23 October 2013
TODAY’S ZAMAN

Turkey has donated $850,000 in aid to Palestine to reduce the energy needs of the Gaza Strip and is preparing to send 10 tons of flour to Gaza for Palestinians in a bid to support its ally, which has been under a blockade since 2007.

According to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, Turkey sent financial aid to the Palestinian government to supply energy to hospitals and sewage plants in the Gaza Strip under a Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) initiative. The Foreign Ministry statement says that UN agencies in Palestine will help with the delivery of fuel to institutions that are in urgent need of energy.

The statement also notes that the Prime Ministry’s Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) will send 10 tons of flour to the Gaza Strip; the shipment is expected to be sent out in November.

Pointing out that Turkey has conducted other projects for Palestine, including supplying medicine and medical equipment, the Foreign Ministry’s announcement reiterated that Turkey stands by Palestine, its brother and friend, and is determined to continue its support to the country, which is facing occupation and a blockade.

Last week, Khaled Mashaal, leader of Hamas — which rules Gaza — met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara.

Turkey is one of the staunchest supporters of the Palestinian efforts for statehood. It helped the Palestinians in their lobbying attempts to upgrade the Palestinian Authority’s observer status at the United Nations from “entity” to “non-member state.” It also regularly sends humanitarian aid to the country. In one such effort, one part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, the Mavi Marmara, was raided by Israeli commandos, resulting in the deaths of eight Turks and one Turkish-American in 2010.

Erdoğan, Palestine’s Abbas talk Mideast peace process

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Turkey’s prime minister on Tuesday to discuss the Middle East peace process with Israel, Prime Ministry sources said.

The private Cihan news agency reported that Abbas first told Erdoğan he is pleased with the release of two Turkish pilots kidnapped in Lebanon.

Sources said Abbas briefed Erdoğan on the latest developments in the Middle East peace process.

The leaders also agreed to be in touch with respect to regional developments. It was not clear if the officials talked about national reconciliation between Fatah, the party of Abbas, which rules the West Bank, and Hamas.

Source: Today’s Zaman.
Link: http://www.todayszaman.com//news-329599-turkey-donates-850000-for-gazas-energy-needs.html.