Chairwoman Nitzana Darshan-Leitner of the Shurat Hadin Israel Law Center responded, Thursday evening, to the state's call for the Supreme Court to reject a petition against compensation to Turkish citizens for death and wounding when Israeli commandos had to defend themselves from attack on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara in 2010. She said it was ironic that the state should apologize for the Mavi Marmara incident on the 40th anniversary of Israel's rescue of hijacked passengers in Entebbe, Uganda, adding that there was no difference in the heroism of the soldiers involved in both operations.
It was revealed during a hearing on the petition that the reconciliation agreement recently signed by Israel and Turkey allows Turkey to send money to Hamas-ruled Gaza. Darshan-Leitner said, "We must not ignore a Turkey which funds terrorism. Shurat Hadin will continue to fight funding of Hamas coming from Turkey, which causes death like the last two attacks, even if the Israeli government shuts its eyes."