Ashraf AboArafe
On the first morning of a year heavy with wounds yet full of longing for relief, the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Cairo welcomed 2026 with a powerful humanitarian gesture — organizing an event titled “Meeting with Palestinians,” bringing Gaza’s pain and hope into the heart of the Egyptian capital.
Hosted in cooperation with the Embassy of Palestine in Cairo and the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation, the gathering brought together around 200 Palestinian families at the Turkish Embassy. Food aid and financial support were distributed, amid the attendance of nearly 100 journalists, social-media influencers, and Palestinian and Egyptian artists, who came to echo solidarity and presence.
The program opened with verses from the Holy Qur’an, recited by the young child-reciter Omar Ali, dedicated to the souls of Gaza’s martyrs and its wounded — a recitation that flowed like prayer and sorrow intertwined.
In his address, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Cairo, Salih Mutlu Şen, affirmed Türkiye’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people, describing 2026 as “a decisive year for Gaza and beyond.” He emphasized Ankara’s desire to show its support in a tangible way — by beginning the new year directly among Gaza’s families.
Ambassador Şen reminded attendees that Türkiye, alongside Egypt, the United States, and Qatar, played a central role in drafting the peace plan signed in Sharm El-Sheikh on 13 October 2025, and reaffirmed Ankara’s commitment to pursuing lasting peace and stability.
He also revealed that approximately 520,000 people — government officials, policymakers, cultural figures and artists — had taken part in a mass solidarity march on Galata Bridge in Istanbul, drawing the world’s attention to the ongoing massacre in Palestine.
Reiterating Türkiye’s continued humanitarian engagement, Şen noted the recent arrival of the 19th aid ship at the Port of Arish, where its cargo was delivered for relief operations. He further shared that the Turkish Embassy in Cairo has already hosted nearly 1,500 Palestinians from Gaza as part of ongoing solidarity programs, promising that material and moral support — including healthcare, food, and rental assistance — will continue in cooperation with Turkish and Egyptian official institutions and civil-society organizations. Türkiye, he said, “will not abandon its responsibility.”
Speaking on the medical dimension of support, the Ambassador stated that IHH officials — a key partner in the event — stand ready to assist Palestinians who have lost limbs and require prosthetics and orthopedic devices. He also extended heartfelt appreciation to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and to the Egyptian people.
He added that Türkiye’s Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, recently visited Cairo at the invitation of Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Dr. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar. During the visit, the minister toured Nasser Institute Hospital, where Palestinian patients and the wounded are receiving treatment, expressing deep concern and reaffirming Türkiye’s commitment to continuing medical support — especially inside Gaza.
