[Flotilla Gaza] First, Biden lured Türkiye with 40 sets of F-16, Exchange with Sweden membership in NATO. Now, ‘Turf Card’ F-16 Also Used to Stop Flotilla Gaza

Jennifer Koonings, Medea Benjamin, Mary Ann Wright, Tiger, and 700+ Volunteers Stranded in Istanbul. White House-Pentagon 'Ask More' to Erdogan only by 1 'Turf Card [again]': F-16

Istanbul 1.55am

Türkiye really lucky to have an unique access: sophisticated - latest weapon [offers] from Moscow, although Türkiye is also NATO member. Then, earthquake with 57k casualties [February last year] hammered. Strained Türkiye’s economy, some estimate cost to rebuild may reaches US$700 billion.

In jeopardy, although national election last year [May 2023] Erdoğan still won, [but] March 31, 2024, mayoral election, result was stunning: the main Turkish opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) had won mayoral election for the first time since 1977, receiving 37.7 percent of the votes, pulling two points ahead of the AKP. Inflation, [still] confused Erdoğan’s policy after earthquake, and ‘not so hard’ to defend Palestine since October 7th, to be multiple factor Erdoğan lose.

To understand Türkiye terrible food inflation, here is a price for a burger and coke in Istanbul’s popular restaurant Zula through years. As you can see, despite the local inflation due to low interest rates, the price has been increasing not only in Turkish Lira but also in US Dollar terms. Inflation excuse has caused spiraling price gouging. Türkiye have food inflation and high renting prices here even difficult to buy a house here or a car. Some Turks are so behind they think if prices go high in Türkiye they are much cheaper elsewhere. 2012 - 2016 minimum pension salary was worth of 10gr gold, whereas it is under 5gr gold nowadays. For the retired people life became x4 times difficult compared to 10 years ago. The dynamic economy in Türkiye going terrible even without earthquake. And then, earthquake happened last year.

Erdoğan’s priority on defense is questioned. Clearly his ambition to eliminate Kurdistan militia. So far, in the last 13 years, rocketed budget for defense was actually just for Türkiye to show off on the Türkiye - Kurdi - Iraq border, to eliminate Kurdistan militia-separatist and so far, no sign to end.

Medea Benjamin. Co-Founder CODE PINK

Inside ship - Freedom Flotilla Gaza. in Tuzla dockyard / port, Istanbul

With earthquake and [of course] budget to rebuilt, but Erdoğan still eyeing prize in border, a lot of Turkish [even his voter himself] amazed why Erdoğan didn’t try to cut significant budget on defense and then more focused to rebuilt after earthquake and solve the inflation. 

This is why everyone also questioned, when 700 - 750 volunteers of Freedom Flotilla stranded in Istanbul [not yet sailing go to Gaza], and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier visited Istanbul and met mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, Erdoğan decide to visit Baghdad and Erbil. Very rare that, last Sunday, very massive rallies for Gaza [organize by multiple organization related to Freedom Flotilla] in Istanbul, Erdogan already go to Baghdad, not stay in Istanbul at least 4-5 hours in the middle Turkish people to show solidarity for Gaza.

Sunday, Erdogan is visiting Baghdad for the first time in 12 years. He met prime minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, and the President Abdul Latif Rashid. Iraq, Turkey, Qatar and UAE sign a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in Iraq Development Road Project that links Gulf to Europe during Erdogan’s visit to Baghdad.

‘Tiger’, yankee and Code Pink member, with Surya, an Australian. Both volunteer Freedom Flotilla Gaza

Monday, Erdogan arrives in Erbil, and is personally welcomed by the president the Iraqi Kurdistan Nechervan Barzani [Nêçîrvan Barzanî]. 8 Hours after, Erdogan meets leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masoud Barzani [Mesûd Barzanî] in Iraqi Kurdistan’s Erbil.

Sadly, AOC is Jennifer’s representative, because living @ 14th congressional district [eastern part of The Bronx and part of north-central Queens, includes the neighborhoods of Astoria, College Point, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and Woodside]

Pentagon and White House smell some fishy: although Biden suffered painful about Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, in other hand, Erdogan still continue to ‘show off’ in border, and means, [potential] ‘big slice’ national budget for defense [and not for rebuilt after earthquake, and also not too much send a humanitarian fund for Gaza]. That’s why US put Erdoğan to ban or stop Flotilla to sailing [to Gaza], with use [still same] turf card named F-16.

