Israel to give Syria earthquake assistance, Netanyahu says

Israel plans to provide humanitarian assistance to Syria in the aftermath of Monday’s devastating earthquakes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“A request was... received to do this for the many who were injured in the earthquake in Syria, I have instructed that this be done,” he said at a cornerstone-laying ceremony for a new hospital in Tel Aviv.

Israel has never had diplomatic relations with Syria, which sits on its northern border and has fought against the Jewish state in at least four wars. Both Tehran and Moscow have a military presence in Syria, and the Israel Air Force often conducts aerial raids there.

The Syrian pro-government newspaper Al-Watan cited an official source as denying Damascus had made such a request of Israel.

Netanyahu, however, spoke about the request when he addressed his Likud faction in the Knesset, stating that Syria’s need for humanitarian assistance had been relayed to Israel by a diplomatic party.

Asked who had made the request, an Israeli official told Reuters, “The Syrians.” Asked if this referred to opposition members or to President Bashar Assad’s government, the official said only, “Syria.”

KAN said in an unsourced report that Russia had relayed the request for Israel to assist Syria.

Past IDF humanitarian aid to Syrians

Israel has in the past helped victims of Syria’s civil war by treating the wounded at field hospitals on the borders and in the country’s established medical centers. The IDF also ran Operation Good Neighbor program by which it provided medical and humanitarian supplies to Syria.

But it’s highly unusual for Israel to receive a direct request for Syrian assistance.

KAN reported that Israel would deliver blankets, tents and medicine to Syria, according to a discussion that took place earlier among the political echelon. However, a senior IDF official denied any government intention to send aid to Syria.

Israel moved forward publicly on Monday with earthquake assistance to Turkey, but it was not clear if any movement had taken place regarding aid to Syria.

Not all Israeli assistance to earthquake victims has been governmental. The Israeli nonprofit group SmartAid said it was planning to help survivors there by working through local nongovernmental groups.

Reuters contributed to this report.