Egyptian health minister, Turkish officials discuss ‘humanitarian aid for Gaza’ in Cairo

By Ferdi Bayat

CAIRO (AA) - Egyptian Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar held discussions Wednesday on the humanitarian situation in Palestine with Turkish officials.

Okay Memis, head of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), and Turkish Red Crescent President Fatma Meric Yilmaz were received by Ghaffar in the new administrative capital constructed in eastern Cairo.

The primary focus of the meeting was to explore avenues to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Ghaffar stressed the shared responsibility and deep concern that Türkiye and Egypt hold for Palestinians.

He expressed their readiness to accept casualties from Gaza for medical treatment or to offer medical services within Gaza if required.

"We are eager to extend this assistance, but the approval of Israel is needed in this matter. It is a heart-wrenching situation not to be able to deliver these services despite having the necessary resources at our disposal. Israel's restrictions prevent the injured from leaving the war zone," he said.

The heads of AFAD and the Red Crescent also met with UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova, after the meeting with Ghaffar.

The AFAD and Red Crescent delegations, which arrived Tuesday in Cairo, are expected to continue diplomatic efforts and engagements Thursday in Egypt.

The conflict in Gaza began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack on Oct.7 that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.

The Palestinian resistance group said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched a relentless bombardment of Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

More than 7,900 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 6,546 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have been running out of food, water, medicine and fuel, and aid convoys allowed into Gaza have carried only a fraction of what is needed.

*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz.