*Turks march against Israeli attack *
*Israeli security forces fired tear gas at protesters in the occupied
West Bank [AFP]***
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/05/201053116143622331.html
Thousands of people have taken to the streets in the Turkish city of
Istanbul and around the world to denounce Israel over its attack on the
convoy of Gaza-bound aid ships that left at least 19 people dead.
Around 10,000 people marched from the Israeli consulate in Istanbul towards
the city's main square shouting slogans and waving banners saying "Killer
Israel".
Bulent Arinc, Turkey's deputy prime minister, said there were up to 400
Turks among nearly 600 people aboard the *Mavi Maramara*, the Turkish vessel
which was leading the so-called Freedom Flotilla.
Other demonstrations denouncing the Israeli raid have been held in many
cities around the world, including the capitals of Syria, Jordan,
Iraq, Lebanon and the UK.
The United Nations Security Council was to meet on Monday afternoon for an
emergency session to discuss the matter.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, condemned Israel's actions and called
for an investigation.
*'Devastating and deplorable'*
Pro-Palestinian campaigners marching in London spoke of their fears about
the fate of British citizens aboard the flotilla.
Several hundreds activists blocked Whitehall, the main administrative area
for the UK government, shouting "Free Palestine" and carrying flags and
banners with slogans such as "Stop Israel's War Crimes in Gaza" and "End the
Criminal Siege of Gaza".
*Hundreds of protesters marched in London against the Israeli raid
[Jacqueline Head]***
Kate Hudson, chairwoman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), who
joined the demonstration, said: "Obviously we have great support for the
humanitarian convoy which has gone there to try and bring relief to the
people in Gaza.
"It is devastating and deplorable that the Israeli forces have attacked
civilians on the flotilla.
"We have close friends on the boat on which people were killed and we are
here waiting for news.
"We are trying to get through to them but we are not getting any answers."
Turkey, Egypt, Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Sweden have all summoned
the Israeli ambassadors in their respective countries to protest against the
assault.
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have clashed with Israeli security
forces who responded with tear gas, injuring many people.
*Consulate stormed*
Earlier on Monday, protesters in Istanbul attempted to storm the consulate,
scaling over the compound's walls, but were blocked from going further by
police.
Live blogGING
<http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2010/05/31/aftermath-israels-attack-gaza-flotilla>
Aftermath of Israel's attack on Gaza
flotilla<http://blogs.aljazeera.net/middle-east/2010/05/31/aftermath-israels-attack-gaza-flotilla>
Protests also took place in Ankara, the Turkish capital.
A charity in Turkey has said most of those killed in the raid on six ships
in international waters were Turkish nationals.
Israel has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Turkey and instructed
those already there to keep a low profile and avoid crowded downtown areas.
Arinc said that the nation would be cancelling three joint military
exercises and recalling a youth football team from Israel.
Anita McNaught, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Istanbul, said relations
between Israel and Turkey have deteriorated since Israel's recent war on
Gaza.
"Up until that point they had ... a constructive military alliance and for
many years they saw the issue of domestic terrorism as one they had to share
information about," she said.
"But since the Gaza war relations have nose-dived and it would be absolutely
fair to say that this is the lowest point."
*International condemnation*
Israeli forces stormed the flotilla, which was carrying 700 pro-Palestinian
activists and 10,000 tonnes of aid, while they were 65km off the Gaza coast
in international waters.
people on board
Two Palestinian's who are also members of Israeli parliament Swedish
author Henning Mankell (unharmed according to the Swedish foreign ministry)
Nobel peace prize laureate Mairead Maguire Aengus Snodaigh, member of
the Irish parliament Irish writer and historian Fintan Lane Three
German parliamentarians
The action has brought widespread condemnation, with the EU foreign affairs
chief demanding that Israeli authorities mount a "full inquiry" into the
attack.
Catherine Ashton also reiterated a longstanding demand for "an immediate,
sustained and unconditional opening of the crossings for the flow of
humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza," a
spokesman said.
France and the UN's Middle East envoy have also condemned the attack, while
Greece suspended a military exercise with Israel and postponed a visit by
Israel's air force chief.
There are about 700 activists on board the flotilla, included people
from the US, Britain, Australia, Greece, Canada, Malaysia, Algeria, Serbia,
Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and Kuwait.
The majority of people on the ships are from Turkey
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