Is Israel's brutality frightening off Turkish shipowners from donating to Freedom Flotilla 2?

In a slighlty gloating article, Ynet News reports that Freedom Flotilla 2 is being delayed as boat and shipowners previously supportive of the convoy efforts pull back, fearing any vessels loaned for the mission will be impounded by Israel. Also, organisers are supposedly 'having a hard time' getting volunteers because of the massacre on the Mavi Marmara last time. However, Turkey's IHH, the logistical backbone for the flotilla had already said that they probably wouldn't be setting off until after the Turkish elections in June, so to some extent this is a non-story. There is no mention of any unscheduled delay to the flotilla's departure on the IHH charity's English-language website. One thing is certain though - the flotilla will be sailing to Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian activists organizing the next Gaza flotilla said Tuesday they are having a hard time recruiting activists, vessels and crew members.

Apparently many fear a confrontation with the Israeli naval commandoes after eight Turks and one Turkish-American died during an IDF raid last May onboard the Mavi Marmara, according to reports making their way to the political echelon in Jerusalem.

The sea convoy was set to sail to the Gaza Strip in late May, the first anniversary of the raid, but it could be delayed, partly because it clashes with Turkish election campaigning.

IHH officials, an Islamic aid group that operates the Mavi Marmara, announced they plan to postpone the flotilla until after the June 12 parliamentary elections. more

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