On Friday, a group of nine Turkish citizens, including NGO and press members, came to Israel to attend the celebration of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month. Israeli authorities detained them at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. Seven members of the group were banned from entering the state and transferred back to Turkey. Israeli cited unnamed security reasons.
"Chargé d’affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Ankara is summoned to the Ministry to convey our reaction to this treatment faced by Turkish citizens and our expectation to receive an explanation," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.
In 2010, the Freedom Flotilla tried to enter Gaza, was blocked by Israeli forces, and stormed by the Israeli navy. In the attack 10 activists on a Turkish ship were killed. Turkey expelled the Israeli ambassador from the country and recalled its ambassador from Israel.
A new Freedom Flotilla is preparing to leave Crete to enter Gaza at the end of June. The flotilla’s facilitators have not released the exact date of their attempt.
