UPDATES WITH ARRIVAL OF MILITARY AIRCRAFT TO EGYPT; DEPARTURE OF 2ND PLANE
By Alperen Aktas and Merve Berker
ISTANBUL / ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye has sent more aid supplies to Gaza via two military aircraft, the National Defense Ministry said on Monday, a day after a presidential plane carrying medical supplies reached Egypt.
"The plane belonging to our Air Force, which took off from Ankara Etimesgut and carried relief supplies prepared for Gaza, has reached Egypt," the ministry said on X.
The plane, which was carrying aid packages prepared for Gaza and mostly containing medical supplies, had taken off from 11th Air Transport Main Base Command in the Turkish capital early Monday morning.
The second aircraft also departed shortly after the first one for Egypt's El-Arish Airport to deliver aid to Gazan people.
Two more planes loaded with aid supplies are also expected to take off from Ankara on Monday.
Preparations are underway to lend a helping hand to people in Gaza, who are in urgent need of care and support, Turkish authorities previously said.
"We continue to extend our helping hand to Gaza. We have begun loading aid packages, mostly containing medical supplies," the ministry said earlier.
A Turkish presidential aircraft, loaded with medicines and medical supplies destined for the Gaza Strip, departed from Ankara to Egypt’s capital Cairo on Sunday. A group of 20 expert healthcare professionals were also on board the plane.
Israel has continued bombardment of the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 offensive by Hamas, and is expected to launch a ground offensive.
A second convoy of relief trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Sunday, a day after 20 trucks entered the area, the first aid shipment since Israel imposed a complete siege. Both shipments entered from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, the sole route into Gaza not controlled by Israel.