- Title: Turkish court dismisses case by victims of Israeli flotilla raid
- Date: 9th December 2016
- Summary: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (DECEMBER 9, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF ISTANBUL COURTHOUSE SIGN OF COURTHOUSE READING (English): "Istanbul Justice Palace" VARIOUS OF PRO-PALESTINIAN ACTIVISTS FROM IHH (Humanitarian Relief Foundation) AND RELATIVES OF VICTIMS OF ISRAELI RAID GETTING OUT OF THE COURTHOUSE AND CHANTING (Turkish): "DAMN YOU ISRAEL", "ALLAHU AKBAR" (GOD IS GREAT) IHH LAWYERS AND RELATIVES OF VICTIMS MAKING STATEMENT PHOTOS OF ACTIVISTS KILLED IN ISRAELI RAID (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) IHH LAWYER, SELCUK KAR, SAYING: "Even though we were not finished talking, he (the judge) interrupted us and moved to rule the decision in a haste. We clearly saw the court would come to this decision and technically dismissed the ruling. We said you cannot read the verdict to our face and left the hearing room. ACTIVISTS HOLDING UP VICTIMS PHOTOS (SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) IHH LAWYER, SELCUK KAR, SAYING: "The judicial process will continue. It is not over yet. We will continue to try all legal ways but as my colleagues have said, Israel is already convicted. Rest assured. We wanted them to be officially convicted. Turkish court had the chance to do that but they dismissed it out of hand." VARIOUS OF CROWD TEARING DOWN PHOTOS OF DEFENDANT ISRAELI COMMANDERS WHO CARRIED OUT THE RAID CROWD CHANTING (Turkish): "ZIONIST MURDERERS WILL BE BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT"
- Embargoed: 24th December 2016 18:04
- Keywords: Turkey trial Mavi Marmara Humanitarian and Relief Foundation (IHH) flotilla raid victims Israel
- Location: ISTANBUL, TURKEY / AT SEA
- City: ISTANBUL, TURKEY / AT SEA
- Country: Turkey
- Reuters ID: LVA0015C5Z77R
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
A Turkish court on Friday (December 9) dismissed a case brought by victims of an Israeli raid on an aid flotilla that killed 10 people in 2010, a lawyer for the victims' families said.
The Mavi Marmara was part of a larger aid flotilla and the court case was brought on behalf of 740 victims from 37 countries who say they were wounded, assaulted or imprisoned during the raid.
Selcuk Kar, a lawyer from Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) said the judge dismissed the case in haste.
"The judicial process will continue. It is not over yet. We will continue to try all legal ways but as my colleagues have said, Israel is already convicted," Kar said.
Arrest warrants issued for four former Israeli commanders who were on trial in absentia were removed, Turkey's private Dogan news agency reported.
Israeli-Turkish relations broke down in 2010 when Turkish pro-Palestinian activists were killed by Israeli commandos enforcing a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. The soldiers had raided the ship, leading a flotilla to the Hamas Islamist-run Palestinian territory.
Israel agreed to pay out $20 million to the families of those killed on the vessel, a crucial element in the restoration of ties.
The two countries said in June they would normalise relations - a rapprochement driven by the prospect of lucrative Mediterranean gas deals as well as mutual fears over security risks in the Middle East. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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