Israeli FM urges its citizens in Turkey to return

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on the Israeli citizens living in Turkey to return to homeland, Cihan reported. Lieberman stated about this at the emergency press conference in Jerusalem.

Mass protests are taking place in Turkey today. The demonstrators are protesting Israeli military actions in relation to an international flotilla carrying hundreds of human rights activists and thousands of tons of humanitarian cargo to the Gaza Strip, the television channel reported.

CNN Turk reported that thousands of protesters tried to capture the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, but the Turkish police intensified security measures to prevent them from seizing the building.

At least 16 human rights activists were killed and 50 wounded in a night operation of the Israeli Navy to intercept convoy carrying pro-Palestinian activists and tons of humanitarian aid, Turkish media reports citing Israeli television. The Israeli military sources confirmed the death of ten people. Six Israeli soldiers were seriously wounded.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israeli military actions, describing them as "unacceptable," and demanded an official explanation from the Israeli government.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry summoned Israeli Ambassador to Ankara Gabby Levy for clarification, CNN Turk reported.

The "flotilla of freedom" consisted of six vessels carrying at least 600 human rights defenders and 10,000 tons of humanitarian cargo to a blocked Palestinian enclave. Israel previously banned the caravan from approaching the Gaza Strip, threatening to escort the vessels to a port and deport its passengers.


/Trend/