Erdogan backs sail to Gaza

Turkish leader tells organizers he supports efforts to ‘break oppressive siege on Gaza Strip’

Roee Nahmias

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan told organizers of a sail to Gaza Tuesday that he would support them in their efforts to ‘break the oppressive siege on the Gaza Strip’.

The independent Palestinian news agency PNN reported that during the Istanbul meeting with members of the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG) Erdogan said the breaking of the siege was ‘at the top of Turkey’s list of priorities’.

He said he would also support efforts to rebuild “what the Israeli war machine destroyed 15 months ago”.

Israel’s recentacceptance into the ranks of the OECD also came up. “We must force Israel to lift the siege on Gaza and respect human rights as a condition for its acceptance into any international organization,” Erdogan said.

The website for IHH – the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief – said Sahin had been living in the West Bank since November 28 and was enrolled as a student at Israel’s Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The website for IHH – the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief – said Sahin had been living in the West Bank since November 28 and was enrolled as a student at Israel’s Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

It said the arrest was an Israeli attempt to stop the sail to Gaza and denied the Shin Bet’s allegations.

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