Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov.6 / Trend A.Taghiyeva /
A trial in absentia over former Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of General Staff Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, Naval Forces commander Vice Adm. Eliezer Marom, Israel's military intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Amos Yadlin and Air Forces Intelligence head Brig. Gen. Avishai Levi, whom Turkey considers responsible for death of 9 passengers of "Freedom Flotilla", has started in Istanbul, Anadolu agency reported.
If they are found guilty, Turkey will appeal to Interpol for arrest of Israeli militaries. Each of them may face 18, 000 years in prison.
Relations between Turkey and Israel, which were two strategic and military partners before, worsened after Israeli naval attacks on the "Flotilla of Freedom" carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31, 2010. Nine Turks fell victim to a confrontation between Israeli soldiers and international human rights activists on the Turkish ship.
Ankara later demanded that Israel issue an official apology, order an independent international investigation, and pay compensation, however, Tel Aviv has refused.