Turkish Call to Drop Gaza Ship Case against «Israelis»

Local Editor

In a new sign of Turkey-"Israel" normalization, a Turkish prosecutor called Friday for charges related to a deadly "Israeli" raid on a Gaza-bound ship to be dropped state media reported.

Nine Turkish activists died when "Israeli" marines stormed the Mavi Marmara as it headed to Gaza in 2010, and a 10th died in hospital in 2014.

The raid triggered a crisis in relations, with both countries withdrawing their respective ambassadors from the country capitals, though diplomatic ties were never fully severed.

The bitter rift came to an end in June this year after they held long-running secret talks in third countries with the "Israeli" entity offering an apology over the raid and $20 million in compensation.

The "Israeli" entity also agreed to allow Turkish aid to reach Gaza as part of the agreement.

Under the terms of the deal, both sides also agreed individual "Israelis" or those acting on behalf of the "Israeli" regime would not be held liable - either criminally or financially - for the raid.

On Friday the prosecutor told an Istanbul court that the case against the "Israeli" individuals should be dropped because of the agreement, state-run news agency Anadolu said.

Prosecutors had been seeking life sentences for the alleged involvement of former "Israeli" 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.

The demand is likely to anger families and lawyers, who told AFP in October they had no intention of dropping the lawsuits despite the deal.

One of the final key elements of returning to normal relations was the exchange of ambassadors, which will formally take place this month.

The "Israeli" entity's envoy Eitan Naeh arrived in Ankara Thursday, and he is due to present his letter of credence to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan within days.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's policy advisor Kemal Okem will start work as Turkey's ambassador to the apartheid entity on Dec. 12, Anadolu said Friday.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team