Israel denies Turkey's request to drop aid into Gaza, Turkish foreign minister says

Israel denies Turkey's request to drop aid into Gaza, Turkish foreign minister says

Israel has denied Turkey's request to join air drops of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, Turkey's foreign minister said. 

Hakan Fidan said Ankara will take new measures against Israel in response but did not elaborate.

Pic: Reuters

Turkey, which has denounced Israel for its Gaza offensive and called for an immediate ceasefire, has sent tens of thousands of tonnes of humanitarian aid there since the start of the war.

The US started dropping deliveries of aid into Gaza by air last month, with the Netherlands, France, Spain and others contributing. 

"We also conveyed our request to be included in this humanitarian aid operation with (Turkish) air forces' cargo planes. Today we learnt that our request was rejected by Israel, despite a positive approach by the Jordanian authorities," Mr Fidan said in a statement.

Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Mr Fidan said there was "no excuse" for the blocking of aid and that the measures in response "will continue until Israel declares a ceasefire and allows humanitarian aid to reach Gaza without interruption".