1,000 boats said set to leave Turkey for Gaza waters in new ‘Freedom Flotilla’
Reminiscent of infamous 2010 Mavi Marmara protest, large maritime convoy plans to remain in international waters off Ashdod and disrupt sea trade route to Israel.
(THE TIMES OF ISRAEL) Approximately 1000 boats were gathering in Turkey on Wednesday with the intent to sail to Gaza in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade and disrupt maritime trade coming into Israel during the war with Hamas, in an apparent repeat of similar attempts from over a decade ago.
In an interview with Turkish news website Haber7, Volkan Okçu, one of the organisers of the protest, indicated the boats will carry 4500 people from 40 countries, “including anti-Zionist Jews.”
The activist indicated to Haber7 that the flotilla is scheduled to leave Turkish coasts on Thursday. The maritime convoy is set to make a first stop in Cyprus before continuing toward the Israeli port of Ashdod. Some participants in the flotilla will also reportedly take their spouses and children on board.
Okçu said the main objective would be to cause disruption in international waters off the Israeli coast to maritime trade heading for the port of Ashdod, in order to interrupt the supply of goods to Israel for a week or even up to 10 days.
The protest action is reminiscent of the attempt by the so-called “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” in May 2010, which tried to breach the maritime blockade on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, but was intercepted by the Israeli Navy. Israeli commandos boarded one of the ships, the Mavi Marmara and after being met with violent resistance they opened fire, killing 10 Turkish activists. Ten Israeli soldiers were wounded during the attack.
“The Zionist regime seems to have no chance to repeat the Mavi Marmara incident,” the Turkish activist said. “The vessels sail under flags of the US, the UK, Luxembourg, Russian, Germany, Spain, Poland, and many other countries.”
Okçu vowed that protesters would “strictly follow international rules” and would not carry any weapons, “not even a pocket knife,” so as not to give Israel any “excuse” to intervene.
The Mavi Marmara incident from 2010 carries particular significance for the Hamas regime in Gaza, as a symbol of international support to ending the blockade. A monument erected in the Gaza port commemorated the event; it was demolished by the IDF on Thursday in the course of Israel’s ongoing war, launched after the October 7 massacres, aimed at destroying Hamas.
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