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Islamists in Turkey upset over reconciliation talks with Israel

Islamists in Turkey are irked by reports that Ankara may renew full ties with Jerusalem.

By: Atara Beck, World Israel News

The Turkish Islamic Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), a terror organization masquerading as an aid organization, criticized the Turkish government over recent statements that Turkey is seeking to restore diplomatic relations with Israel.

IHH was behind the Mavi Marmara, which was part of a flotilla of vessels traveling to Gaza in 2010, ostensibly to deliver humanitarian aid and medical supplies, but in reality it was simply an attempt to defy Israel’s sovereignty and was meant to support the Palestinian Hamas terror organization, which rules Gaza. The only humanitarian aid found on board were boxes of expired medications.

IDF forces boarded the ship and were viciously assaulted. They killed 10 Turkish nationals while defending themselves, and several IDF soldiers suffered wounds as well.

The IHH posted a series of tweets on Monday stating that the families of those killed were not consulted in any way regarding the possible agreement between Israel and Turkey, the Turkish Zaman Today reported on Tuesday.

“Families of martyrs: We would like to state, first and foremost, that the negotiations with Israel are ongoing without our consent,” one of the tweets read.

Another tweet stated that the families of the martyrs were upset that the government overlooked the “reason for their [family members’] departure” and engaged in negotiations that prioritize compensation.

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According to reports, as part of the reconciliation between the two countries, Israel would compensate the families of those killed on the ship while Turkey would retract any lawsuits against Israel, but the families view this as an “insult” and claimed that the primary objective is not compensation but the lifting of the blockade on Gaza.

They also claimed that the compensation Israel would pay should stem from the acknowledgement that they committed a “torturous act,” not out of “graciousness,” and should be paid to all participants who were on board the ship.

Incidentally, Iran expressed similar objections to Ankara’s overtures to Jerusalem.

Relations between former allies Turkey and Israel broke down in 2010 after the Mavi Marmara incident.

Turkey has become the strongest critic of Israeli actions in Gaza, often marked by anti-Semitism. Reconciliation efforts between the two countries have repeatedly failed. Even an Israeli attempt to apologize to Turkey in 2013 was rebuffed.