LEFKOSA, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

The president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) condemned Friday an attack on ambulances evacuating patients close to the Al-Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip.

Ersin Tatar expressed sorrow and concern to Anadolu for Israel's attacks on civilians in Palestine and criticized the silence of the international community.

Thirteen Palestinians were killed and 26 injured in the Israeli bombing earlier Friday that targeted ambulances in front of the main gate of the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, according to the enclave's Health Ministry.

The TRNC leader stressed that while mass killings were taking place against Turks on the island, the UN and the guarantor country, the UK, remained spectators.

"What is happening in Gaza is similar to what happened in Cyprus and Bosnia. The UN and the world, as always, remain spectators. No one wants to make sacrifices to save the lives of others."

The Israeli army has widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise offensive by the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, on Oct. 7.

Nearly 10,800 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 9,240 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.

*Writing by Seda Sevencan