First truck of humanitarian aid from Turkey reaches Gaza

The first truck carrying humanitarian aid from Turkey has entered Gaza through Rafah border crossing on Monday.

The aid consisted of flour, rice, sugar, food packages and toys. The Turkish Red Crescent are putting efforts to swiftly transfer the aid and distribute to Gazans.

After a six-year hiatus, Turkey and Israel reached an initial reconciliation agreement last Monday.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were suspended after Israeli troops stormed a Gaza-bound aid ship called Mavi Marmara in international waters in 2010, killing 10 Turkish activists. The Mavi Marmara aid ship was among six civilian vessels trying to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza when Israeli commandos boarded it.

In 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced regret for the attack.

Under the new deal, in addition to agreeing to Turkey’s humanitarian presence in Gaza, Israel will pay $20 million in compensation to the families of the Mavi Marmara victims.

[Daily Sabah]

This entry was posted in Humanitarian Aid, International Cooperation by Grant Montgomery.