Gaza Flotilla Raid Victims’ Kin Vow Legal Battle against «Israel»

Local Editor

The families of Turkish activists killed in a 2010 "Israeli" raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship said they will not drop their legal cases despite a deal between Turkey and the "Israeli" entity.

Nine Turks died when "Israeli" marines stormed the "Mavi Marmara", which was part of an aid flotilla to break a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. One more died in hospital in 2014.

Ties between the "Israeli" entity and Turkey crumbled after the raid but in June they finally agreed to end the bitter six-year row after months-long secret talks.

The entity had offered an apology over the raid, permission for Turkish aid to reach Gaza through "Israeli" ports, and a payout of $20 million [18 million euros] to the families of those killed.

Turkish officials confirmed the amount was transferred to the justice ministry account last month.

Under the deal, both sides agreed that individual "Israelis" or those acting on behalf of the apartheid regime would not be held liable.

Families of the victims however said they will press on with their legal battle until the alleged perpetrators are brought to justice.

Cigdem Topcuoglu, an academic from southern Adana province, said her husband was killed as the couple embarked on the ship.

"We are certainly not accepting the compensation," she told AFP in Istanbul.

"They will come and kill your husband next to you and say 'take this money, keep your mouth shut and give up on the case'. Would you accept that?"

In total, there were six ships in the flotilla that were boarded in international waters about 130 kilometers [80 miles] from the "Israeli" entity's coast.

After the deal with the "Israeli" entity, an Istanbul court on October 19 held another hearing in the trial of the four former "Israeli" military commanders, though it was later adjourned to December 2.

Turkish prosecutors are seeking life sentences for former military chief of staff Gabi Ashkenazi, former navy chief Eliezer Marom, former military intelligence head Amos Yadlin and former air force intelligence chief Avishai Levy, who went on trial in absentia in 2012.

"We have no intention to drop the lawsuits," Topcuoglu said.

Human rights lawyer Rodney Dixon said the criminal case against the accused must go on "at all costs".

"The so-called agreement between ‘Israel' and Turkey is not a treaty that is enforceable. It is unlawful under international law, under the convention on human rights and Turkish law," he added.

Though, families said they were not informed of any details about the deal with "Israel" and they have not received any money.

Ismail Songur, whose father died in the raid, said: "Nobody from the Turkish government asked our opinion before they struck a deal... Unfortunately the Turkish government is becoming a part of the lawlessness carried out by ‘Israel'."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team