H.E. President Gül's Statement on the Attack on the Humanitarian Aid Flotilla to Gaza

Below is President Gül's statement about the Israeli use of power on an aid flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza:
"I condemn the Israeli armed forces' attack on the flotilla with representatives of 32 countries, including Turkey, that was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza and extend my condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives in this deplorable event and wish the wounded a quick recovery.
Taking place in international waters, 69 miles from the Israeli territorial waters, this attack in which civilians including elderly, women, children and men of the cloth from different religions were targeted and in which international law was clearly violated should not be treated with indifference by the international community. Israel has deeply injured the international public conscience with this act.
It is unacceptable that the lives of these defenseless people, who aimed at nothing but carrying humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza ,whose agony is known by the whole world, have been ignored by Israel as a result of its political plans. With the policy it is pursuing, Israel is isolating its own people from the world and undermining the Peace Process that is the assurance of its own future.
I wish that the people with commonsense in the Israeli state would stop this policy. As a matter of fact, the Gaza blockade is not an issue directly between Turkey and Israel but rather a huge international human tragedy. We expect this inhumane blockade lifted right away.
Whatever is necessary to protect the rights and interests of the Turkish citizens in the convoy is being done. Turkey demands the investigation into the event be made without delay and the responsible people be punished.
The best demonstration of solidarity by all our citizens would be to act with composure and common sense."