Gaza flotilla ship welcomed back to Turkey by thousands of activists

Thousands of pro-Palestinian activists today welcomed back to Istanbul the ship that was the scene of bloodshed during an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May. Activists meanwhile promised to send more ships in an effort to break the Gaza blockade.

Hundreds of balloons were released as the ship, Mavi Marmara, sailed into Istanbul's Sarayburnu port, following repairs at a port on Turkey's Mediterranean coast.

The activists, mostly members of pro-Islamic groups, waved Palestinian and Turkish flags and chanted "down with Israel" and "Allah is great" as they greeted the vessel. Protesters also boarded boats to welcome the approaching ship, adorned with a poster of the nine activists from Turkey who were killed during the raid.

The ship was part of an international flotilla carrying supplies in a campaign to breach the blockade on Gaza when Israeli troops intercepted the convoy. Eight Turks and an American-Turkish teenager were killed in the violence that erupted on board the Mavi Marmara.

Full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/26/gaza-flotilla-ship-returns-turkey

It's only Arabs oppressing Arabs, or is it Muslims oppressing Muslims? Whatever, there are no Jews involved so why get excited by some poor blockaded folk?

:sarcasm: in case you weren't sure...

food and stuff for N. Korea? Just wondered.