North declares ‘national mourning’ after Gaza hospital blast

The north declared a three-day period of “national mourning” on Thursday following a deadly bombing of the Al-Ahli al-Arabi Baptist hospital in Gaza on Tuesday.

‘Prime minister’ Unal Ustel announced the move on Turkish television channel TRT Haber at around midnight.

A period of national mourning was initially declared by Palestine, with the Palestinian Embassy in Nicosia announcing it will open a condolence book on Thursday and Friday.

Turkey and Egypt then followed suit, with the north joining the list of countries observing the mourning period.