With distraction moves, Ankara is trying to cause problems in the international transfer initiative humanitarian aid towards the Gauze. The announcements that have been made in the last 24 hours from the Turkish side, if finally implemented, are very likely to cause serious reactions primarily from the side of Israelpossibly also from the United States, which have take a leading role throughout the venture.
The international community, after meeting in Larnaca last week, is working in concert in order to implement the decisions that have been taken with a view to the transfer of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The quay that the Americans will build is expected, as President Christodoulidis said yesterday, even before May 1, which was the original goal. The United Nations, for its part, is proceeding with the implementation of what was agreed in Larnaca, as far as it is concerned.
According to our information, the UN coordinator for Gaza, Sigrit Kaag, sent a letter yesterday to the General Directorate of ECHO (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations) in which she requests that the financing of the various initiatives that were agreed upon in order to implement what they had agreed to support the civilian population in Gaza.
In Larnaca the ship Jennifer is ready to sail to Gaza. According to information, the second ship that will transport humanitarian aid to Gaza is expected to leave within the next 24 hours, possibly tomorrow Saturday. Jennifer’s journey will take (according to KYPE) about three days, as she will also carry the platform that the Open Arms ship had carried with her to Gaza. It is also expected that the ship Open Arms and an auxiliary vessel will accompany the Jennifer, to transport equipment. Both the ships, the Open Arms, which made its first humanitarian aid trip to Gaza through Larnaca port about two weeks ago, and the Jennifer, are part of missions organized by the non-governmental organization, World Central Kitchen.
Turkey, which was absent from the international gathering in Larnaca, is making moves that raise several questions as to their expediency. On Wednesday, Turkey’s Foundation for Humanitarian Aid (IHH) unveiled two new ships that will carry aid directly to the Gaza Strip, where Palestinians are facing starvation, nearly six months after the war began. IHH President Bulent Yildirim inspected the new ships purchased for the Gaza aid program entitled “International Freedom Fleet” in the port of Istanbul. One of them, the Anadolu, has a capacity of 5,500 tons and will be loaded with various types of humanitarian aid, while the others will carry personnel, including doctors. It is not known when the ships will set sail for Gaza and where or how they will deliver aid to the enclave once there.
Until now, Turkey has been sending aid to Gaza through Egypt. The Turkish organization for dealing with natural disasters and emergencies AFAD and the General Directorate of Institutions, have prepared the 8th ship with aid to the Palestinians of Gaza which will be channeled, as in the previous cases, through Egypt.
Reports of a shipment directly to Gaza raise questions about Turkish intentions considering that currently no aid shipments are channeled to the Palestinian enclave without Israeli control. The transfer of aid through the “Amalthia” program is once again implemented after relevant control and approval by the Israeli authorities. Turkey is on a daily basis in conflict with the Israeli side due to the war in Gaza and no signs of cooperation have appeared so far. This means that Turkey will have to come to an agreement with Israel to allow its ships to approach Gaza. An additional question mark that is raised is the attitude that the Americans will take to such a development.
In the entire effort to transfer aid from Cyprus to Gaza, the Training Center for Land and Maritime Security and Port Security (CYCLOPS) in Larnaca, has a significant role. Something that was also pointed out in the recent meeting that President Christodoulidis had with a group of senior American officers participating in the implementation of the “Amalthia” program. Yesterday the President of Estonia, Alan Karis, visited the CYCLOPS facilities where he was informed about the operation of the center. Xenia Strouthou, assistant operator, said that “a presentation was made of the Center, the existing laboratories and the equipment we have for the humanitarian corridor in Gaza but also the trainings we offer”.