Turkish Gaza Aid Vessel Return to Istanbul
VoA News: Thousands of Turkish citizens were on hand Sunday as the aid ship that was the target of a deadly Israeli raid in May docked at an Istanbul port .
The ship, Mavi Marmara, spent the past seven months undergoing repairs at a port on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. As it arrived, many in the crowd shouted “Allah is great.”
Israel's attack on the vessel that was attempting to deliver aid supplies to the Gaza Strip left nine people dead, the majority of them Turkish citizens.
Turkey responded to the attack by withdrawing its ambassador from Israel and demanding an apology from the Israeli government.
Turkey's foreign minister repeated that demand on Saturday, while stressing that his country is seeking improved relations with Israel.
Turkish and Israeli diplomats held “fence-mending talks” in Geneva earlier this month, but the talks failed to lead to a resumption of diplomatic relations.
Israel has defended its raid on the Turkish ship, insisting its commandos opened fire in self-defense
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