Turkey is preparing to dispatch a new fleet of ships to the Gaza Strip, aiming to break the maritime blockade imposed on the region. This initiative comes amid intensified preparations by the Israeli navy to counter the expected fleet, following days after an Israeli assault on the Freedom Flotilla vessels in international waters close to the Greek island of Crete.
According to Israeli reports, the new fleet, scheduled to depart from the Turkish city of Marmaris, is being organized by the Turkish humanitarian relief organization, known for organizing the Mavi Marmara flotilla in 2010. It is believed that this fleet will be more significant than its predecessor, raising concerns about the potential presence of armed activists on board.
Details of the Event
Israeli Channel 13 reported that the Israeli military plans to bolster its naval forces to confront the new fleet, anticipating attempts to break the blockade by force. Activists who participated in the recent European flotilla indicated that the Israeli army used excessive violence against them, sabotaging communication and propulsion systems on the ships, rendering them incapable of sailing.
In a related development, a private plane carrying 59 activists, including 18 Turkish citizens from the global Freedom Flotilla that was attacked by Israel in international waters, landed at Istanbul Airport. Upon their arrival, the activists confirmed that preparations are underway to assemble a new fleet consisting of between 100 and 150 ships, gathering at Turkish ports.
Background & Context
The roots of these movements trace back to the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010, when the Israeli navy attacked the ship, resulting in the deaths of 10 Turkish activists and injuries to 56 others. This incident led to a severe diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Israel, complicating relations between the two countries.
Historically, the first successful attempt to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza occurred in August 2008, when the ships