Wishing a speedy recovery for the injured activists currently convalescing in Ankara, rabbis Yisroel Dovid Weiss, Yitzhok Shewinter and Yoshet Rosenberg said the attack, targeting peace activists who were carrying humanitarian aid, was piracy.
Assistant Chief Physician Haşim Erdem accompanied the group to the Atatürk Teaching and Research Hospital and translated for the patients and the rabbis. Speaking on behalf of the rabbis, Weiss, a US-based rabbi with Jews United Against Zionism, said they were grieved by the attack and were praying for the freedom of Palestine and the Gazan people. While noting that they made the visit on behalf of all Jews, Weiss said: “We came here to share what is in our hearts with you. We came to show that we are with you in the wake of the attack.”
The patients were pleased by the visit and the opportunity to speak with the rabbis and shared their experiences on board the flotilla with the rabbis. The rabbis hugged the patients to show their sympathy.
In a press conference in front of the hospital following the visit, Weiss said: “Judaism is a religion that respects everything, and its history dates back thousands of years. We have been living in Arab countries for centuries in peace and without any problems. Zionism has been pulled in another direction and turned into nationalism.”
While noting that the Palestinian people have been oppressed for 60 years in the name of religion, Weiss said: “Turkey has set a very good example. It sailed to Gaza, uniting all people [in the ship]. We cannot forget Turkey’s hospitality and kinship. … We pray for Israel to turn towards peace. We pray for peace. We have lived in peace for centuries. Now some come and make us enemies. We must live in peace. These actions are done in our name, but we are not behind this. These are cruelties by the Israeli government, not by Jews.”
The rabbis left the hospital following their press statement, accompanied by police.
