Israel to let Turkey bring construction materials into Gaza Strip

Israel has agreed to let Turkey transfer building materials into the Gaza Strip as part of an upcoming reconciliation agreement, the Ha'aretz daily reported Thursday. According to the report, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon approved a request earlier this week to let Turkey bring construction, communication and medical equipment into the Gaza Strip in order to build a hospital there. Turkey initiated the project back in 2011 and relied on smuggling tunnels to get equipment into the strip. Israel did allow Turkey to get medical equipment into the strip last year, but stopped in October when a smuggling tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip to a community in southern Israel was discovered. Turkish media outlets reported that a reconciliation agreement between Israel and Turkey is on the verge of being signed in the coming month, which is set to include a complete normalization of diplomatic relations. Ties between the countries became stained following the Mavi Marmara flotilla incident in 2010, when Israeli soldiers stormed the Turkish ship carrying activists and supplies on board as it approached the Gaza coast, causing the death of nine Turkish citizens. Israeli and Turkish officials started negotiations in December 2013 trying to normalize relations. Enditem