TURKISH REACTION:SOME OF the strongest outrage over Israel's raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla came from Turkey, until now one of Israel's few Muslim allies.
Turkey is reported to have lost at least nine citizens after Israeli commandos stormed a Turkish ship which was part of the flotilla.
Tens of thousands gathered to protest in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, yesterday. Turkey immediately withdrew its ambassador to Israel and cancelled three planned joint military exercises.
At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council yesterday Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: “This is tantamount to banditry and piracy. It is murder conducted by a state.”
Turkish president Abdullah Gul condemned the incident as a violation of international law. “The international community should not remain indifferent in the face of this attack in the international waters,” he said. “Turkey requests the opening of every kind of investigation into the incident. We also request Israel to bring those who are responsible to justice.”
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he was “shocked” by the incident. “It is vital that there is a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place,” he said. “I believe Israel must urgently provide a full explanation.”
Amr Moussa, head of the Arab League, said Arab states must reconsider their dealings with Israel in light of the violence. “Israel’s attack indicates Israel is not ready for peace. Israel attacked the liberty fleet because it feels it is above the law,” he said. “There is no benefit in dealing with Israel in this manner and we must reassess our dealing with Israel.”
Iran called on the international community to cut ties with Israel. “All these acts indicate the end of the heinous and fake regime and will bring it closer to the end of its existence,” President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said.