ZAKA delegation leaves for Turkey

Israeli emergency response and rescue service ZAKA says it has sent a delegation to Turkey to assist victims of today’s suicide attack in Istanbul.

The delegation left from Ben Gurion Airport to Turkey where they will be joined by local rescue teams.

Mati Goldstein, ZAKA’s international unit commander, says five volunteers are on their way to Turkey. “ZAKA has extensive experience in the international arena and we pray that the bodies will be released soon to be buried in Israel and the wounded transferred to Israel for medical treatment,” he says.

ZAKA chairman, Yehuda Meshi-Zahav, adds: “ZAKA has extensive experience on the international level, with delegations of ZAKA attending major natural disasters and terrorist attacks around the world. ZAKA has also helped Turkey previously at a major attack and returned to Israel the Israelis who were killed. We are in contact with the Jewish community in Turkey to help in any mission required.”