Turkey to raise Israel's Gaza blockade to The Hague

Turkish FM Davutoglu says Ankara will start process at Int'l Court of Justice for investigation into "what Gaza blockade really is."

By REUTERS
Davutoglu 311 R (photo credit: REUTERS/Osman Orsal)
Davutoglu 311 R
(photo credit: REUTERS/Osman Orsal)
ISTANBUL - Turkey said on Saturday that it would apply next week for an investigation by the International Court of Justice into the legality of Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Speaking to Turkish state-run television during a gathering of European foreign ministers in Poland, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also reiterated Turkey's support for efforts to win recognition for a Palestinian state through the United Nations.
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On Friday, Turkey expelled Israel's ambassador and froze military agreements with Israel after a UN report on the killing of nine Turks during an IDF raid on a Gaza-bound ship a year.
The UN report concluded that the blockade was "a legitimate security measure in order to prevent weapons entering Gaza by sea."
Davutoglu said Turkey did not accept that conclusion, noting that it contradicted the UN Human Rights Council's findings.
"We will start the application process to the International Court of Justice within the next week, for an investigation into what the Gaza blockade really is," Davutoglu told TRT news channel.
Turkey has also said it will pursue criminal cases against officials responsible for the killings of the nine Turks, one of whom was a US citizen.
"Israel has to make a choice, the Arab Spring will bring about a significant enmity against Israel if it fails to change its attitude regarding regional issues," Davutoglu told TRT news channel.