Veterans speaking on the 6th anniversary of the attacks against the Mavi Marmara ship by the Israelis say the Israeli siege of Gaza will never be taken off and Turkey negotiating with Israel is like sticking a dagger in the heart of the Ummah.

Huseyin Solmus, a veteran of Mavi Marmara says since the founding of Israel, they have persecuted Muslims in the Middle East and Palestine. Solmus indicates that there has been a major drama due to the embargo on Gaza.  

The attitude and conduct of Turkey to the Mavi Marmara matter is viewed very nicely by the Ummah of Islam especially by the Palestinians said Solmus. He added that “Recently we are witnessing from the press that there is an agreement with Israel and a dialogue is ongoing behind closed doors. This is very upsetting. We are finding it difficult to understand why the government is trying to form peace and agreement with Israel.”

Solmus underlined that 10 people were killed in Mavi Marmara and this on its own is a war crime. He continued, “While the veterans of Mavi Marmara remain to suffer from physical and psychological conditions, it is upsetting to know that the government wants to form peace with Israel. This is like sticking a dagger in the heart of the Ummah.”

Any agreement or act of peace with Israel will be a disappointment to the women and children in Palestine who had hopes from Turkey and to the families od the martyrs of Mavi Marmara said Solmus. “After the Mavi Marmara incident, the government has been remembered good by the Ummah for 5 years. So what has changed now and why are you stepping back? Turkey does not need economical or political support from anybody in the Middle East. So why are we calling for peace with Israel?”

“The hands of the Palestinian martyrs will be on you”

“Do not enter into an agreement with Israel. Major progress has been made until today but to regret and make peace with them will deeply hurt the Ummah. Our hands and the hands of the Palestinian martyrs and veterans will be on you in the world hereafter” said Solmus.

“’Israel is a terror state’ said the President”

Israel will never take off the embargo on Gaza said Solmus. “’Israel is a terror state’ said the President. So it does not make sense to make peace with a terror state. Israel is never going to recognise Hamas or take off the embargo on Gaza.

Mehmet Ali Zeybek had 9 bullet wounds in the Mavi Marmara attack and he states, “Israel victimizes the Palestinian people everyday until their death and we will fight until this victimization is eliminated. Previously there were commercial agreements between Israel and Turkey. However, despite the difficulties we suffer as a country Turkey should not form any connections with Israel.

Zeybek underlined that they will never accept to be in peace with Israel. He also added that, “We will not accept Israel even if the legal process results in compensating those victimized or even if they remove the embargo on Gaza because nothing changes the fact that their political views or how monstrous they are. They are continuously victimizing the civilians when they can. Israel can come to any agreement with Turkey but this will not mean we will accept and make peace with them.”

“We should put Palestine in our agenda”

Zeybek stated that they have no hope from the government and underlined that civilians in Palestine are still being killed. He also noted that Palestine is under a very big tyranny, “We should as members of the public tell our children and communities about Palestine. We should put Palestine in our agenda otherwise we cant progress or get anywhere with just hopes.” (ILKHA)