The three Turkish ships were seized during a deadly Israeli raid of a six-ship aid flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza to break an Israeli blockade on May 31. The attack by Israeli naval commandos left eight Turkish citizens and one American dead and more than 30 people injured, which caused international outrage.
Following the inspection of the Mavi Marmara, Defne-Y and Gazze by bomb disposal units, the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) will also measure the level of radioactivity on the ships. The inspections are being carried out under high security.
Meanwhile, deputy chair of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH) and chief organizer of the flotilla Hüseyin Oruç, assistant to the chair of the İHH Ahmet Sarıkurt, captain of the Mavi Marmara Mahmut Tural, Defne-Y engineer Rıfat Lüleci, lawyer Ramazan Arıtürk and other officials came to the port to see the vessels. Security did not allow them to enter the area where the ships were docked.
Oruç said they would be able to board the ships once the inspections are completed. When asked why bomb disposal units were sent to inspect the vessels, he responded, “Anything is to be expected of those who killed nine people.”
Oruç noted that there are several inspections that must be completed, including one related to the technical condition of the ships and whether or not they are seaworthy. “They may be put in dry dock if necessary,” he said, “We will make sure they operate again.”
