On Dec. 2, the Mavi Marmara case brought against Israel for its assault on a Turkish ferryboat carrying humanitarian relief to the Gaza Strip met in court for the 21st time. The prosecutor asked for the dismissal of the case based on the agreement signed between Israel and Turkey in June. The victims’ families and activists at the court were furious, so the judge adjourned the session until Dec. 9.
On Dec. 9, the court met under heavy security, and there were allegations on social media that the security personnel had told victims’ families, “You will have 10 more martyrs here today.” Attendees at the court tweeted that the police presence was to intimidate them. The tension was high at court, especially after the prosecutor said, “Turkey, specific just to this case, due to the agreement made, conceded its sovereign rights.” Then the activists started chanting slogans, such as “Mavi Marmara is our honor” followed by “God is Great” [Allahu akbar], “Damn Israel,” and “This is not Israel, it is Turkey.” Lawyers left the courtroom in an act of desperate protest.
