Ashraf AboArafe
Coinciding with President Erdogan’s visit to Cairo, the Turkish Presidency’s Communications Department organized a discussion panel there entitled “Turkish-Egyptian relations… regional developments and challenges” that brought together academics and government officials from the two countries to discuss the situation in Gaza and ways to enhance joint cooperation.
Dr. Cagatay Ozdemir, Deputy Head of the Turkish Communications Department, participated in the meeting, which touched on the health and humanitarian aid provided by Turkey and Egypt to Palestine, cooperation in this field, and relations between the two countries, in addition to academics, government officials from the two countries, researchers, and representatives of civil society organizations.
The meeting discussed the evaluation of various diplomatic projects and activities led by the two important countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, to improve health services and provide humanitarian aid in Gaza, in addition to plans to enhance bilateral cooperation, and the efforts of the two countries to ensure stability in the region.
The head of the Turkish Communications Department, Fakhr al-Din Altun, stressed in a written message the importance of the meeting held in Cairo, whether with regard to the Palestinian issue or other regional issues.
Altoun pointed out that the most important issue preoccupying the region and the Islamic world in recent months is the situation of the Palestinians in the face of brutal Israeli attacks, saying that more than 28,000 Palestinians, most of them children and women, were martyred, and more than 67,000 people were injured in the ongoing Israeli attacks since October 7. Last October.
Alton also mentioned that the Palestinians who fled random Israeli bombs now have to face hunger, cold and infectious diseases, and that the humanitarian crisis left by the war is worsening daily.
He stressed that Turkey has been standing by the Palestinians since October 7 until today, pointing out that in this context, Turkey has implemented various projects to improve health services in Gaza and provide humanitarian aid, in addition to its political and diplomatic initiatives.
Altoun stressed that “cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt towards Gaza has become an urgent necessity.”
He pointed out that Turkey provided medical equipment and medicines to hospitals in Gaza and sent humanitarian aid materials, and stated that they also supported the training of medical teams and implemented projects to strengthen the health infrastructure in Gaza.
In addition, Altoun reported that hundreds of patients and their companions were evacuated from Gaza to Turkey during the aforementioned period for their treatment.
He added that Egypt has a special position and position with regard to the aid provided and intended to be provided to Palestine, saying: “The Rafah crossing, Gaza’s only land crossing to the outside world other than the Israeli side, is located on the Egyptian border… In this context, Egypt plays an extremely vital role in delivering aid.” Humanity to Gaza and in the field of mediation.”
He pointed out that according to United Nations and UNRWA data, the number of aid trucks entering Gaza has fallen to less than 200 trucks per day since January 24, adding that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi criticized the current situation by saying: “We were sending 600 trucks per day to Gaza.” . But in the last two-three days, we have not been able to send more than 200-220 trucks a day. How do people live there?!”
Altoun said: “We realize that the Egyptian people and the Egyptian state play a constructive role in solidarity with Palestine and in solving regional problems. The current circumstances make cooperation between Türkiye and Egypt an urgent necessity.”
Altun concluded his message by emphasizing that the panel discussion organized by the Turkish Communications Department provides a framework for consultation and strengthening the joint efforts of the two countries in this regard.
