Turkey, June 03: Turkey’s ties with Israel suffered “irreparable” damage and “will never be the same” after the deadly raid on aid ships bound for Gaza, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said today.
“From now on, Turkish-Israeli ties will never be the same. This incident has left an irreparable and deep scar” on
relations, he said in televised remarks.
Gul added that Monday’s attack by Israeli forces, in which eight Turks and a US national of Turkish origin were
killed, “is not an issue that can be forgotten or be covered up.”
“Israel has made the biggest mistake in its history. It will realise this better in the future. Turkey will never
forgive this attack,” he said.
The bodies of the nine victims were brought to Turkey early today along with more than 450 activists and 19 wounded deported by Israel after being captured in the raid.
Turkey is holding funerals for the nine activists, the funerals are taking place in a strongly Islamist part of the city and emotions are running high.
Turkey’s Anatolia news agency reported that the victims were shot dead after forensic experts found bullet marks on their bodies.
Turkey has already recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv and scrapped joint war games with Israel in an angry response to the attack.
–Agencies