The Israeli deadly raid against an aid convoy sailing to the blockaded Gaza Strip, which has left at least 10 dead and 36 wounded, has drawn a wave of global outrage that has resulted in widespread international condemnation of Israel.
The strongest reaction came from Turkey. According to Today’s Zaman, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc called Israel’s actions “piracy”.
“I strongly condemn the use of force by Israeli military forces on an aid convoy composed of 32 countries, including Turkey,” Arinc said. “This attack must not remain unanswered.”
Around 10,000 Turks marched in protest from the Israeli consulate in Istanbul to Taksim square, chanting, “Murderous Israel you will drown in the blood you shed!”
According to Reuters, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday accused Israel of state terrorism after Israeli marines stormed ‘Mavi Marmara’, a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza.
“This action, totally contrary to the principles of international law, is inhumane state terrorism. Nobody should think we will keep quiet in the face of this,” Erdogan told reporters from Chile, where he was cutting short an official visit to Latin America to deal with the crisis.
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