Israel has sent 450 rescue workers to Turkey, the world’s second largest delegation just behind Turkey’s close ally Azerbaijan, in a special operation named ‘Olive Branches’. As of Friday, Israeli teams rescued 18 people people from the rubble.
In the southeastern Turkish city of Kahramanmaras, Israeli medical staff are providing care at an abandoned hospital restored by the Israeli military. Around 140 Israeli doctors and nurses, as well as other medical experts, are using specialist equipment sent from Israel in addition to the existing facilities left behind when the earthquake struck.
Meanwhile, in addition to the 450 aid workers, the IDF’s Military Intelligence Directorate, part of Unit 9900, is using sate-of-the-art satellite intelligence to help search and rescue teams in the field to pinpoint locations of the destruction sites from decoded satellite images.
Israel was one of the first nations to arrive in Turkey since Monday’s devastating earthquake, drawing the attention of international media, including this bulletin on Sky News.
On Friday, 100 hours after the quake, Israeli military search and rescue teams pulled a 10-year-old boy out of a collapsed building in Kahramanmaras, bringing the total number of Turkish civilians rescued by Israel to 18.
“The rescue teams provided the boy with lifesaving medical treatment during the rescue and afterward transferred him to a hospital for further medical treatment,” the IDF said.
WATCH: This morning, #Israeli rescue teams found and rescued a 10-year-old boy trapped in the ruins of a residence in the city of Kahramanmaraş in #Turkey.
Thus far, the Israeli delegation has rescued 18 trapped civilians in the #earthquake-stricken area.
🎥 IDF Spokesperson pic.twitter.com/pH8p1Och01— Israel National News – Arutz Sheva (@ArutzSheva_En) February 10, 2023
On Thursday, Israeli teams saved a 7-year-old girl from a collapsed building in the same city. The girl’s uncle gifted one of the Israeli rescuers an old coin as a token of gratitude.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel also plans to send aid to Syria, including tents, medication, and blankets despite the country considering Israel enemy and the two nations not having diplomatic ties. But Syrian sources vigorously denied requesting aid from Israel
The Israeli rescue team to Turkey 🇹🇷 , with 450 men and women, is the second largest international rescue team on the ground, after the one of Azerbaijan.
This morning the 18th survivor, a 10-year-old boy, was rescued by the Israeli team.
🇹🇷🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/GTkPttbleq
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) February 10, 2023
David Saranga, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official, said Friday morning that a ” large-scale aid shipment” would be delivered to Turkey in the near future, including tens of thousands of blankets, sleeping bags, coats, and winter equipment.
“Israel will also send large water purification systems that provide drinking water to thousands of people a day,” Saranga added.
🧵Update on #Israel🇮🇱 Operation “Olive Branches” in #Turkey🇹🇷
1️⃣A 450-member humanitarian delegation from 🇮🇱 is currently on the ground. @IsraelMFA @IDF @IsraelMOH @MoDIsrael
2️⃣@IDF search & rescue teams have rescued 17 people from the ruins so far. #TurkeyEarthquake pic.twitter.com/YFGsNFgf3C
— Israel Nitzan🇮🇱 (@IsraelNitzan) February 9, 2023
This year, we want to do more to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
We know that as we bless Israel this year, God will bless us, just as He promised in Genesis 12:3, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Now is the time to bless Israel and the Jewish people.
