Jerusalem, 20 August 2014
Second group of wounded Palestinians to leave Gaza for Turkey
(Communicated by MFA Spokesperson’s Bureau)
Seventeen Palestinians who were wounded during the recent conflict will be flown today to Turkey for medical treatment, under Israel’s international humanitarian cooperation policy following Operation Protective Edge. Each patient will be accompanied by one family member. Last Thursday (August 14), a first group, consisting of 19 patients and their accompanying relatives, left Gaza and flew to Turkey through Ben Gurion Airport, with the approval and coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and COGAT (Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories). One of the patients passed away while in hospital in Turkey, and his body will be returned today to Gaza.
Following the announcement of the ceasefire, the Foreign Ministry of Turkey approached Israel with the request to transfer wounded Palestinians from Gaza for treatment in Turkey. The Israeli MFA, coordinating with COGAT, approved the request for transfer by MDA ambulances to Ben Gurion Airport, and from there to Turkey.
The Palestinian patients were diagnosed in Gaza hospitals by Turkish physicians, who evaluated their medical condition and determined their ability to be flown.