numerous Turks protest against Israel on Gaza flotilla raid anniversary

Some 30,000 Turks staged a protest against Israel on Istanbul's major street Monday night on the anniversary of the Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Holding candles, waving Palestinian flag and flags of Turkey and Iran, and shouting slogans for example "wait Palestinians, Mavi Marmara ship is coming" and "blockade is crime against humanitarian," the protesters marched on the Istiklal street, probably the most crucial and prosperous business street in Istanbul, and gathered in the Taksim square.

The event was organized by the Turkish nongovernmental organization the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), to commemorate the eight Turks and one Turkish-American killed onboard the Mavi Marmara, a ship of the IHH's first aid flotilla, in a raid by the Israeli commandos on Might 31, 2010.

The IHH claimed that it has planned a second Gaza-bound flotilla at the end of June regardless of the Israeli warning along with the pressure from the U.S. government.

IHH chairman Bulent Yildirim said the new flotilla, which could be composed of 15 ships and about 1,500 activists from far more than 100 countries, was organized by 22 activist groups from around the globe to break the Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

"We would like to remind Israel to come to its senses. You must enable this flotilla," Yildirim said, "if you raid once more, we will stay within the sea for days and turn into the current issue inside the world. "

Yildirim called on Israel, which he stated became isolated right after the Could 31 raid, to completely lift the blockade on Gaza.

The Turkish-Israeli relations have been at rock bottom because the raid. Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and demanded an official apology and compensation from Israel in response to the attack which was condemned by numerous countries, whilst Israel refused to create an apology or think about compensation, saying it acted in self-defense.

The United States has warned Turkey that sending yet another flotilla to the Gaza Strip would not be valuable.

Yildirim criticized the U.S. government's support for Israel, which he said was isolating itself internationally on account of its treatment of the Palestinians.

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