construction in Gaza
construction in GazaIsrael news photo: Flash 90

The IDF gave permission to two Turkish groups to visit Gaza. The permits were signed by IDF General Eitan Dangot, who is in charge of government relations in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.

The Turkish groups include a delegation from the Turkish Red Crescent Society. The group of 14 doctors, nurses, and medical personnel visited a new hospital being built in Gaza with Turkish money. The group also visited an agricultural project Turkey is funding. The second delegation consists of executives from the construction firm that is building the hospital. No date has been set for that visit.

The visits were cleared by the IDF after Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon approved them, based on a promise by the Turkish groups that they would not meet with Hamas terrorist group officials.

Earlier, reports in the Egyptian press said that a planned visit by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan was canceled by Egyptian authorities. A message on social network Twitter by Ibrahim Kalın, chief advisor to Erdogan, said that the visit was canceled to the “prolonged crisis” in Egypt. However, sources in Egypt said that the reason Erdogan was not welcome was concern over his Islamist positions and his affinity for the Muslim Brotherhood.