Israel said Friday it would return to Turkey the three Turkish-flagged ships it is still holding in Israeli ports, nearly two months after its May 31 interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, DPA reported.
The Foreign Ministry has instructed Israel's ambassador to Ankara, Gabby Levy, to inform the Turkish authorities that the vessels will be sent back, a senior Israeli official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to the German Press Agency dpa.
He could not say whether the move was part of an Israeli bid to salvage its badly harmed relations with the former key Mediterranean ally.
The Mavi Marmara passenger ship, on which Israeli naval commandos shot dead nine pro-Palestinian international activists, is currently docked at the military section of Haifa Port in northern Israel, Israel Radio reported
The other two Turkish-flagged ships, the Gaza 1 and Gaza 2, are docked in the southern Israeli port of Ashdod, it said.
Two Greek-flagged ships and the US-flagged Challenger 1 also participated in the Freedom Flotilla voyage, a self-declared attempt to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.
Eight of the dead were Turkish nationals aged between 29 and 61, while the ninth was a 19-year-old American of Turkish descent.
Israel said its naval commandos had opened fire on the civilian activists after they were taken by surprise by a group of several dozen passengers on board the Mavi Marmara, who attacked them with sticks and knives.
But it was widely condemned for the action in international waters.
The violent take-over sparked a crisis in the already tense relations between Israel and Ankara.
Israel's counter terrorism unit this week also cancelled a travel warning to Turkey for Israeli tourists - for whom all-inclusive resorts on the Mediterranean coast are a popular destination - after mass anti-Israel demonstrations there died down.
Under international pressure, Israel has since eased its blockade of Gaza, lifting all restrictions on the import of civilian and non- dual-use goods, but keepings in place its near-total ban on exports. The movement of people also remains highly restricted.