Israel and Egypt have refused access to their airports by the Turkish air force aircraft sent to airlift wounded Palestinians amid escalating diplomatic tension between Ankara and Tel Aviv in the aftermath of the massacre of over 60 Palestinians killed by the Israel army in Gaza.
Turkey’s deputy Prime Minister Recep Akdag Wednesday lamented the refusal during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, state-run news agency Anadolu reports.
“Standing beside our oppressed brothers is a humane duty for us,” Akdag is quoted as saying.
Turkish health ministry Tuesday announced it was coordinating with the army the evacuation of Gaza Palestinians wounded Monday in the bloodshed after the massacre of over 60 Palestinian killed by Israeli snipers near the eastern fence between the enclave and the Jewish state.
About 3,000 Palestinians were wounded in the protest staged to reject the inauguration of the US embassy in the disputed city of Jerusalem. It also coincided with the 70th anniversary of ‘Nakba’ marking the eviction of Palestinians from territories representing today’s Israel.
Some of the wounded have been also reportedly evacuated to Egypt.
Turkey emerged as the leading Muslim country to take the defense of Palestinians. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, seating president of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), slammed Israel and called its action genocide.
He rejected Israel’s blame on Hamas saying that the Islamist movement is a resistance movement defending Palestinian lands against an occupier.
Wednesday Erdogan chided the UN over its silence on Israel’ tyranny, Anadoly noted.
“The UN is finished, ended, collapsed. At this moment, I cannot reach the UN secretary general despite having a good friendship [with him],” Erdogan said.
