Turkey urges Israel not to repeat its mistakes with second Gaza aid flotilla

YAYINLAMA
GÜNCELLEME

Stressing that stopping private charity groups from sailing to Gaza is unacceptable, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday cautioned Israel not to "repeat the same mistake" by launching any attack on a humanitarian aid mission in international waters. "We can advise, we can say something, but we cannot stop the flotilla," Davutoglu told the Sydney Morning Herald, speaking of a second flotilla due soon in Gaza, in the wake of the deadly Mavi Marmara incident last year. Last year the government urged the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) not to sail to Gaza but "in a democratic society, we cannot stop them." He added, "We urge Israel not to repeat the same mistake. It is Israel's responsibility not to implement [a blockade] against Gaza. A fact-finding mission of the UN declared that this … is illegal." Again arguing against any attack, he said, "In the flotilla last year, people were killed 72 miles from the coast, so this was in international waters. The Mediterranean does not belong to any nation."