The Mavi Marmara ship belonging to the Turkish relief organization IHH, part of the “Freedom Flotilla” headed to “break the blockade of Gaza” when it was assaulted at sea in the eastern Mediterranean by Israeli Naval forces on 31 May, returned to Turkey today.
During the Israeli Naval operation, 9 men (8 Turkish + one 19-year-old Turkish-American high school student) were killed. All had been on board the Mavi Marmara
The New York Times reported here that “On its return on Sunday, it [the Mavi Marmara] was decorated with posters of the dead passengers”.
The Mavi Marmara, a passenger ship carrying some 600 persons on the night it was attacked and boarded, was then forced to Israel’s southern port of Ashdod, and subsequently taken to Israel’s northern port of Haifa. It reportedly left on 9 August, and subsequently underwent repairs at some other “Mediterranean Port”, until its return to Turkey today.
Turkish Government officials, including most recently the country’s Foreign Minister, have said that Turkey is still waiting for an apology and compensation.
The personal belongings, including computers, and the media equipment, including films and photos, belonging to the passengers on board the six ships in the Freedom Flotilla who were deported from Israel after being forced to Ashdod have not all been returned…