UPDATE - Turkish military plane with 8 tons of medical aid for Gazans lands in Egypt

UPDATE WITH THE PLANE LANDS IN EGYPT, ADDS TURKISH HEALTH MINISTER’S STATEMENT

By Fatma Sevinc Cetin and Zehra Nur Duz

KAYSERI /ANKARA, Türkiye (AA) – A Turkish military plane carrying eight tons of medicines and medical supplies for residents of the Gaza Strip landed on Wednesday in Egypt neighboring the enclave.

A group of nine health care professionals in the same plane also landed at the El Arish Airport in the Sinai Peninsula.

The plane will return to the Turkish capital of Ankara, carrying Palestinians with cancer and orthopedic problems, including a five-month-old injured baby, as well as their companions.

Earlier this morning, the plane took off from Türkiye’s central Kayseri province.

The medical team will provide treatment to injured people in cooperation with the Egyptian Health Ministry.

Türkiye has so far dispatched 11 planes, carrying 700 tons of humanitarian aid and medical supplies, a ship, eight field hospitals, and 20 ambulances to El Arish Airport for Gaza with help from Egypt.

Meanwhile, Türkiye’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Wednesday said Turkish health teams that arrived in Gaza City have completed identifying suitable locations for the field hospital's services.

“In the subsequent phase, we plan to provide health services to the injured and sick Palestinian people on-site,” Koca noted.