Turkish foreign ministry denies flotilla lawsuit suspension

Yedioth Ahronoth

Hürriyet photo

Turkish foreign ministry denied claims that Turkey was preparing to suspend lawsuits from the Mavi Marmara flotilla raid today. 

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth had reported Turkey was getting ready to suspend lawsuits.

The newspaper claimed Turkish authorities were instructed to drop any legal pursuit against the Israel Defense Force members responsible for the raid that killed nine Turkish activists on board the Gaza-bound flotilla.  

The gesture followed U.S. efforts to bring the former allies back together, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

In May 2010, six ships led by the Turkish Mavi Marmara tried to reach the coastal strip but were intercepted by Israeli commandos, who stormed the boats, killing nine Turkish activists and sparking a diplomatic crisis with Ankara.

Ankara demanded an official apology amid the diplomatic crisis and jumpstarted a series of legal proceedings against the individuals responsible.

The former allies have failed to restore bilateral ties.