Turkey prepares another Gaza flotilla in the coming months

About 420 activists who took part in the Gaza-bound flotilla returned to Istanbul on Sunday after being detained by Israel while trying to reach the Strip. Three Turkish Airlines planes landed at Istanbul Airport carrying the activists, including 85 Turkish citizens.

According to a report by Mako, flotilla representatives held a wrap-up meeting in Istanbul and said preparations had already begun for another sail to Gaza in the coming months. This next attempt, they said, would involve broader participation and a larger number of vessels.

One representative said, “From here we announce that we have started preparations. We will return to the route with more ships and with more participants from around the world. Our goal is to stop what we define as genocide in Gaza and to raise the voice of conscience with greater force.”

Mako also reported that activists in Istanbul said testimonies from the latest flotilla, medical documents and other recorded materials would be submitted to international legal bodies, including the International Court, to consider legal steps against Israel. So far, all attempts to sail to Gaza have failed, with the ships intercepted at sea by naval forces and Shayetet 13, the passengers taken to Israel for questioning and later expelled to their home countries.