Anadolu documents vast destruction in buildings built by Türkiye for poor residents in Gaza

By Mohammad Majid

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip inflicted severe damage to buildings constructed by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in the southeastern part of the enclave.

An Anadolu reporter visited the residential area where TİKA constructed the buildings and documented the large-scale destruction of residential buildings and the entire residential area known as Juhor ad-Dik.

The buildings, built with Turkish funds, were allocated to poor residents and others affected by Israeli wars in Gaza and were given to them in 2017.

"The people here are ordinary, we had these house units by donations from Türkiye to the most needy people," Ibrahim Abu Arabia told Anadolu.

"The Israeli bombing didn't stop here before the truce period, and left vast destruction in the area," he added.

Another beneficiary who lost her home told Anadolu about her loss and said residents not only lost their houses but all clothes, furniture and devices.

"The residents of TİKA buildings are now homeless, and confused where to go after losing their homes," said Fatema al-Mughrabi said.

Qatar announced an agreement late Monday to extend the initial four-day humanitarian pause for an additional two days, under which further prisoner exchanges will be carried out.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar​​​​​​​ in Ankara