Turkey sees the airdrop of humanitarian aid to Gaza and a plan to transfer relief by sea route as positive advances, but believes they fall short of resolving the main issue, according to a foreign ministry spokesman on Wednesday.
Turkey, a NATO member, has been harshly critical of Israel’s operations on Gaza and has supported efforts to prosecute its officials at the World Court for genocide. It has consistently demanded a rapid cease-fire, sent thousands of tons of aid, and pushed the West to put pressure on Israel to expand aid shipments.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oncu Keceli told reporters at a briefing in Ankara that Turkey has provided 9,000 tons of medical equipment and newborn supplies, as well as many parachutes, to Jordan.
“We see the United States’ efforts to find a solution to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the outcome of worldwide public pressure. On the other hand, we believe that the true source of the problem needs to be addressed,” he stated.
“Attempting to deliver relief by air or water is admirable in a way. But focusing on such palliative measures rather than the genuine issue appears to us as an attempt to avoid the source of the problem,” he added, adding that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and his delegation emphasized this to US officials during meetings in Washington last week.
Keceli claimed that sending aid by land was easier, cheaper, and more effective.
