Thousands turn out for return of protest aid ship

THOUSANDS of pro-Palestinian activists yesterday welcomed back to Istanbul the ship that was the scene of bloodshed during an Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in May.

Hundreds of balloons were released as the ship, Mavi Marmara, sailed into Istanbul’s Sarayburnu port, following repairs at a port on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The activists, mostly members of pro-Islamic groups, waved Palestinian and Turkish flags and chanted “down with Israel” and “Allah is great” as they greeted the vessel.

They vowed to send more ships in an effort to break the Gaza blockade.