Turkey has threatened to take Israel to international courts after images surfaced online showing Israeli soldiers using Gaza’s only specialized cancer hospital as a military base.
The Turkish government also condemned repeated attacks by Israel’s military on the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, a facility located south of Gaza City that was built and equipped by Turkey.
“The photo in the Palestinian press showing a group of Israeli soldiers in front of the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital in Gaza is further evidence of Israel’s violation of international law and international humanitarian law,” stated Turkey’s foreign affairs ministry.
The ministry emphasized that the hospital is the “only center” providing medical care for cancer patients in Gaza. “The damage caused to the hospital by Israeli forces and its use as a military base is part of Israel’s systematic policy aimed at the annihilation of the Palestinian people,” the statement continued.
Turkey has vowed to ensure that “those responsible” are brought to justice in international courts.
Built in 2017 by the Turkish Corporation and Coordination Agency and operated by the Palestinian health ministry, the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital was considered one of Gaza’s largest medical facilities
However, it has been repeatedly targeted during Israel’s military offensive.
In October, Israeli war jets struck the hospital at least twice, causing extensive damage and leaving patients in a “state of panic,” according to Dr. Subhi Skaik, the hospital’s director general. A fire broke out on one floor but was eventually contained.
The situation worsened in November when the hospital was forced to shut down due to a lack of fuel, following a total siege imposed by Israel.
As a result, Turkey has been receiving Palestinian cancer patients from Gaza for treatment.
Turkey has consistently condemned Israel’s actions, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan branding Israel a “terror state” and calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be “tried as a war criminal.”
In response to the Gaza Genocide, Turkey halted all exports to Israel in May, prompting Tel Aviv to end all free trade with Ankara in a retaliatory move shortly thereafter.
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