Positives from the freedom convoy disaster

Turkey's friendship is as strong as its animosity

Israel's attack on the freedom convoy was an act of terrorism. Not only does it need to be strongly condemned, but Israel needs to be punished for its act of piracy, murder and kidnapping of civilians in international waters. If this act goes unpunished, then the world's community is sending a message that: terrorism, piracy and murder are not considered so, if the perpetrator is powerful enough. As such, lawbreakers only need to seek to become mighty enough to avoid scrutiny for their illegal actions. I don't want my children to live in such a world.

Years of negotiations and peace talks by high powered officials from US, Egypt, Saudi and many other countries have not led to a an end to the siege. But 600 civilians have achieved in days what high powered officials could not do in years – and possibly could or would never have done.

This event has proved again to the world that civilians, despite the grave cost and limited resources, have and can break the siege. Civilians and common people can cause change, even if few in numbers. This action will not and must not deter more human rights activists from seeking to break the illegal siege on Gaza.

Despite the human cost of this venture, there are many positive outcomes. It could be argued that these activists have achieved their objectives more effectively. They have made Israel score a disastrous own goal. I see the following as positive outcomes:

1- It has been demonstrated to the world without reasonable doubt, what kind of evil entity is Israel. Overnight, the arguments of Hamas have been substantiated and the arguments of Israel have been rebutted by their own doing.

2- The pressures on Israel have mounted to not only allow the ships into Gaza but to lift, completely, the illegal siege on Gaza. A siege, I might add, that the world have become used to as a fact of life and maybe accepted as a right of Israel.

3- Turkey, with its might, has been brought into the central stage of the Palestinian / Israeli conflict. A country, which a few months ago could have been considered a "friend" of Israel, is now taking a stern stance against Israel’s siege on Gaza. Recep Tayyip Erdogan was quoted "Turkey's friendship is as strong as its animosity". This is a massive win for the Palestinian struggle.

4- Turkey has now assumed moral leadership of the Middle East, and possibly soon, much more than just moral leadership. This is expected given the strong leadership and clear positions taken by the Turkish government. It is also expected due to the shear lack of any hint of leadership from all Arab regimes who have simply become spokespersons from Israeli and the US interests. Watching Aljazeera, you could see people in all Arab countries carrying the Turkish flag as they seek to fill this massive leadership void.

5- This event has placed weak and unstable regimes of the Arab world, led by Egypt, under significant pressures and further exposed their lack of action and their inability to take any real decision or clear position. The never ending pursuit of peace talks as the only strategic choice has now been clearly exposed against Israeli’s only strategic choice to fulfil self-interest.

6- It could now be expected that there will be renewed calls to talk directly to Hamas in order to reach a resolution. This can only be a positive step forward, to recognize the only democratically elected Government in the Arab world.

This event may spark a series of history changing events, possibly beyond what the peace activists could have ever hoped for.