ISRAEL APPROVES CONSTRUCTION OF TURKISH HOSPITAL IN GAZA

Tel Aviv, 26 Jumadil Awwal 1435/27 March 2014 (MINA) – Amid reports that Turkey and Israel may be on the verge of reconciling ties, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon approved plans by Turkey to construct a hospital in the Gaza Strip, authorities announced on Thursday.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj.-Gen. Yoav Mordechay, recommended that the government allow the entry of construction material, electrical equipment, telecommunications, and water supply infrastructure into Gaza to begin work on the hospital.

Turkey has asked that 570 trucks of material be allowed to enter the coastal enclave, The Jerusalem Post and Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

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Turkey began constructing the hospital in 2011 using materials smuggled into the territory through tunnels and this is first time Israel has let any in for the project.

Once completed, the hospital will be jointly run by Palestinian and Turkish doctors.

Turkey has long opposed Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and relations between the countries deteriorated in the aftermath of the IDF’s raid of the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara vessel in May 2010, in which nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists were killed.

Medical supplies and construction material

Turkish medical supplies and construction material have been allowed in to the Gaza Strip to build the Turkish Friendship Hospital, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper said today.

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The newspaper said Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon authorised Turkish access to the besieged Strip on Tuesday, amid speculations of a potential reconciliation deal with Turkey under which Israel will compensate victims of the Mavi Marmara ship in exchange of normalising Israeli-Turkish relations .

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc announced earlier this week that a reconciliation agreement will be signed at the end of the month after the local elections in Turkey.

The Israeli paper said that Ya’alon informed Turkey of his decision to allow entry for the 570 trucks of Turkish medical supplies through the Kerem Shalom crossing, southern Gaza Strip (T/E01/IR)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)