New naval flotilla to Gaza increases tensions between Ankara and Tel Aviv
Turkish organizations, including IHH, are preparing to launch a new naval fleet of more than 20 ships from the coast of Marmaris towards the Gaza Strip, in a move that comes days after Israel intercepted the Steadfastness flotilla that set off from Sicily.
The new Turkish fleet is being prepared off the Greek island of Rhodes, according to the Hebrew newspaper Maariv.
The newspaper says that the security establishment in "Israel" fears that the interception of the new flotilla will lead to direct friction with the Turkish navy, especially if the operation takes place near Turkey's territorial waters, noting that the tension between the two sides has reached a dramatic level, and that this is the first time that real concern has emerged about the possibility of a military confrontation between the two armies.
The Israeli army has also begun preparing for a new interception, although the flotilla has not yet left Marmaris, and it is estimated that the interception may take place off the Greek coast, as happened with the Sicilian flotilla, to avoid approaching Turkish waters, according to Maariv, which warns that the proximity of the interception zone to Turkey may open the door to an undesirable confrontation between the Turkish and Israeli fleets.
Sicilian flotilla intercepted and 175 activists arrested
Last week, the Israeli navy intercepted a pro-Palestinian flotilla that sailed from Sicily towards Gaza, including about 100 boats and ships.
Israeli ships were waiting west of Crete, and managed to seize 20 ships and arrest 175 activists on board, before deporting a number of them later.
This interception re-highlighted international naval moves aimed at breaking the blockade of Gaza and raising the level of tension with Ankara.
IHH returns to the forefront
The new fleet is organized by the Turkish organization IHH , known as the "Humanitarian Relief, Human Rights and Freedoms Organization".
The organization has a sensitive history in the relationship between Turkey and Israel, as it was the organizer of the Mavi Marmara Flotilla in May 2010, when soldiers from the "Shaitet 13" unit boarded the ship to prevent it from reaching Gaza, killing 9 activists and injuring dozens, and causing a severe diplomatic crisis between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
IHH Turkey is one of the most prominent relief organizations in Turkey, having been established voluntarily in 1992 before becoming an official institution in 1995 with its headquarters in Istanbul.
The organization operates in more than 120 countries around the world, providing a variety of humanitarian assistance, including emergency relief in war and disaster zones, support for refugees and displaced people, orphan care, education, health, water, food relief and reconstruction projects.
IHH also enjoys an advisory status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, which gives it an international presence in the humanitarian field, and the organization's name has been particularly prominent globally through its activity in conflict zones such as Gaza and Syria, as well as its participation in prominent humanitarian convoys and initiatives, including the "Freedom Flotilla" to Gaza in 2010.
On the other hand, its extensive activity in conflict zones has made it the subject of political and media controversy in some countries, despite its constant assertion of its independence and its focus on humanitarian work.
A regional scene is open to the possibility of escalation
Hebrew and Turkish reports agree that the new flotilla represents a sensitive test point in the Eastern Mediterranean, where humanitarian moves to break the blockade overlap with political calculations between Ankara and Tel Aviv.
With the continuation of preparations in Turkey and Israel's raising the level of maritime readiness, the region seems to be approaching decisive days that may determine the course of tension between the two parties in the coming period.