisis in the embattled Palestinian territory.
"The Turkish consulate in Jerusalem informed the chamber that a medical aid consignment worth of $1 million will be sent to the Gaza Strip," Maria al-Aqra'a, a spokesman for an operation room set up by the Palestinian unity government in Ramallah, told Anadolu Agency.
The Gaza Strip, home to some 1.8 million Palestinians, has reeled under an overwhelming Israeli military offensive since July 7.
Nearly 1000 Palestinians – mostly civilians – have been killed and over 5900 Palestinians injured in devastating Israeli air, naval and ground bombardments.
Al-Aqra'a said that the Turkish consulate has presented the shipment's documents to Israeli authorities in order to be allowed via southern Israel's Ashdod port.
She went on to say that Palestinian authorities were negotiating with the Egyptian government, which has barred the entry of a Turkish delegation of six surgeons into Gaza through the Rafah crossing.
The Gaza Strip suffers an acute medical crisis caused by shortages of fuel and medical supplies amid an influx of wounded Palestinians and a continued blockade which prevents the access of supplies.
Israel's ongoing operation "Protective Edge" is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated Gaza Strip, which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians, within the last six years.
In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians – the vast majority of them civilians – were killed in Israel's three-week-long operation "Cast Lead."
By Qais Abu Samra
www.aa.com.tr/en
