ANKARA, (HAN) — Turkey has announced its readiness to send advanced equipment and engineering teams to Gaza to help search for the bodies of Israeli hostages believed to be trapped under rubble following weeks of bombardment.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the initiative is part of an international agreement aimed at facilitating humanitarian and technical operations in the war-torn enclave. The move, according to Ankara, seeks to counter Israel’s “pretexts” for resuming large-scale military operations in Gaza.
In a statement Thursday, the ministry emphasized that Turkey’s role is based on “humanitarian and technical grounds” and is intended to support peace efforts rather than military escalation.
“Turkey stands ready to provide technical assistance and humanitarian support to the people of Gaza and all parties involved,” a government spokesperson said. “Our goal is to protect civilian lives and eliminate any political justifications that could reignite the war.”
Turkish engineering teams, according to local media reports, would use advanced detection tools to inspect collapsed buildings and locate victims who may still be missing beneath the debris.
The offer comes as tensions remain high between Israel and Palestinian groups, with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepening. Turkey has long been among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military operations in the enclave.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has repeatedly expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people and urged the international community to pressure Israel to halt its attacks.
Analysts say Turkey’s latest offer reflects its growing role in regional humanitarian diplomacy and its effort to prevent Israel from using the hostage issue as justification for renewed military escalation in Gaza.
