After a violence attack of Israeli forces against the ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, Sedat Laciner (Director of USAK) made striking statements on the incident.

By highlighting that the ships were attacked at high seas, Assc. Prof. Sedat Laciner indicated that the Israeli did not attack within Israeli territories or seas. Laciner said, ìA countryís stopping civil ships and opening fire to unarmed people, massacring them at high seas is a breach of international law. It is a piracy and banditry.î

Sedat Laciner stated that this act of Israel is much violent even than the Somalian piracy incidents. Laciner said, ìSomalian pirates are doing this in order to get ransom, and they do not harm people who they take hostage. Yet Israel killed people from whom it did not have anything to gain.î

According to Sedat Laciner, Israel could have stopped the aid ships without resorting to violent means. ìThere is an evil purpose here. If there was not, then the Israeli Air Forces and Naval Forces would not have been used to kill unarmed people within these civil ships. It is obvious that Israel wanted to make a bloody and violent operation.î

By reminding the incident of Rachel Corrie who was an American journalist intended to make a peaceful protest was smashed by bulldozers of IDF (Israeli Defense Forces), Laciner said ìThere is nothing to be surprised. As they killed Rachel Corrie, Israel repeats its typical behavior towards another peaceful act. However, this time it was more violent and brutal.î

Sedat Laciner said, ìMost of the people killed are Turks and it is not surprising. Israel has two aims. One is to give a lesson to all who intended and will intend to stop the blockade. The second is to take revenge from Turkey and give a lesson. Because Israel thinks that if they allow these ships to enter then more ships will come on incoming days.î

Interview by Gamze Coskun