Report: Families of flotilla victims file lawsuit against Israel

Some 33 relatives of nine Turkish activists who were killed during the 2010 IDF raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla file a compensation lawsuit against Israel for $5 million

Ynet|Published: 10.06.12 , 11:41

Some 33 relatives of the Turkish activists, who were killed in an Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara flotilla to Gaza in 2010, have filed a lawsuit against Israel seeking compensation for their losses, Hürriyet Daily Newspaper reported Saturday.

The families of Furkan Doğan, Cevdet Kılıçlar and Necdet Yıldırım, who were killed in the attack, filed a petition against Israel seeking financial and moral compensation, along with 30 other people who have suffered due to the attack.

Related stories:

Among the plaintiffs in the case are people who were seriously wounded in the attack, members of the press, and nurses. The plaintiffs’ 33 cases request a total amount 10 million Turkish Liras ($5 million) in compensation from Israel.

A Turkish court pressed formal charges in May against top officers of the IDF who are suspected of having been involved in the killings aboard the Mavi Marmara, demanding nine consecutive life terms for four commanders.

The court in Istanbul voted unanimously to approve an indictment against Israel's former military chief Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, along with the heads of its navy, air force and military intelligence, the Anadolu Agency said. They face nine consecutive life terms in prison for "inciting to kill monstrously, and by torturing."

Israel has apologized only for the loss of life in the Marmara raid. (Photo: Gadi Kabalo)

The 144-page indictment has been prepared after testimony from some 600 people, including 490 passengers from the six-ship flotilla and relatives of those who had died. The charges against the military officers include four counts of first-degree murder, intentional assault and torture of 114 pro-Palestinian activists.

Ties between the two countries hit their lowest point ever after Israeli forces killed nine Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010.

Turkey has tried without success to get Israel to apologize for the attack, and to compensate those killed as a precondition for normalizing relations. Israel has solely expressed regret for the loss of lives.

A United Nations probe into the incident found Israel's naval blockade of Gaza legally imposed "as a legitimate security measure" but added that the killing of eight Turkish activists and a Turkish-American was "unacceptable."

Turkey has rejected the report's findings, saying Israel had no right to raid the ship in international waters and said it would never recognize the blockade's legitimacy.