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Türkiye has appointed Ambassador Mehmet Gulluoglu as the humanitarian aid coordinator for Palestine to oversee and streamline the country’s humanitarian operations in Gaza, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
The appointment aims to ensure the effective delivery and coordination of Türkiye’s humanitarian assistance as the country intensifies efforts to accelerate the flow of aid, set up temporary shelters for displaced civilians, and contribute to the reconstruction of the war-torn enclave, the sources said.
Gulluoglu and his team arrived in Gaza on Wednesday. His mission includes coordinating Türkiye’s humanitarian activities on the ground and maintaining close cooperation with local authorities, relevant institutions, and international partners.
Gulluoglu will assess priority needs in Gaza, coordinate with U.N. agencies, and support their ongoing operations in the region. He will also facilitate the efficient delivery of aid from Türkiye to civilians in need, consult local authorities regarding aid routes through Egypt and Jordan, and enhance Türkiye’s medical support for Gaza, including the evacuation of patients for treatment.
Türkiye has a longstanding tradition of providing humanitarian assistance swiftly and impartially to those affected by wars, natural disasters, and mass displacements, regardless of language, religion, race, or gender.
Located in a region frequently affected by crises, Türkiye has delivered significant humanitarian support to neighboring countries, particularly Palestine and Syria.
Since the start of Israel’s attacks in October 2023, Türkiye has been among the leading contributors of humanitarian aid to Gaza, sending approximately 102,000 tons of supplies by sea and air. The recent cease-fire has created an opportunity to deliver aid more sustainably and in greater quantities.
As part of its ongoing support, Türkiye dispatched a ship carrying about 865 tons of humanitarian relief supplies from Mersin Port to Egypt’s El Arish Port on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s economy faces a prolonged recovery, with economists estimating it could take more than two decades to return to prewar levels of output.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced last week that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a plan he unveiled on Sept. 29 to bring a cease-fire to Gaza, secure the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and enable a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave. The first phase of the deal took effect last Friday.
Under the agreement, Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages and handed over the remains of 10 captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Phase two of the plan envisions the establishment of a new governing mechanism in Gaza without Hamas’ participation, the deployment of a multinational stabilization force, and the disarmament of the group.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed nearly 68,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, leaving Gaza largely uninhabitable.
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