Israel says 137 activists abducted from Gaza flotilla sent to Turkiye

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has said 137 activists who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been sent to Turkiye from Israel.

The activists were forcibly taken to Israel after Israeli forces abducted them in international waters.

Israeli media outlet Haaretz quoted the ministry as saying the activists were from the US, UK, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Algeria, Mauritania, Malaysia, Bahrain, Morocco, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Turkiye.

Turkiye’s President Erdogan has told the US president in a phone call that Ankara welcomed efforts to establish peace in the region, but that Israel must stop its attacks for those efforts to be successful.

In a statement, the Turkish presidency said Erdogan told Trump in a call requested by the US that Turkiye would continue to support peace initiatives in the region and contribute to Trump’s vision for global peace.

It also said the two discussed bilateral ties, adding that Erdogan stressed the importance of taking steps to boost their cooperation, namely in the defence industry.

Separately, in a speech on Saturday, Erdogan said Ankara’s aim in diplomacy for Palestine is to ensure that “our brothers and sisters in Gaza attain peace, tranquillity, security as soon as possible.”

Erdogan said that Hamas showed, as it has done many times before, its readiness for peace, adding that “a window of opportunity” has opened for lasting peace in the region.

Ali jazeera