A thousand vessels will gather in Turkey and head to the Gaza Strip tomorrow in protest against Israel, the Turkish news site “Haber 7” reports.
They will transport 4,500 people from 40 countries, “including anti-Zionist Jews”, writes the publication, quoted by BTA.
Volkan Okcu, organizer of the event from the Turkish side, reported that Russian activists had the largest participation, followed by Spaniards.
“The Russians are arriving with 313 ships, and the Spanish with 104. From Turkey, 12 vessel owners will participate,” Okcu said and expressed hope that this number will increase.
He added that international rules would be strictly followed so as not to give Israel a reason to intervene.
The flotilla will initially stop in Northern Cyprus and then proceed to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The participants plan to build a wall of boats in the Gaza Strip.
“This is a reaction and an act of civil disobedience against the inhuman atrocities committed by Israel,” Okchu said.
Some of the participants in the flotilla, which will also include luxury vessels, will also take their wives and children with them.
The protest action is reminiscent of the flotilla’s attempt in May 2010 to break through the naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, The Times of Israel said. After the convoy disobeyed the order of the Israeli Navy to divert to Ashdod, Israeli commandos boarded one of the ships – the “Blue Marmara”. The assault ended with the death of ten Turkish activists killed by Israeli soldiers.
