Israel Anticipates Arrival of First Gaza Protest Flotilla in April

By Yoni Weiss

The first Gaza protest flotilla is expected to approach nearby waters by the second week of April, according to Israeli authorities.

Organized by the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), a Turkish organization infamous for its involvement in the 2010 Mavi Marmara flotilla, where nine passengers were killed during an altercation with IDF troops onboard, this upcoming flotilla aims to challenge the blockade around Gaza.

In February, IHH President Bülent Yildirım declared, “We will test both the Egyptian and Gazan entry points from the sea. Israel previously conducted a raid on the Mavi Marmara. This time, they won’t be able to do anything. Even if they do, so what? We’ll become martyrs.”

Despite being designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, IHH purportedly maintains ties with Turkey’s ruling AK Party and various jihadist groups in the region.

As Turkey and Egypt seek to improve their relations, the arrival of this flotilla, which aims to spotlight Cairo’s role in restricting goods and movement to and from Gaza, adds complexity to the dynamics between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.