The canceled departure on August 3 of a Turkish aid flotilla bound for Gaza — just one week after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened a military invasion of Israel in a bombastic speech to supporters — suggests that the Turkish authorities are wary of provoking further escalation with Jerusalem. An announcement from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FCC) — an alliance of pro-Palestinian advocacy groups and charities — confirmed that the flotilla had been denied authorization to sail to Gaza. “It has now become clear that the Turkish government will not grant permission,” the group said.
Backed by the Islamist Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), a pro-Hamas charity registered in Turkey and designated as a terrorist entity by Israel, the FCC flotilla had planned to deliver 5,500 tons of humanitarian aid — less than the amount of aid Israel routinely delivers to Gaza in a single day. In past statements, the FCC has made it clear that its main goal is to “break the siege of Gaza” and deliver “hundreds of international human rights observers to challenge the ongoing illegal Israeli blockade of the Gaza strip.” The FCC’s statement placed the blame for Turkey’s decision to block the flotilla on “intense pressure from the United States, the United Kingdom, and perhaps other NATO countries that are strongly allied with Israel.” A previous flotilla to Gaza financed by the IHH in 2010 resulted in the deaths of 10 activists who attacked Israeli forces attempting to board its main vessel, the Mavi Marmara, in search of weapons, sparking fears of a similar clash now.
Expert Analysis
“Launching a second flotilla to Gaza carried a great risk of precipitating a military confrontation between Israel and Turkey. This was always Erdogan’s intention. It’s likely that Turkey would have attempted to deliver illicit material to Hamas. Had Erdogan been interested in delivering further aid to Palestinians, he would have used established aid corridors. The decision to cancel the flotilla demonstrates Ankara’s haphazard, inconsistent, and belligerent approach to foreign policy.” — Sinan Ciddi, FDD non-resident Senior Fellow
“Flotillas bound for Gaza are strategically crafted to draw the Israeli military’s attention and present a potential public relations challenge reminiscent of the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010. While Jerusalem may breathe a sigh of relief at the news of the Freedom Flotilla’s suspension, the impact on Hamas and its allies will be minimal. Furthermore, this development eliminates yet another opportunity for Hamas to undermine Israel during a time of crisis for the terrorist organization.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal
Israeli Security Concerns Informed by the 2010 Mavi Marmara Clashes
While the 2010 incident sparked international outrage, the Palmer Report issued by the United Nations the following year found that Israel’s naval blockade was a legitimate form of self-defense. In 2016, Turkey agreed to end legal action against the Israeli officers involved in the incident after Israel offered an apology and paid $20 million in compensation. The current attempt to send another flotilla made clear its intention to bypass established aid channels that Israel supervises and reject “any Israeli inspection of our cargo.” This refusal to respect established maritime channels created an added risk that the flotilla could be carrying weapons, explosives, and other dual-use goods for Hamas into Gaza.
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