Source: Daily Sabah

Türkiye will not discuss any energy-related projects with Israel without a cease-fire in Gaza, as it would be disrespectful to Palestinians who are experiencing great brutality, a senior official said late Tuesday.

“In such an atmosphere, in an environment of such great brutality, human drama, it would be disrespectful to humanity, to our humanity, to our brothers and sisters there (in Palestine) to talk about any project,” Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar told a private broadcaster.

“The only thing we will talk about at this time is how we can meet Gaza’s electricity, water and food needs. This could happen. That would be the only project,” he said.

Israel has launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by the resistance group Hamas on Oct. 7.

Pointing out that life has stopped in the region after the Gaza attacks, Bayraktar said: “After the great brutality and cruelty experienced there, the only project we can talk about right now is how we can get Gaza’s electricity back on its feet again.”

“We have sent generators. They are waiting at the Rafah border crossing,” he added.

“We are considering how we can contribute there with floating power plants and mobile power plants, which we call power ships,” the minister said, reiterating it is impossible to talk about anything without a cease-fire.

Despite growing calls for a cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear there will not be one unless the hostages are freed.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday that the death toll from Israeli’s intensified onslaught on the Gaza Strip has risen to 10,328 people. Amid the soaring death toll, basic necessities are quickly running out in Gaza after Israel imposed a “full siege” on the enclave that has nearly halted ground humanitarian aid deliveries.

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