Mavi Marmara Victims Family Refuse Israeli Compesation Payment
Istanbul, 20 Muharram 1438/21 October 2016 (MINA) – Activist family of victims who shot dead by Israeli Navy on the Mavi Marmara attack six years ago, rejected the $20 million compensation fund by Israel recently announced.
The statement of victims representatives delivered by Ismail Songür, children of Cenghis Songür who died in the incident, at IHH humanitarian agency headquarter in Turkey.
“They asked, whether we (the victim’s family) will receive these funds or not. We explicitly announce that we reject those funds, which what we want is the opening of the blockade Gaza, ” he stressed.
Israel recently said it paid Turkey $20 million in compensation for the 2010 commando attack on the Mavi Marmara Freedom Flotilla as it sailed in international waters heading for the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid.
On 20 August, the Turkish parliament approved a deal which would see Tel Aviv paying $20 million to the families of the victims of the assault as part of a normalisation agreement between Turkey and Israel after a six-year hiatus in ties. Nine humanitarian activists were killed during the attack by Israeli commandos, and one more died of his wounds later.
In the aftermath of the attack, Turkey demanded an official apology from Israel, compensation for the families of those killed, and the lifting of Israel’s Gaza blockade. In 2013, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced regret over the incident to Turkey’s then-prime minister (now President), Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
In addition to the compensation, Israel has agreed to Turkey’s humanitarian presence in the occupied Gaza Strip.
In his speech, Ismail Songür said even if these funds must be received then the funds should be deliver to Gaza.
“If the funds are to be received, the funds must be channeled to the blockaded Gaza,” he said.
Cenghis Songür is one of 16 casualties of that ilegal attack while dozens other seriously injured. The Freedom Flotilla coalition demand justice by continuing their hearing on this case and demand Israeli authorities who involved in the attack to be prosecuted on international trial.
Their 13th hearing held on 20 October, 2016 in Turkey.(L/R04/R07)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
