Ankara, August 08: Three Turkish relief ships of a Gaza-bound flotilla that was attacked by Israeli forces last May have finally returned to Turkey.
The lead aid ship, the Mavi Marmara, reached the port of Iskenderun on Saturday morning. Another ship with the convoy, the Gazze, arrived on Saturday evening. The third one, the Defne-Y, had docked at Turkey’s
Iskenderun on Friday, according to Solar Ship Rescue Services Director General Murat Dalyan.
On July 23, Israel decided to allow the three ships to return based on a joint decision made by all circles of power.
The Israeli military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, killing nine Turkish citizens on board the Turkish-flagged M.V. Mavi Marmara and injuring about 50 other people who were part of the team on the six-ship convoy.
Israel also arrested and later released nearly 700 activists from 42 countries who were on board the ships of the Freedom Flotilla, which was attempting to break the siege of Gaza in order to deliver 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the long-suffering people of the territory.
——-Agencies