Ankara ready to transfer Gazan patients to Türkiye

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) – Ankara is ready to provide full support for the transfer of patients needing continued treatment to Türkiye, the Turkish health minister said on Thursday.

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca called on the international community regarding the attacks carried out by Israel on hospitals in Gaza. Koca said, "The international community has to make a choice between knowingly abandoning patients to death and saving lives."

Referring to the Israeli attacks that affected the functioning of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship hospital, Koca said that it had to cease operations for good.

He said the Israeli attacks continue “despite all our warnings and calls to the relevant institutions and the international community.”

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said that they are ready to provide full support for the continuation of the treatment of cancer patients at the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza, which had to cease operations due to Israeli attacks, and for the medical assessment and possible transfer to Türkiye of other children and adult intensive care patients in Gaza who are deemed medically suitable.

We expect the international community and relevant organizations to respond promptly to our call and take action. Unfortunately, the international community and relevant organizations have not taken sufficient action to prevent the attacks on the hospital. Now, saving the lives of patients is an inevitable duty. The only alternative to saving patients' lives is knowingly abandoning them to death. Is there anyone saying, "I can take responsibility" for this?

On Wednesday evening, Israeli fighter jets carried out another raid on the camp, causing extensive damage to dozens of homes.

This week, the Israeli army has expanded its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7.

More than 10,300 people have since been killed in the conflict, including at least 8,796 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.

Besides the large number of casualties and displacement, basic supplies are running low for the 2.3 million residents in Gaza due to the Israeli siege.