Türkiye to send more aid supplies to Gaza via military aircraft

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye is sending more aid supplies to Gaza via a military aircraft, the Defense Ministry said on Monday, a day after a presidential plane carrying medical supplies reached Egypt.

"We continue to extend our helping hand to Gaza. We have begun loading aid packages, mostly containing medical supplies," the ministry said in a brief statement.

"As soon as the planes are ready, they will depart for Egypt. A total of four sorties are planned to deliver the aid materials to the region," it added.

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 into the Palestinian enclave since Israel imposed a complete siege. Both shipments entered from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, the sole route into Gaza not controlled by Israel.