The Turkish prime minster said Israel must be punished for the ‘massacre’ it committed aboard the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla aid ships.
"The bloody massacre Israel carried out against ships carrying aid to Gaza deserves condemnation," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
The premier who was addressing lawmakers from his ruling Justice and Development Party added that "nobody should test Turkey’s patience."
The Israeli navy assaulted the Freedom Flotilla aid convoy on Monday, killing at least 20 activists, mostly Turkish nationals, and injuring 50 others, Palestinian sources reported.
The invasion took place as the convoy was still in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, 150km (90 miles) off the Gaza coast.
Denouncing the Israeli raid, the Turkish premier also urged the international community to punish the Israeli regime for the "bloody massacre."
"The insolent, irresponsible and impudent attack by Israel, which went against law and trampled human honor underfoot, must definitely be punished," he charged.
On Monday, Erdogan promised a proper response to the Israeli attacks on the international convoy.
The Freedom Flotilla was carrying hundreds of activists and journalists and thousands of tons of humanitarian aid to the impoverished people of Gaza, which is under blockade for three years.
Some 487 activists were detained and taken to the southern Israeli prison of Ashdod, while 48 others will be taken to Ben Gurion international airport to be deported to their home countries.
(Press TV)
