Turkey is marking the two-year anniversary of Israel's commando raid on the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara with a massive march planned in Istanbul on Thursday. Activists say they are also planning a new flotilla. During the incident on May 31, 2010, Israeli naval commandos boarded a flotilla of ships bound for blockaded Gaza. On the Mavi Marmara, commandos faced violent resistance from a group of activists from the so-called Turkish humanitarian organization known as the IHH. In the ensuing struggle, nine Turkish citizens were killed and dozens were wounded. A U.N. report on the incident described the activists as a "separate hardcore group" who had been armed with iron bars, chains and knives. The report acknowledged the legitimacy of Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, but criticized its use of "excessive force" during the operation. It also said Turkey should have done more to prevent the flotilla from sailing towards Gaza. Turkey has consistently requested that Israel apologize for the deaths of the Turkish citizens and compensate families of the victims. On Monday, Turkish prosecutors submitted to the High Criminal Court in Istanbul indictments of four former Israeli military leaders they claim were responsible for the incident, including former Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi. Prosecutors requested nine life sentences for each defendant. Israel has officially refused to apologize for the incident, although government officials have said they are willing to discuss the matter to reach a mutually acceptable compromise. To mark the two-year anniversary of the incident, a huge march is planned for Thursday in Taksim Square in Istanbul. The event is being promoted as a "March to Free Jerusalem," the aim of which is to raise the already high level of tension between the two countries. Dr. Jamal al-Khudari, chairman of the Popular Committee Against the Siege on Gaza, was quoted by the Maan news agency as saying, "The anniversary of the murder aboard the Turkish ship must cause us to refocus our attention on the blockade of Gaza." Activists attending ceremonies marking the anniversary said they were planning a new flotilla, which would sail from Sweden through western and southern European ports in an attempt to reach Gaza. To mark the commemoration of the 2010 raid, Turkey's official Anadolu Agency released never-before-seen footage of people on the deck of the Mavi Marmara during the assault. In the video clip, passengers are seen lying down near what are apparently the bodies of those killed during the incident. The clip may be viewed here:
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Two years after Marmara, Turkey plans more flotillas to Gaza
Memorial ceremony to take place in Istanbul on Thursday to mark two years since Israeli naval commandos raided the Mavi Marmara vessel in 2010 • Activists say they are planning more flotillas to break Israel's naval blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza.