Turkish Forum

Tag: Mavi Marmara

  • Turkish NGO reiterates plans for second Gaza flotilla

    Turkish NGO reiterates plans for second Gaza flotilla

    Istanbul – The Turkish non-governmental organization that was the main sponsor of an aid flotilla to Gaza last May that ended in the killing of nine pro-Palestinian activists by Israeli forces reiterated its plans on Friday to launch another flotilla in June.

    Bulent Yildirim, the chairman of the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), said the Freedom Flotilla 2 would set sail in the last week of June and again attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

    Yildirim said the flotilla, which is being organized by the IHH and 21 other groups, would consist of 15 ships with a total of 1,500 activists from more than 100 countries.

    ‘If you interfere this time, it will be your loss,’ Yildirim said, addressing the government of Israel.

    Turkish-Israeli relations have been at rock bottom since Israeli commandos shot eight Turkish citizens and a Turkish-American onboard the Mavi Marmara, one of six ships in the flotilla, in international waters.

    Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and demanded an official apology and compensation from Israel in response to the attack, which was condemned by many countries.

    Israel has refused to make an apology or consider compensation, saying it acted in self-defence.

    The IHH had previously announced that it would send a second flotilla on the one-year anniversary of the Mavi Marmara incident but later decided to delay the launch until after Turkish parliamentary elections on June 12.

    The United States has warned Turkey that sending another flotilla to the Gaza Strip would not be helpful, Turkey’s semi-official Anatolia Agency reported Thursday.

    ‘In the year since the last flotilla episode, Israel has changed the humanitarian regime for Gaza, (and) made very clear that there are alternative ways to get humanitarian assistance to Gaza,’ Philip Gordon, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian affairs, was quoted as saying.

    ‘We have asked [the Turkish government] to make clear to any Turkish NGOs that might want to send a ship that they should really find this other path,’ Gordon said at a Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee hearing Wednesday.

    Yildirim criticized the United States’ government’s support for Israel, which he said was isolating itself internationally due to its treatment of the Palestinians.

    ‘This is just one step in the path towards freedom,’ he said. ‘If you don’t stop this unjustness, the entire Arab Spring will fail,’ Yildirim said.

    via Turkish NGO reiterates plans for second Gaza flotilla – Monsters and Critics.

  • Turkey Demands Israel Give Names of Counter-Terror Commandos

    Turkey Demands Israel Give Names of Counter-Terror Commandos

    by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

    Follow Israel news on Twitter and Facebook.

    Turkey has petitioned Israel to identify the names of the Navy commandos who stopped the IHH flotilla last May from reaching Hamas-controlled Gaza and killed nine terrorists.

    The Turkish daily Today%u2019s Zayman reported Saturday that %u201CIstanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office has submitted a letter to Israeli judicial authorities, demanding the identity of responsible people%u201D in the counterterrorist operation. The letter demanded names and contact details along with an official copy of information and documents related to the incident.

    Turkey has accused Israel of premediated murder and its probe of the May 31 flotilla clash implicated Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak.

    The incident froze what already were frigid relations between Israel and Turkey, which was a long-time friend of the Jewish State until Operation Cast Lead two years ago and Prime Minister Erdogan’s rapprochement with fundamental Islam, Syria and Iran.

    The flotilla clash sparked international accusations against Israel, which contained some of the condemnation with documented evidence that the IHH %u201Chumanitarian aid” flotilla was a camouflage for an intended armed conflict with Israeli soldiers.

    An inspection of the Mavi Marmara boat, which was the only one of the six ships in the flotilla that was involved in the clash, contained no humanitarian aid at all.

    Videos taken from the ship showed that IHH activists took and made weapons on board and attacked the Navy commandos, which were unarmed except for paint-ball guns and revolvers, as they descended on deck from hovering helicopters.

    Another flotilla, including the Mavi Marmara ship, is being planned in June to test the Israeli maritime blockade on Hamas-controlled Gaza, where the terrorist organization has smuggled in advanced weapons, terrorists and hundreds of tons of explosives over the past several years.

    (IsraelNationalNews.com)

    via Turkey Demands Israel Give Names of Counter-Terror Commandos – Defense/Middle East – Israel News – Israel National News.

  • Turkey wants names of Israelis who stormed flotilla

    Turkey wants names of Israelis who stormed flotilla

    Turkey wants names of Israelis who stormed flotilla: report

    (AFP) – 1 day ago

    ISTANBUL — Turkish officials have asked Israel for the names and addresses of the soldiers who led a raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla that killed nine Turks last May, a pro-government newspaper said Saturday.

    Turkey’s top prosecutor sent a letter to Israeli officials asking for the identities of both the soldiers who stormed the Turkish flagged Mavi Marmana and the political and military leaders involved in the operation, according to the Zaman newspaper.

    The letter was transmitted through Turkey’s justice and foreign ministries, the paper said.

    The request is part of Turkey’s ongoing investigation for premeditated murder, which has already implicated Israeli President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, defence minister Ehud Barak and foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman.

    The Mavi Marmana, dispatched by the Turkish humanitarian organisation IHH was stormed by Israeli forces on May 31 in international waters as it approached Gaza, hoping to breach a blockade on the area imposed by Israel.

    Nine Turkish nationals were killed in the operation, including one person who also had US citizenship.

    Israel’s action provoked widespread international condemnation and Turkish President Abdullah Gul said bilateral relations between the two countries “would never be the same again.”

    In January, an Israeli inquiry ruled that the raid was in keeping with international law.

    Ankara said it was “stunned and dismayed” by the finding.

