Israel Once Again Sends Help Abroad, Flies 150-Person Aid Mission To Turkey

Israel, true to its long history of providing aid to disaster-stricken countries, has continued to do so. Sent A 150-person military mission was sent to Turkey Monday to assist in the aftermath of the huge 7.8 earthquake and its 7.5 aftershock, which shook Turkey to the foundations and killed approximately 3,000 people.

“Some 150 rescue experts are prepared to leave for Turkey in the next few hours. Of these, a third are headquarters and intelligence, and two-thirds have rescue, medical, and engineering capabilities,” Col. Golan Vach, commander of IDF National Rescue Unit stated.

“At the request of the Turkish government, I have instructed all authorities to make immediate preparations to provide medical, and search and rescue assistance,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu . “The foreign and defense ministers have already been in contact with their counterparts and we will — in the coming hours — agree on the dispatching of a delegation as soon as possible.”

“This is what we do around the world and this is what we do in areas close to us,” Netanyahu continued. “Since a request was also received to do this – for the many who were injured in the earthquake in Syria, I have instructed that this be done as well.”

Eli Cohen, Israeli Foreign Minister said that Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister, told him Turkey would. “welcome the Israeli aid.” The operation is titled “Olive Branches,” Two Israeli search-and-rescue teams were dispatched to Turkey on Monday. A second flight, containing all IDF medical and rescue personnel, was also planned. Defense Minister Yoav Galant approved that the IDF build a Turkish field hospital.

In a sign of compassion and friendship, the Tel Aviv municipal building is lit with the flags of Turkey. #earthquake.

Medical, search and rescue teams from #Israel are on their way to help in #Turkey. pic.twitter.com/QlxghWmYjC

— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) February 6, 2023

Israel sent 80 tons of supplies food, tents, generators, baby formula, diapers and bedding to the U.S, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, as well as first response aid to the victims of the massive 2004 tsunami that struck Indonesia and Sri Lanka. In 2005, Israel also sent food and supplies to Kashmir after an earthquake there; in 2008 Israell sent food to the Congo. In 2009 Israel sent relief to storm victims in the Philippines.

In January 2010, Israel sent over 200 members of a disaster relief team, the first relief team sent from anywhere in the world, to Haiti, which had been devastated by an earthquake. The next year, in March 2011, Israel was one of the first countries to send aid to Japan after crushing earthquakes struck there.

Israel has provided relief to over 140 countries.