Since Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan assumed the office, Turkey has been seeking to become a regional power by enhancing its role in Middle East and in the Muslim world, the political scientist Yervand Bozoyan told NEWS.am, commenting on the Israeli forces’ assault of Mavi Marmara ship, carrying 500 supporters and $20 million worth of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

According to him, the assistance of Turkey - and Premier Erdogan personally - to Palestine is merely symbolic. “Turkey tries to consolidate its positions in the Muslim world with this move. However, obviously, Erdogan might deteriorate the Turkish-Israeli strategic relations,” Bozoyan said.

 

Israeli troops stormed an international flotilla of ships with humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, Milliyet reports. A violent demonstration is being held in front of the Israeli Consulate in Turkey. The demonstrators protest against the “killings of the civilians” aboard the Mavi Marmara ship.