    Another aid convoy, which includes the Mavi Marmana, is expected to set out for Gaza in late June.

    Last month Israel expressed concern over the planned mission, calling it an “incitement to violence.”

    Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved. More »

    via AFP: Turkey wants names of Israelis who stormed flotilla: report.

  • Turkey Resolved To Take Any Measures To Protect Rights Of Its Citizens

    Turkey Resolved To Take Any Measures To Protect Rights Of Its Citizens

    Turkey’s foreign minister said on Tuesday that Turkish Republic was resolved to protect rights of its citizens.

    281210 ta karar12

    “We are still waiting for apology and indemnity from Israel,” Foreign Minister Davutoglu said while commenting on Turkey’s expectations from Israel because of attack of Mavi Marmara ship.

    Speaking to reporters at a news conference with Abdurrahman Hamad Al-Attiyah, Secretary-General of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Davutoglu said Turkey’s stance on the matter was clear.

    “Turkey expressed its views on the Israeli attack on Mavi Marmara ship and the aid convoy in many platforms. There is no need to reiterate them. Our stance is explicit. Turkish Republic is capable of protecting the rights of its citizens and resolved to take every kind of measures to protect those rights. No change is in question in our stance.Turkey’s views, expectations and demands have been expressed. We will continue to exert every kind of diplomatic efforts for our demands to be met. There are different statements coming from the Israeli party,” Davutoglu said.

    On May 31, Israeli soldiers attacked the “Palestine Our Route Humanitarian Aid Our Load” flotilla in international waters. Nine activists were killed and 54 others were injured by Israeli attacks.

    -DAVUTOGLU TO TRAVEL TO IRAQ-

    Asked to comment on his planned visit to Iraq, Davutoglu said he was planning a visit to Iraq on January 10-11. “We had a telephone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki after he established the government. We decided to have second meeting of High Level Strategic Cooperation Council soon.”

    Davutoglu said works regarding the details of the meeting continued and necessary statements would be made soon, adding Turkey’s support to Iraq would always continue.

    Iraq’s parliament approved last week Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his government, nine months after the general elections.

    AA

  • Mavi Marmara returns to Istanbul

    Mavi Marmara returns to Istanbul

    Hassan Ghani, Press TV, Istanbul

    She sailed through the very sea she was named after, before she finally reached home. It was here, at the very same dock, that the Mavi Marmara set off on a mission of mercy to gaza seven months ago.

    That effort, dubbed the freedom flotilla, with seven ships in total, was attacked in international waters by the Israeli military. Nine aid workers were killed in the incident, including 8 Turks and one US citizen, with almost 60 more injured.

    As she pulled into Sarayburnu port, the Mavi Marmara was welcomed by thousands of well-wishers. But the celebrations were tinged with sadness with the presence of the families of those killed. But they too stood by the effort to break the Israeli siege of Gaza.

    Also among the crowd were some of the hundreds of volunteers from around the world who’d been onboard when the ship was attacked.

    Ahsan Shamruk, a Palestinian who now lives in London, was shot twice in the back of the head.

    See and hear Ahsan Shamruk who says he has mixed feelings because he is reminded of the bloodshed on the sihp

    Israel has continued to insist that its military acted properly, and that the organisers of the flotilla wanted a confrontation. But those claims have been branded as laughable by the activists who were onboard the ships.

    A recent UN fact-finding mission concluded that the Israeli attack breached both international humanitarian law and human rights law, and that it betrayed unacceptable levels of brutality. The incident has also strained relations between Turkey and Israeli, with the Turkish government continuing to demand an apology from Israel.

    The IHH charity remains defiant. It organised the Turkish contingent of the flotilla including the Mavi Marmara, and has pledged to send an even larger flotilla of ships to break the siege again in May of 2011.

    Israel insists that its commandos were dealing with a serious threat when they opened fire onboard this vessel. But that narrative has been disputed by every single passenger who was onboard this ship. And Bulet Yildirim, the head of the IHH, says that the ship is now not only a symbol of conscience, but also now a symbol of freedom.

    via PressTV – Mavi Marmara returns to Istanbul.

  • Israeli Parliament to Discuss Turkey’s Demands Over Activists Killings

    Israeli Parliament to Discuss Turkey’s Demands Over Activists Killings

    131210 inga tartistiIsraeli lawmakers are expected to convene on Wednesday in a parliamentary session to discuss Turkey’s demand for an official apology and compensation for relatives of the victims who were killed in Israel’s raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

    A Knesset committee has agreed over a general discussion of the issue after a proposal by Likud lawmaker Dani Danon who strongly rejected any such move as “giving in to terrorism and motivation for similar future attacks.”

    Coalition partner Likud’s Zaev Elkin has also criticized the Israeli cabinet for making no decision on Turkey’s demand and failing to clarify its official position.

    Israeli commandos killed last May eight Turks and a U.S.-Turkish citizen in the raid on Mavi Marmara ship, lead vessel of the aid flotilla. Turkey has demanded an apology and compensation for the attack.

    Yosef Ciechanover, Israel’s representative on the UN panel investigating the flotilla incident, and Feridun Sinirlioglu, a senior Turkish diplomat met twice last week in Geneva after Turkey sent two fire-fighting planes to help put out Carmel blaze that killed 43 people.

    Israel’s top diplomat Avigdor Lieberman and Defense Minister Ehud Barak as well as a number of Israeli politicians and senior military personnel have publicly expressed their opposition to meeting Turkey’s demands.

    Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said relations with Israel could not go back to normal unless an official apology was made and relatives of the victims were paid redress.

    AA