A Turkish court has issued an arrest warrant against four senior IDF commanders serving at the time of the Marvi Mamara incident.

The Istanbul court issued the warrants against former IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, Naval Commander Rear Admiral Eliezer Merom, Chief of Intelligence Amos Yadlin and Air Intelligence Chief Avishai Levi.

If any of the four lands in Turkey or in any nation that has an extradition treaty with Turkey may be arrested.

Terrorists affiliated with the HNN organization were on board the Marvi Marmara and planned to break the Israeli marine blockade on Gaza. Members of the Shayetet naval commando unit boarded the vessel and refrained from using weapons, believing the members of the flotilla were peaceful civilians. The commandos were attacked and beaten, some sustaining serious injuries until realizing they were dealing with terrorists. Turkey severed relations with Israel over the deaths of a number of its citizens, demanding an Israeli apology.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)