ISTANBUL

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday condemned Israel's "act of piracy" against the global Sumud humanitarian flotilla en route to Gaza to deliver aid to oppressed Palestinians.

"I condemn the piracy against the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set out to draw attention to the barbarity of children dying of hunger in Gaza and to deliver humanitarian aid to the oppressed Palestinians," Erdogan said in an address to a Justice and Development (AK) Party provincial heads meeting.

Israel's attack on civilians in international waters proves that "the genocide apparatus is engaged in a frenzied attempt to conceal its crimes in Gaza," Erdogan added.

"It is clear that the genocidal Netanyahu government not only refuses to allow peace to be established, but cannot even tolerate the slightest prospect of it taking root," he added.

"The Global Sumud Flotilla has once again shown the world the brutality in Gaza and Israel’s murderous face," he added.

"We will not abandon our Palestinian brothers and sisters but will instead work with all our might to secure a ceasefire and restore peace," he vowed.

Turkish officials are monitoring developments and taking measures to ensure that the Turkish nationals who were on board the flotilla are not harmed, Erdogan stressed.