In an effort to get Turkey to cooperate with the U.S. and bridge relations with Israel, Lurch [a.k.a Secretary of State John Kerry] says the Boston Marathon bombings reminded him of Turks who lost family during "the 2010 IDF raid on the Marmara." Kerry was referring to the 2010 boarding of the Mavi Marmara, one of the ships in the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" that attempted to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, by IDF commandos. The soldiers were attacked by militants recruited by The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), a Turkish charity accused of having ties to Islamic terrorist organizations, when they boarded the ship.
Nine militants were killed during attempts to rescue Israeli commandos who had been severely wounded and captured by activists abord the vessel; seven Israelis were wounded during the operation.
