ANKARA - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Monday Israel`s attack on ships carrying aid materials to Gaza was not legitimate according to international laws.
Speaking to Turkey`s state-run TRT TV channel, Davutoglu stressed that no country had the right to attack aid ships.
There is no country superior than international laws, Davutoglu underlined.
Those Turkish citizens injured in the attack or others must be able to return back to Turkey without any conditions. We will conduct the legal procedure needed for our citizens killed in Israel`s attack, Davutoglu said.
The state and government of the Republic of Turkey will deal with this matter with all of their tools. We have been in full touch with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdullah Gul all night long. A crisis center was established in Ankara under the leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, Davutoglu said.
We will take all necessary steps. No country can have a special treatment in this matter. We will work to defend the rights of our citizens, Davutoglu said.
"According to information we have received, there are around 20 injured people and around 10 dead. We have given the necessary instructions to our ambassador in Tel Aviv to find out about the exact number of casualties," Davutoglu said.
Even if there was only one injured person, the attack was piracy. Israel`s attitute has hurt the conscience of all humanity, Davutoglu said.
We hope that Israel learns lessons from this incident. Israel`s blockade on Gaza is against laws and is not legitimate, Davutoglu said.
Davutoglu said that he would travel to New York for a meeting on Israel`s attack at the United Nations.
Turkey has recalled its ambassador in Israel as of Monday, Davutoglu said.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) is in touch with 32 countries whose citizens were in the aid ships, Davutoglu also said.