By Yusuf Soykan Bal
Türkiye has sent two more planeloads of aid supplies to Gaza, the National Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
“We continue to deliver the aid materials prepared for Gaza to Egypt. Following the two sorties carried out on Monday, two more aircraft belonging to our Air Force departed from Ankara to Egypt at 06.00 a.m. and 07.30 a.m to deliver the aid materials,” the ministry said in a statement.
Preparations are underway to lend a helping hand to people in Gaza, who are in urgent need of care and support, the Turkish authorities previously said.
The conflict in Gaza, which has been under Israeli bombardment and a blockade since Oct. 7, began when the Palestinian group Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea and air.
It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians.
The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has climbed to 5,087, the Health Ministry in the blockaded enclave said. “The fatalities include 2,055 children, 1,119 women and 217 elders,” the ministry said, adding 15,273 people were also injured.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in Hamas attacks since Oct. 7, according to Israeli authorities.
*Writing by Zehra Nur Duz