Ankara: The Turkish Ministry of Defense warns of deteriorating conditions in Gaza and affirms its support for Syrian unity. The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that the humanitarian and living conditions in the Gaza Strip are deteriorating and becoming increasingly dangerous, calling on the international community to take concrete and effective steps to end the suffering of the Palestinians.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Turkish Defense Ministry spokesman Zeki Aktrk confirmed in a press conference that Israel continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, forcing the region’s inhabitants to flee. He added that more than 1,300 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire in Gaza came into effect. He also noted that the World Food Programme reported that two-thirds of Gaza’s population is facing critical or emergency levels of hunger.

In Lebanon, Aktrk explained that more than 4,300 people have been killed and more than 12,300 others injured as a result of Israeli attacks since March 2nd. Regarding the disbanding of the SDF (the Syrian branch of the PKK/YPG), the Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that “the disbanding and integration process is being closely monitored within the framework of strengthening Syrian territorial integrity and consolidating the principle of ‘one state, one army.'”

The Ministry continued, “In this context, the handover of weapons and military vehicles to the Syrian army is a natural requirement for the integration process and the principle of ‘one army.'” The Ministry added, “We assess that handing over the weapons and military vehicles left behind by elements of the former regime during the civil war, or provided by international parties under the pretext of combating terrorism, to the Syrian army will contribute to the smooth progress of the process.”

Turk noted that Turkish forces arrested 790 people attempting to cross the border illegally and prevented 887 others from crossing. This brings the total number of people apprehended while attempting illegal crossings since the beginning of the year to 10,445, while 49,394 others have been prevented from crossing.