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Humanitarian ship from Turkey arrives in Ashdod

First humanitarian ship arrives from Turkey

Following Israel-Turkey deal, first humanitarian ship carrying food, medicine and toys arrives at Ashdod port before goods transferred to Gaza; Families try to block passage until soldiers' remains in Hamas hands are released

One week after Israel and Turkey signed a reconciliation agreement, the first Turksih ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza arrived at the port of Ashdod on Sunday afternoon.

 

 

The ship contained food, medicine and toys which will be transferred into the coastal strip following a security check by Israeli authorities.  

 

Aboard the ship was a 22-person crew, journalists, and people from the Red Crescent. All passengers were checked by the Interior Ministry and their entrance into Israel was approved.

 

First humanitarian ship arrives from Turkey to Ashdod (Photo: Avi Rokeach)
First humanitarian ship arrives from Turkey to Ashdod (Photo: Avi Rokeach)

 

On Sunday morning dozens demonstrated at the Kerem Shalom crossing against transferring the goods into Gaza and the arrival of the Turkish ship in particular, and attempted to block the passage of trucks and goods.

 

Among the demonstrators was the father of Oron Shaul, whose body was snatched by Hamas during Operation Protective Edge and Illan Sagi, father of Erez Sagi, who was killed during the Gaza incursion in 2014. A police presence accompanied the protest.  

 

The parents have vowed to continue to protest and block humanitarian aid shipments into Gaza as long as their son’s body, as well as that of Hadar Goldin, are held in Hamas captivity. Avrah Mangisto, also remains in Hamas’ hands and has been a focul point of the objections to the Israel-Turkey deal. Indeed, the three sets of parents have argued that to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza from Turkey constitutes the forfeiting of IDF soldiers.

 

"There is nothing more humanitarian than releasing the captured bodies of our sons in exchange for giving benefits to Gaza. It needs to be two concurrent humanitarian gestures," said Oron Shaul's parents.”

 

"Unilateral steps don't work, and we can not continue to abandon IDF soldiers who have been held in Gaza for two years since Operation Protective Edge," the parents continued. "We aren't against the agreement or aid reaching Gaza, but we believe that this agreement was a chance to release our boys. For this to happen the Israeli government and its leadership must make sure that this condition (the release of the bodies –ed) appears as a central component to the reconciliation agreement."

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.03.16, 17:32
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