A Turkish ship carrying 11,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid for Gaza arrived in the Israeli port of Ashdod Monday.
It is the first such shipment since 2010, when 10 pro-Palestinian Turkish activists in a flotilla were killed in clashes with Israeli commandos.
The vessels were trying to breach Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The incident caused a rift between the two countries, but they agreed to restore relations in a deal that was signed last week.
The Lady Leyla ship was carrying food, clothing and toys intended to arrive in Gaza in time for Eid celebrations marking the end of Ramadan.
It has been unloaded at Ashdod and the aid donations will be transported overland through Israel to Gaza.
Speaking on Sunday, Israeli spokesperson Oren Rosenblatt said: “This is an immediate implementation of the agreement between Israel and Turkey.
“There is a special effort by the Israeli government to speed up the process in order that some of the goods will be delivered tomorrow to Gaza before the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.”
Part of the deal agreed on 27 June was that Israel would allow Turkey to send aid to Gaza and carry out infrastructure projects there.
The two countries will appoint ambassadors and restore diplomatic ties.
Turkey’s Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said Israel had also agreed to pay $20m (£15m) in compensation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the agreement would help bring “stability” to the Middle East.
Courtesy: BBC.com
