A Turkish court started a trial here Tuesday deliberating the role Israeli military officers played in a 2010 raid on the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara, which left eight Turks and one Turkish-American dead.

More than 1,000 people gathered in a square in front to the Istanbul's Seventh High Criminal Court, shouting anti-Israeli slogans such as "Israelis commit crime," "Israeli will get retribution," and "Liberate Gaza."

An indictment prepared by Istanbul Specially Authorized Prosecutor Mehmet Akif Ekinci last summer seeks 10 aggravated life sentences for each of four top Israeli commanders, including former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of General Staff Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, Naval Forces commander Vice Adm. Eliezer Marom, Israel's military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin and Air Forces Intelligence head Brig. Gen. Avishai Levi, involved in the 2010 Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

Lawyer Gulden Sonmez, who was also on board the Mavi Marmara, said that her "expectation is that justice will be served and the four Israeli generals will be convicted."

Stating that as complainants they want to "set a precedent with this trial and damage the status of Israel, which is a country that cannot be held accountable for its unlawful actions."

Huseyin Oruc, vice president of the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), which was the owner and operator of the Mavi Marmara flotilla, said "Turkey is the first country in the world that will take the unlawful Israeli actions to court."

Ozdem Sanberk, who served on the UN committee investigating the Mavi Marmara incident, said "The decisions of the court could be binding in Turkey although one cannot comment before the final verdict is made." Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)