BICOM

The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation organisation (IHH) will announce in the next couple of days whether it will continue to participate in the upcoming flotilla to Gaza. A new flotilla was originally scheduled to leave during the third week of June, with ships departing from various European ports. According to IHH spokesmen, cancellation is being considered because of the current situation on the Syrian-Turkish border. “We are reconsidering our plans,” IHH board member Huseyin Oruc told Turkey’s Hurriyet newspaper. “We cannot close our eyes to the developments on our doorstep,” he said, referring to events in Syria. The final decision on Turkish participation is expected today or tomorrow. However, political pressure makes it unlikely the IHH will participate. 

Meanwhile, organisers of the Gaza flotilla said yesterday that they are determined to set sail even if the IHH do not participate. The Coalition to Break the Blockade on Gaza, which is the overall planning body for the flotilla, is scheduled to hold discussions in Athens over the weekend in an effort to reach a final decision on the flotilla. Most coalition members appear to be in favour of sailing to Gaza regardless of the Turkish decision. The number of flotilla participants, however, could shrink significantly if the Turkish activists pull out. Preliminary estimates projected 1,000 participants, 500 of whom would sail on the IHH’s Mavi Marmara.

The recent decision by Egypt to open the Rafah Crossing has also hit at the momentum of the flotilla. This is because it is difficult to maintain that Gaza is under ‘blockade’ when people are able to move freely in and out of one of the crossings. Israel also permits the entry of large quantities of goods and other civilian materials into the Strip.

Last year, Israel acted to prevent the arrival of the flotilla to Gaza. Nine Turkish Islamist activists were killed on board the Mavi Marmara when they violently ambushed Israeli commandoes, who were attempting to board and seize the vessel.