Israel deports 700 activists
Israel on Wednesday was deporting the last of the nearly 700 foreign activists detained in a deadly raid on an aid flotilla bound for Palestinians in the blockaded, Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Israel’s attorney-general Yehuda Weinstein ordered everyone be deported after deciding not to prosecute any of the activists taken into custody during Monday’s raid.
Officials had earlier said they were considering prosecuting about 50 people believed to be involved in violence, but Mr Weinstein wrote in his order Wednesday that “keeping them here would do more damage to the country’s vital interests than good.”
Israel has come under harsh international condemnation after naval commandos stormed the flotilla in international waters, setting off the deadly clashes. Israel says its soldiers opened fire only after being attacked by angry activists, who said they were trying to breach the blockade of Gaza to bring in aid. Officials at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv say all of the foreign activists have been taken to the airport to be deported. Turkish and Greek protesters were to fly home on special planes sent by their respective governments, while other foreigners were to travel home on commercial flights.
The raid that ended with Israeli soldiers killing nine activists has strained diplomatic ties, sending Israeli relations with Turkey, in particular, to a new low. At least four of the nine killed were Turkish and the ship Israel attacked was Turkish. Israel ordered families of its diplomats out of that country a day after Turkey branded the raid a “massacre.”
The assault on the flotilla continued to stir anger in Ankara, where Turkish legislators on Wednesday called on the government to review its political, military and economic ties with Israel.
“The future of ties with Israel will depend on the attitude of Israel,” foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference in Ankara on his return from the United States.
“I see no reason for not normalising the ties, once the Gaza blockade is lifted and our citizens are released,” Mr Davutoglu said.
Turkey cancelled joint military exercises and recalled its ambassador from Israel after the flotilla incident on Monday, which has infuriated the Muslim country.
On Wednesday, Turkey’s usually fractious parliament unanimously passed a non-binding declaration calling for a review of economic, political and military ties with Israel.
“What can be expected from an investigation run by a state in criminal status? It’s Israel’s actions that need to be investigated,” Mr Davutoglu said.
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