The ministerial cabinet has decided that Israel will return three vessels to Turkey that were involved in a recent flotilla attempt to break the Jewish State's marine blockade of Gaza.
The boats were among the six vessels that were halted by Israel Navy commandos and brought to Ashdod Port on May 31 after they ignored repeated requests to change their course away from the prohibited direction. Although the flotilla was purported to be filled with humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, organizers refused to bring the goods to Ashdod for inspection by Israel prior to transport through the land crossings into the region.
According to the Anatolia news agency, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters Friday that Israel would release the vessels the next few days, “after technical preparations are finished.”
Speaking during a visit to Vietnam, Davutoglu said, “There were certain steps Israel was supposed to take, and this was one of them. We hope the remaining things will also be done.” He added that the vessels would be brought home by tugboat. Turkey had demanded that Israel apologize after nine terror activists were killed in a clash when they attacked Israel Navy commandos who had boarded one of the vessels. Ankara also has demanded that Israel compensate the families of the terrorists and lift its blockade of Gaza.
The Turkish-sponsored Mavi Marmara was subsequently found to be carrying no aid whatsoever. Instead, it was manned by armed activists from the terror-linked IHH organization, as well as other terrorists. That ship is currently docked at a naval base in Haifa, although the rest of the vessels are still docked in Ashdod port.