Turkey on Monday issued a strong condemnation of the boarding of the ship ‘Madleen’ by Israeli forces in international waters early this morning and the detention of its 12 activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, in what it called a ‘heinous’ action and a ‘clear violation of international law’ that proves once again, according to Ankara, that ‘Israel is acting as a terrorist state’.
“The intervention of the Israeli forces against the ship ‘Madleen’, which set sail to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, including our citizens on board, while it was in international waters is a clear violation of international law,” the Turkish foreign ministry denounced in a statement. “This heinous act by the Netanyahu government, which threatens the freedom of navigation and maritime security, once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state,” the official text added.
Ankara also again accused Israel of using starving as a weapon of war in Gaza and blocking the arrival of humanitarian aid as part of a genocidal policy against the Palestinians: “The rightful reaction of the international community against the genocidal policies of Israel, which uses hunger as a weapon in Gaza and prevents the delivery of humanitarian aid, will continue. Israel’s aggressive and unlawful actions will not silence the voices that stand up for human dignity and universal values,” the statement concluded.
The so-called Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the expedition of the Madleen to Gaza, said Monday it will continue its efforts to send much-needed aid to the Palestinian enclave in defiance of Israel’s blockade. ‘If you see this video, we have been intercepted and hijacked in international waters,’ Greta Thunberg denounced in a video recorded prior to the boarding, during which the activists remained motionless and with their hands raised to avoid any justification that could unleash violent action by the Israeli military, even going so far as to throw the kitchen knives overboard.
The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that all the passengers on what it described as a ‘selfie yacht’ are in good condition and will be returned to their countries. Israeli officials had confirmed in the previous days that London had rejected several requests to prevent the Madleen, sailing under UK flag, from reaching Israeli waters, and instead asked Israel to ensure the safety of the boat and its crew.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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