An outpouring of thanks has been given by the Turkish people to Israel following the IDF’s return to Israel from their search and rescue mission.
Turkey’s Ambassador to Israel welcomed Israeli teams returning to Ben Gurion Airport after the aptly named ‘Operation Olives Branches’. Meanwhile online, hundreds of Turkish social media users flooded platforms with appreciation.
Here is just a sample of the comments from Turkish users responding to images of Israeli rescue workers:
“When we need help you were there and when you need help we will always be there. Türkiye will never forget you.Thanks a lot.
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“Thank you so much for your efforts and supports. God bless you all. Türkiye always remember your supports🙏
“We appreciate for everything you ve helped to us when we needed the most.”
“Şalom.. Thank you for all your hard work. You got a special place in Turkish nation heart
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“On behalf of my country, thank you very much for all your efforts and the many lives you have saved.”
“Endless thanks to the State of Israel and the people of Israel. We will never forget your kindness.”
Turkish ambassador thanks Israeli rescue teams
“Thank you very much Israel,” Shakir Ozkan Torunlar on Monday said in an official ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport.
Torunlar noted that it was “the largest national disaster of the past 100 years,” with 13.5 million people affected, over 31,000 casualties and nearly 100,000 wounded.
“But thanks to the friends of Turkey, many were saved by search and rescue teams in the field,” he said.
“The government of Israel was among the first to provide its team. I salute all who were among those who landed in the disaster zone and immediately started their task. You saved 19 Turks…followed by a field hospital being erected in less than 24 hours and becoming operational.”
He also went on to note the vast array of Israeli civil society and NGOs who “displayed exemplary solidarity with the Turkish people.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised the rescue teams for saving “19 worlds” and showing the world “the good and true face of the State of Israel,” which he said was “a small state with a giant soul.”
“The nation of Israel followed your work with great pride. You brought great honor to the State of Israel,” he said.
Israel’s search-and-rescue teams helped pull 19 people out of the rubble, and its medical team set up a field hospital operated by the IDF so far treating over 400 survivors. Israel has provided Turkey with 60 tons of humanitarian assistance, including winter clothing, medical supplies and equipment.
Earlier this week in Ankara, Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu lauded the improved bilateral ties between the two countries during a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart, saying the two countries have “opened a new page,” as evidenced by the Israeli support after the earthquake.
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.
