Turkish fury over Israeli interception: “We'll all be on the next ship to Gaza"
Turkish protestors in Taksim square. Photo: Umit Yilmaz.
Ten thousand people have been demonstrating outside the Israeli embassy in Istanbul today, in protest against the IDF interception of Gazan-bound aid ships. One of the protestors there tells us that along with thousands of others, he'll be on the next boat to the Strip.
The Mavi Mamara, a Turkish ferry and the largest of the fleet saw the most violence following the Israeli interception. In total around 400 of the 600 aid workers and activists aboard the flotilla were Turkish. The nationalities of the ten people reported dead are unknown.
The international reaction to the interception has been one of strong condemnation. Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Israel and cancelled three planned joint military exercises with Israel.
Umit Yilmaz is an industrial designer from Istanbul who took part in the protest in Taksim square:
I have a friend, a Turkish journalist, who was on the boat, so I'm personally very concerned for her safety. We haven't heard anything since the Israelis cut the signal, so for all we know, she could be dead. It's a very sad day here.
We will protest until they release the 600 aid workers, allow the boats to reach Gaza and issue an apology to all the people affected. And we will go further. I wasn't on one of the ships last night, but I know now that I will be on the next one. After what happened last night, there are tens of thousands of people from Italy, France, the UK and Turkey are all ready to go to Gaza on a new boat. We are hoping to set sail in a month.
There is no excuse for what the Israelis did and they know it. The Turkish government doesn't want a war, but there are dead people now. The situation between the two governments is doomed and I can't imagine how hard it will be for us to keep healthy relations with the Israelis."
Below, protestors in Taksim square. Photos uploaded to Twitpic by Umit Yilmaz.
Comments
Unforgettable
Submitted by Roman Dawood on Sun, 06/06/2010 - 09:25.It was clear right from the beginning that everyone but Israel was right. Now it is clear that it was the other way round.
This will cost Turkey a lot.
Israel helped Turkey to capture Turkey´s most wanted man, Abdullah Öcalan, who is a Kurd, and Israel was supposed to be friend with the Kurds.
Now Turkey should seek better relationships with others than Israel, because what Turkey did is unforgettable. And Israel should seeek someone more reliable than Turks in the region.
Can You Be Any More Wrong?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 07/06/2010 - 17:15.You made it sound like Abdullah Ocalan is wanted because he is a Kurd. NO. He is a criminal because he organized the murder of 55 thousand civilian and military man, woman and children to get his separatist agenda. Like anywhere on the world, he was prosecuted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
What you did is unforgettable, look in the mirror and tell yourself that you actually condoned the killings of 9 civilians in international waters without prior aggression.
What The... What Are You Talking About?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 07/06/2010 - 17:08.Are you kidding me? Are you for real? How can Israel be right when it invades a civilian vessel in international waters? Where is the rule of law, where is the international Laws For High Seas and Geneva Convention? How can anyone with a sane mind not care when some armed commandos boarded on their ship requesting the control to be handed over? Do you think reacting with fury with kitchen knives and sticks to the trained killers who are illegally on your boat is a crime?
Israel has doctored the video tape (they actually admitted it), released photos from 2003 showing weapons allegedly found on board, it cut all the communication links, it has collected all the video cameras (it is again admitted by the officials) so you only left with what they have told you. Even then, they couldn't show you a single bit of aggression from the passengers until they board the ship. There could be a million ways to actually stop the ship but instead they chose to kill passengers on board. What if Iran had done this, illegally blockade some part of international waters and kill all civilians requesting to pass through? What if a passenger ship that you are on gets cut off from the outside world and is boarded with armed commandos? Would you still think that's OK? Or have you gone mad?
I deeply hate governments with religious agenda and this Israeli government has really topped them all. I don't care if there are some terrorists on board (there are nobel peace laureates, a swedish and 3 german MPs, and holocaust survivor), when a civilian ship is in international waters without harming anyone, you cannot, cannot militarily board that ship. That's simply a war crime.
I looked at your other comments, you have a deep hatred against Turks, much like Hitler's against jews. I really hope you realize that racism/fascism is a crime and a weapon of mass destruction.
The passengers are clearly aid workers but even if that's not the case, I don't care what the agenda of passengers are. You can't kill people on the basis of suspicion. Everyone is innocent until proven otherwise, that's why we have laws. Israel is not above law.
It's not an aggression against Turkey, it's an aggression against all international laws and agreements. Israel, and all its only ally on this matter (USA), should learn that you cannot put yourself above law.
To the Turks
Submitted by Haval Lak- Arbil (not verified) on Tue, 01/06/2010 - 00:43.I hereby declare that, anyone who considers himself a Turk, to the best of my belief, should defend their little brothers land, which is the holly Palestine.
Anyone who refuses to do so should be named and a shamed. It is necessary to prove that Tukey exists and can make it is own decision under the current islamic regime.
Please carry on demonstrations untill we topple Israel. If we couldn´t then GOD may come and destroy them by himself, with his army...
If not then we will let Israel do what God whants them to do...Amen
You declare?
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Fri, 04/06/2010 - 07:46.Who are you, Erdogan?
Dont move
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 31/05/2010 - 20:14.I don't think Arabe move will be good my friend I will be better to negociate and try to find what is going on?.Lets us live in peace Arabe and juive onece again let us live in peace . The world is tied of this conflict.Arabe and Juive need to sit down and fix rgeir differences.We are tied of this conflict. I believe the world need to take action agains this 2 nations.
vive la Israel
Submitted by כורדים (not verified) on Mon, 31/05/2010 - 17:28.Go Israel go, show 1.8 Billion Muslimer that no one can stop you
arrogant regime will self-destroyed
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 03/06/2010 - 14:43.I remember apartheid regime in South Africa who ruled for so long time and boasted "no one can stop us", but finally it stopped by itself, it rottened by its own arrogance.
Israel is the worst apartheid regime and no one can stop it except its own rottenings.
Be careful for what you
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 31/05/2010 - 23:56.Be careful for what you wish. Behave like a several thousand year civilization that you are, not like a bunch of Somali pirates in international waters. Fear is not respect and in the long run it will hurt you badly.
stop comment
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Mon, 31/05/2010 - 20:21.Let me tell you if all the arabes give hand to each other it won't be good for israel the only think you can talk about now it to make people to calm down .This 2 nations are a problem for the world.we need to be in peace .I don't think military action was necessary for this action it would be better to stop the boats and veirfy what they have.