The ships had been part of a flotilla sailing toward Gaza to protest Israel's blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.Israeli troops intercepted the boats on May 31 and clashed with activists on the Mavi Marmara, leaving nine people dead.IHH, an Islamic charity in Turkey, was a key organizer of the flotilla. Huseyin Oruc, a charity director, described the Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara as "absolute piracy" that was more lethal than Somali piracy off the Horn of Africa.He said activists from all over the world would continue to press Israel to lift restrictions on Gaza."We will all unite and go again and again until this blockage is completely lifted," Oruc said in a news conference at the harbor where the Mavi Marmara docked.On Wednesday, European representatives of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an umbrella group, met in Stockholm to plan a new Gaza flotilla with up to 12 ships.The bloodshed on the Turkish ship provoked an international outcry, and Israel agreed to an international investigation. Israeli authorities have said their forces acted in self-defense on boarding the Mavi Marmara, though an Israeli military report acknowledged flaws in intelligence-gathering and planning.
'Mavi Marmara' returns home
IHH: We will go again and again until Gaza blockade is lifted.
The ships had been part of a flotilla sailing toward Gaza to protest Israel's blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.Israeli troops intercepted the boats on May 31 and clashed with activists on the Mavi Marmara, leaving nine people dead.IHH, an Islamic charity in Turkey, was a key organizer of the flotilla. Huseyin Oruc, a charity director, described the Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara as "absolute piracy" that was more lethal than Somali piracy off the Horn of Africa.He said activists from all over the world would continue to press Israel to lift restrictions on Gaza."We will all unite and go again and again until this blockage is completely lifted," Oruc said in a news conference at the harbor where the Mavi Marmara docked.On Wednesday, European representatives of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an umbrella group, met in Stockholm to plan a new Gaza flotilla with up to 12 ships.The bloodshed on the Turkish ship provoked an international outcry, and Israel agreed to an international investigation. Israeli authorities have said their forces acted in self-defense on boarding the Mavi Marmara, though an Israeli military report acknowledged flaws in intelligence-gathering and planning.