Families of Mavi Marmara victims file lawsuit for compensation

ISTANBUL- Hürriyet Daily News

Hürriyet photo

Some 33 relatives of the Turkish citizens who were killed in an Israeli raid on the Mavi Marmara aid ship off Gaza in 2010 filed a lawsuit against Israel on Oct. 5, seeking compensation for their losses.

The families of Furkan Doğan, Cevdet Kılıçlar and Necdet Yıldırım, who were killed in the attack, filed a petition against Israel seeking financial and moral compensation, along with 30 other people who have suffered due to the attack, said the attorney for the families, Uğur Yıldırım.

Ties between the two countries hit their lowest point ever after Israeli forces killed nine Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara on May 31, 2010. Turkey has said that in order for ties to normalize Israel must apologize, pay compensation to the families of those killed and lift its naval blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Among the plaintiffs in the case are people who were seriously wounded in the attack, members of the press, and nurses. The plaintiffs’ 33 cases request a total amount 10 million Turkish Liras in compensation from Israel.

A Turkish court pressed formal charges in May against members of the Israeli military who are suspected of having been involved in the the killings aboard the Mavi Marmara, demanding nine consecutive life terms for four commanders. Media reports also suggested at that time that Israel had offered to pay $6 million to victims of the Gaza-bound Turkish aid flotilla to settle lawsuits against the Israeli military.