Erdogan's Gaza trip linked to possible Israeli apology for Mavi Marmara raid

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday expressed his desire to visit Hamas-controlled Gaza after a trip to Egypt, a move he will reportedly make if Israel refuses to apologize to Turkey over last year's deadly flotilla raid. "I wish to go to Gaza. If the necessary conditions emerge, I have a desire to go there," Erdogan told a press conference at Ankara's Esenboga airport before his flight to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). According to diplomatic sources, Erdogan had originally planned to cross into Gaza through the Rafah gate with Egypt during a trip to Cairo starting tomorrow, but postponed the excursion over the possibility Israel might issue an apology for its raid last year of a Gaza-bound aid ship, which resulted in the deaths of nine Turks. A UN panel is set to issue a report on the raid next Wednesday, and if Israel fails to issue an apology before then, Erdogan is now reportedly considering going to Gaza during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts Aug. 1, and breaking the Israeli embargo himself. The panel is expected to submit the report next week to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on July 27, and publicly release it a few days later, on Aug. 1.