Is it the power of money? Is it the power of law?
We have felt the need to inform the public about the issues below due to the latest developments in the ongoing talks between Turkey and Israel concerning Israel’s illegal attack on Mavi Marmara ship in international waters in 2010.

What does Israel trying to do?
At the beginning, there was a dominant view among Israeli people and military suggesting that Israel should never apologize to Turkey over its attack but the cases filed against Israeli military officials should be dropped paying the necessary amount of compensation to the families of the victims. Including IHH into the list of terrorist organizations by a Cabinet decision, Israel was planning to take revenge from IHH in this way by holding it responsible for the difficult position it fell into. Israeli people and military have been convinced after a visit to the country by US President Barack Obama that normalization of relations with Turkey is for the benefit of Israel, then came Israel’s apology to Turkey. Although some leading figures from the Israeli military accused Netanyahu government of stabbing its military on the back by offering an apology to Turkey and admitting that Israel was wrong in the attack, most Israeli people and Israeli military were in support of the conclusion of this issue so that it does not give further damage to Israel. Israel, which got lonelier following its Mavi Marmara attack, and underwent political and economic losses due to criticisms from all around the world at himself, was actually spending millions of dollars to stop its losses.

However, Turkish government, which displayed a political and diplomatic determination for an apology at the beginning, later demoted the issue to compensation for which Israel was already ready and found simple. Moreover, compensation talks began even without setting the requirements of international law in similar cases as an example. This was just what Israel wanted, to pay compensations and cover up the matter as soon as possible. It was aiming to prevent the trial of the killers! However, Israel very well knows that it knew no end in demanding compensation from every Nazi in Germany and ensured punishment of each of them [for what they did against Jewish people].

As IHH and other organizers of the Freedom Flotilla, families of the Mavi Marmara martyrs, charity givers who made donations to this ship and all passengers, we would like to underline once again that:

-First of all, Mavi Marmara is a part of struggle of Palestine-AlQuds
-The flotilla began its voyage in order to break the illegitimate blockade imposed on Gaza by passing through the Mediterranean.
-By violating international law, Israel committed many heavy crimes in international waters
As a result of this:

1- Israel should remove its blockade on Gaza.
2- All the political and military masterminds of the attack should be brought to trial and be punished.
3- Israel should pay compensation for all pecuniary and non-pecuniary damages it caused.
In a show of respect for the memories of Mavi Marmara martyrs, honorable struggle of Palestinian people, and Masjid al-Aqsa, we think it is an action of betrayal to Jerusalem to talk about the compensation issue and accept a deal in this regard without the removal of the blockade and punishment of the criminals.
Public surveys in Israel show that Israeli people believe that the Turkish government should take the necessary action to break the insistence of martyrs’ families about the end of Israeli blockade on Gaza and that the US also be actively involved in the process. Yet, the real crisis point is the trial in which Israeli commanders, who were involved in Mavi Marmara attack, are tried because Israel wants to save its military officers and commanders from a trial as soon as possible.

Mavi Marmara trials in Turkey have the potential to set a precedent for all the other Mavi Marmara trials in other countries and trials concerning the issues of Palestine and Masjid al-Aqsa. This means a blow to Israel’s legal shield and an important step in the medium-term for the end of occupation of al-Quds.
Improving relations with Israel, which has so far brought nothing but tyranny and pain to the world and the Middle East in particular, has been of no benefit either to Turkey or to other pro-peace people of the world until today. Relations with Israel will mean nothing than making Turkey be a partner of Israel’s tyranny and pain and tears it caused. Peoples who want peace are against Israeli State officials and political parties who sit around a table with Israel and make bargaining for a compensation for the blood of the martyrs should all keep this in mind.

In conclusion, our legal struggle in Mavi Marmara Criminal Case in which individuals from 37 countries seek justice against killers who committed brutal murders by shooting at the victims dozens of times, will continue. This trial is a test for the common conscience of the humanity.

If at the end of their talks Turkish officials reach a deal with Israel that will prevent the punishment of the criminals, this will not only hurt dignity of humanity but it will also hurt conscience of the people. If a deal with Israel leads to the dropping of the cases against this country and allows the continuation of Israeli blockade on Gaza, Turkey will be the losing party.

Until today, brutal Israel was the losing party, we want this to remain the same from now on.
IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation