Qatari-Turkish Ship Carrying 1,908 Tons of Humanitarian Aid Sets Sail to Gaza Strip
Mersin, May 8, 2024
HE Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, saw off on Wednesday a Turkiye-Qatar Gaza Goodness Ship departing from the Mersin International Port loaded with 1,908 tons of humanitarian aid for the besieged Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The Qatar Fund for Development delivered 1,358 tons of the total load, and 550 tons was given by the Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) of the sisterly Republic of Turkiye.
In a speech on the occasion of the launch of the aid ship from the Turkish port to Gaza, Her Excellency hailed the move as another image of the close fraternal cooperation between the State of Qatar and the sisterly Republic of Turkiye.
Her Excellency added that the ship carrying more than 1,900 tons of humanitarian and relief aid, set sail from Mersin International Port to the Port of El-Arish in the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, to support brothers in the Gaza Strip, who have been struggling for seven months with the horrors of killing, forced displacement, and hunger, while producing unforgettable stories of steadfastness and sacrifice that inspired the whole world.
Her Excellency pointed out that this ship is the latest in a series of established and ongoing cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Turkiye in all fields that serve common interests and enhance security, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.
Her Excellency stressed that the flow of sustainable and unhindered humanitarian aid to the entire Gaza Strip is a humanitarian duty and a legal obligation that falls primarily on the occupation forces, according to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
She pointed out that the Israeli occupation forces' bombing of the municipality of Rafah, and their invasion of the land crossing, stopped the humanitarian aid delivery, and that the killing and intimidation forced a re-displacement of those who were displaced to those areas, due to the occupation forces themselves.
The Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the launch of this ship expresses the joint Qatari-Turkish vision regarding the catastrophic and unprecedented humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the need for concerted regional and international efforts to address it by all means.
Her Excellency also stressed the need to take the necessary measures for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, in addition to stopping the policy of collective punishment, and stopping the use of food and aid as a weapon in this war, as well as providing full protection for civilians in accordance with international law and international humanitarian law.
She said that the State of Qatar is still continuing its mediation efforts in partnership with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America to reach an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, release prisoners and detainees, ensure the arrival of more humanitarian aid, and protect civilians in the Strip, paving the way for the launch of a serious political process that leads to a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian cause in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.
Her Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar appreciates the great humanitarian and development efforts made by the Republic of Turkiye in the Gaza Strip and at the regional and international levels to consolidate the foundations of security and stability, stressing in this regard that the joint Qatar-Turkiye cooperation in many other files will benefit millions around the world.
Her Excellency expressed the State of Qatars pride in the level of growing strategic relations with the Republic of Turkiye, explaining that these relations derive their strength from the spirit of brotherhood, solidarity, mutual support and common denominator between the two brotherly peoples.