The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) has accused Israel and the United States of taking steps to prevent the 'Freedom Flotilla' aid ship from reaching Gaza. According to IHH, these efforts are a deliberate attempt to conceal the humanitarian catastrophe endured by Palestinians.
The vessel is expected to carry thousands of tons of relief supplies, including food, medicine, and medical equipment, aiming to break the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza since 2007. IHH says Israeli authorities and US officials have blocked the ship from departing its port through diplomatic pressure and technical measures.
An IHH spokesperson stressed: 'Israel and the US are trying to stop this aid ship so the world cannot see the terrible reality in Gaza. They want to hide that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are living without clean water, food, and medical care.'
Human rights activists also argue that blocking aid constitutes a serious violation of international law. Numerous countries and non-governmental organizations have called on Israel to open its borders for relief shipments into Gaza.
In a related development, the US State Department said it supports Israel’s right to self-defense and considers control measures necessary to prevent weapons from reaching armed groups. However, IHH rejects this argument, insisting the ship carries only humanitarian goods and no weapons.
This is not the first time an aid ship has been blocked. In 2010, Israeli forces raided the 'Mavi Marmara' vessel in international waters, killing 10 Turkish activists. The incident sparked major diplomatic tensions and widespread UN criticism.
Despite the obstruction, IHH says it will continue efforts to organize future aid shipments and calls on the international community to increase pressure to end the Gaza blockade.
