Protesters took to the streets of Istanbul just hours after the Israeli military attacked the Mavi Marmara and the Flotilla of ships with hundreds of activists sending humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip.

Video of Protests in Taksim Square

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The centre of the protests was Taksim Square (Meydan) with thousands of protesters shouting anti Israeli slogans.

NationalTurk was at Taksim square and filmed the angry protesters with Turkey and Palestinian flags shouting anti Israeli slogans.

Men, women and children all locked in arms walking down the famous Cumhuriyet Caddesi (road) leading to Taksim Square.

There was no end of the protesters as up to 10,000 protesters walked to the famous landmark in Istanbul.

Traffic was halted, and hundreds of Turkish, Palestinian and Islamic flags were waiving through the air.

Vehicles passing by the other side of the road pressing their horns in support of the protesters were also seen.

Turkey have condemned the attacks on the unarmed activists which were taking up to 10,000 tons of aids including food and building material to the Gaza strip to help the people after the Israeli Embargo.

Jordan’s minister of communication and media affairs, Nabil al-Sharif, gave a statement to reporters saying “Jordan is very concerned, and is following up on the fate of its 25 passengers aboard the flotilla, and holds Israel completely accountable and responsible for any harm caused to the Jordanians on board.”

“Jordan calls on the international community to take firm and immediate action to pressure Israel to lift its siege on Gaza.”

The United Nations secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, who was in Uganda when the attacks took place has said “It is vital that there is a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place. I believe Israel must urgently provide a full explanation.”

One of the first leaders to have condemned the attack Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the emir of Qatar said “Before I conclude I must briefly refer to what happened this morning: The Israeli act of piracy against Arab and foreign activists, who tried to break a non-humanitarian, unjust siege imposed on our fellow citizens in the Gaza Strip, imposed for no reason but that they exercised their democratic right of choice. The crimes perpetrated this morning against the civilians supporting the Palestinians remind us of the unjust siege, the open bleeding wound in the Gaza Strip. All those who preach freedom, justice and democracy are required now to move, and to act to break this siege, so the blood of these free men does not go down the drain. This is a message addressed to the Arab states, who were brought to the moment of justice by those free men on board.”

Video of Protests in Taksim Square, Istanbul

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The media have also reported that Egypt, Sweden, Greece and Turkey have called their ambassadors to Israel in protest of the attacks.

Countries with citizens onboard the Flotilla are desperately trying to get information from the Israeli government on their safety.

The majority of the passengers on board the ships were Turkish but there were also passengers from Algeria, Belgium, Canada, Australia, Germany, Malaysia, Norway, Serbia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Greece, Ireland, Kuwait, Palestine, and the United States.

The Arab worlds is also very angered by the attack by the Israeli military and have announced that the Arab League will be organizing a meeting on Tuesday into what their move will be against Israel.

The Arab League (AL) Secretary General Amr Moussa had earlier described the attacks by the Israeli army as a “crime”.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is reported to have cut short a tour of Latin America to return back to Turkey.

The Israel’s National Security Counter-Terrorism Bureau has also reported to have warned Israeli citizens who are travelling to Turkey, to cancel their plans and Israeli citizens in Turkey to stay away from city centres and where protests are being held.

Video of Israeli forces attacking the aid Flotilla to the Gaza Strip

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