Turkish ‘humanitarian’ group behind ‘Marmara’ signs pact with Qatar

Doha and Ankara have been supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups throughout the Middle East.

AUGUST 26, 2014 21:45

Mavi Marmara, 2010 (photo credit: REUTERS) — Mavi Marmara, 2010

(photo credit: REUTERS)

The Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) that was behind the 2010 Mavi Marmara Gaza flotilla signed a “strategic cooperation agreement” with Qatar.

Bulent Yildrim, chairman of the Turkish IHH organization, and Qatar Charity CEO Yousef bin Ahmad al-Kuwari signed the strategic agreement that was announced at a press conference held in Doha, Qatar.

The agreement “will bring both organizations already existing union closer,” with the two aid agencies becoming “permanent partners,” the IHH website reported on Monday.

The two organizations plan to carry out short- and longterm projects in various places.

They plan to carry out joint projects and to support each other’s existing ones, said IHH.

Within two months, the organizations’ representatives will meet to discuss “priority projects.”

Doha and Ankara have been supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups throughout the Middle East, upsetting relations with Israel and with status quo anti-revolutionary Sunni powers such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

IHH plans to send ships carrying aid to Gaza again to challenge the Israeli blockade, it said earlier this month.

Activists from 12 countries have decided to launch a convoy of boats to Gaza “in the shadow of the latest Israeli aggression,” IHH said.

Reuters contributed to this report.