In 2010, public attention was focused on a supply flotilla originating from Turkey making its way to Gaza. Israel claimed the shipment was illegal and demanded the Mavi Marmara turn back. The ship continued and, about 80 miles off the coast of Gaza, Israeli soldiers boarded. Conflict ensued. Nine Turkish activists were killed. Dozens were also injured in the clash, including seven Israeli soldiers. After decades of strong diplomatic relations, the two nations cut nearly all ties.
In March of 2013, at the urging of President Obama, Israeli PM Benyamin Netanyahu called Turkish PM Recep Erdogan and apologized for the loss of life that occurred during the incident. While there was initial hope that the phone call might roll back the animosity between the two nations, little has changed. In October of 2013, Turkey is alleged to have outed a Mossad spy ring that was operating inside of Iran. And politically detrimental for Netanyahu, 71 percent of Israelis felt the apology was not “justified.”
The 2010 flotilla was primarily orchestrated by the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), a Turkish charitable organization. The IHH describes itself as an internationally-focused organization providing supplies and support to people “distressed, victimized by war, disaster, etc, wounded, disabled, homeless and subjected to famine [or] oppressed.”
Israel does not agree; due to its close ties with Hamas, Israel first banned the IHH from working within its borders in 2008. Following the Mavi Marmara incident in 2010, Israel added the organization to its terror watch list. In that same period, parties within both the EU and the US have sought to do the same.
The Turkish government has long had close ties to the IHH, working in concert to provide aid to Syrians displaced by internal conflict. But during an operation against al-Qaeda this week, Turkish officials raided IHH offices and detained at least one employee and dozens of other individuals. The action took place in six separate provinces across Turkey.
The Mavi Marmara incident took a severe toll on Israeli/Turkish relations; Turkey recalled its ambassador and canceled previously scheduled joint military exercises. In addition, Turkey sought action by the U.N Security Council and advocated for international sanctions against Israel in response to the incident, which was referred to by E.rdogan as a “bloody massacre” and “state terrorism.”
In 2010, Turkey perceived Israel as an aggressor, working against a charitable organization with humanitarian goals. In light of this week’s raids, it seems that Turkey is less sure of the IHH’s aims. In this light, it might be time for Turkey to issue an apology of its own.
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