Turkey Gains Foothold in Gaza Through Massive Aid
November 8, 2011
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is gaining influence in Gaza by increasing aid to Hamas 24-fold in the past two years, following the flotilla clash between Turkish-based IHH terror activists and the Israeli navy.
Relations between Israel and Turkey turned an about-face for the worse after the Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist operation in late December 2008 and early December 2009.
Afterwards, Erdogan increasingly supported Hamas and gave de facto Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh $2 milion a year in assistance, according to Al Jazeera. That sum now has reached $48 million annually, most of it from the Turkish government but some also from the terror-linked IHH group and other organizations that classify themselves as “humanitarian.”
Last May, Erdogan declared that Hamas, outlawed by the United States, is not a terrorist organization but actually is a political party against the ”occupation.”
He has made breaking the Israeli embargo on smuggling of terrorist weapons into Gaza a cause célèbre. Erdogan has demanded, without success, that Israel apologize for the clash with the IHH on the Mavi Marmara ship in May 2010, when IHH terror activists nearly clubbed to death Israeli commandos and kidnapped three of them until the soldiers were able to overcome the boat.
Turkish money is flowing into Gaza building projects, and Turkish flags and Erdogan’s picture are seen at construction sites in Gaza. Erdogan wanted to visit Gaza during a trip to Egypt in the summer but scrapped his plans, possibly because of Israeli oppositon.
One project is the “Turkish-Palestinian” hospital, for which Turkey has donated $34 million.
Similar posts
-
How Israel Helps Its Arab Neighbors
September 27, 2023Introduction Israel, a country known for its rich history and complex geopolitical landscape, ha...
-
The Amazing Country of Israel
September 15, 2023Introduction Nestled in the heart of the Middle East, Israel is a nation with a remarkable histo...
-
Israel Safeguards The World From Terror Attacks
August 23, 2023Introduction In an era where terrorism poses a significant threat to global security, Israel sta...
-
Israel Helps The World With Water Recycling
August 10, 2023Introduction In a world grappling with the challenges of water scarcity and resource management,...
-
Israel's Remarkable Female Soldiers
July 26, 2023Introduction When we think of the Israeli military, we often conjure up images of well-trained s...
-
About Gal Gadot's Cleopatra Movie
July 18, 2023By Katy Rath Gal Gadot's new Cleopatra movie has been steeped in both anticipation and controver...
-
Israel Empowers The World Through Innovation
July 10, 2023BY: SOLVE ISRAEL'S PROBLEMS Introduction:In recent years, Israel has emerged as a global powerho...
-
The Jerusalem Embassy, 5 Years Later
May 22, 2023By Nikki Haley On May 14, 2018, something incredible happened. The United States...