So far, [turf card] F-16 is really tricky not only for Türkiye. With 2 years and 2 months war of Russia - Ukraine and Zelensky’s position more cornered, Biden not yet giving green light directly access for Ukrainian military for F-16, with multiple reason ‘still want a specific training’.

Like Jennifer Koonings, [Jewish American] writer Jason Rosenberg are part 142 protesters get detained after peacefully protest in New York Times headquarter, 5 weeks ago [March 14th, 2023]

Also NYT / New York Times

300 - 400 bodies in [new] mass grave around Nasser Hospital, Khan Younis Gaza

Democrat Primary in NYC 3 weeks ago

red line: Jennifer Koonings. Please back home [NYC] alive after Gaza aid operation, Jennifer. Can’t stop pray to you, Jennifer.

If I Must Die mini runtext and Jennifer Koonings

Button link to donate Freedom Flotilla

Jennifer Koonings is nurse, angel with golden heart, Certified Forensic Examiner for Adults and Children in New York State.

Huwaida Arraf [giving a speech] and Jennifer Koonings [black tshirt]

Huwaida Arraf. 2010. 2024. Same Flotilla

Huwaida Arraf speak last Sunday [2pm] in the middle rallies. Erdogan already in Baghdad since 11am, not in Istanbul.

Emergency number if anyone ask to Huwaida Arraf about Freedom Flotilla

contact a member of the team at:

Media@FreedomFlotilla.org

Fellipe Lopes
Press Officer
+90 537 952 5939

Archived press releases and photos to accompany press materials are available by request.

‎Africa:

[South Africa] Palestine Solidarity Alliance
Contact: Ismail Moola
Phone: +27 83 754 8900 E-mail: palestinesa@gmail.com
www.palestinesa.co.za/

Asia / Pacific:

[Australia] Free Gaza Australia
Contacts: Michael Coleman; James Godfrey
Phone: +61 416 965 585 ; +61 424 340 630
Facebook: GazaAustralia  Twitter: gffausgroup

[New Zealand/Aotearoa] Kia Ora Gaza
Contact: Roger Fowler
Phone: +64 212 999 491 E-mail: office@kiaoragaza.net

http://www.kiaoragaza.net/

  Facebook: KiaOraGaza

[ICBSG] International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza
Contact: Zaher (Chairman)
Phone: +44 7850896057 E-mail: admin@breakgazasiege.net
Facebook: ICBSG Twitter (X): @icbsongaza

Europe:

[France] Platforme des ONG pour la Palestine
Contact: Claude Léostic
Phone: +33 672 516 490 E-mail: claude.leostic@laposte.net

https://plateforme-palestine.org/

[Italy] Freedom Flotilla Italia
freedom flotilla italia
E-mail: freedomflotitalia@gmail.com
Facebook: freedomflotilla.italia Twitter: freedomflotita

[Norway] Ship to Gaza Norway
Contact: Gerd von der Lippe (sailed aboard ‘Al Awda’)/Torstein Dahle
Phone: +47 4803 6842 E-mail: gerd.v.d.lippe@usn.no / torstein.dahle@hvl.no

http://www.shiptogaza.no/

Facebook: ship2GazaNorway

[Spain] Rumbo a Gaza
Contact: Sandra Barrilaro
Phone: +34 677 25 65 26 E-mail: prensa@rumboagaza.org
www.rumboagaza.org/
Facebook: rumboagazaoficial Twitter: @rumboagaza

[Sweden] Ship to Gaza Sweden

Contacts:
Jea Escanilla
Phone: +46 709 327 210 ُE-mail: jeaescanilla@gmail.com

Robin Stensson
Phone: +46 72 968 22 18 ُE-mail: rdstensson@gmail.com

https://shiptogaza.se/

Facebook: ShiptoGazaSweden Twitter: shiptogazaswe

[Turkey] IHH
Contact: Nurfitri Taher (English, bahasa Indonesia)
E-mail: tahernurfitri@gmail.com

Contact: Zeynep Baran (Türkçe)
E-mail: ozgurlukfilosu@gmal.com
https://www.ihh.org.tr/en

North America:

[Canada] Canadian Boat to Gaza
Contact: Wendy Goldsmith (English)
Phone: +1 519 281 3978 E-mail: wendygoldsmith21@gmail.com,
David Heap (français, español, English)
Phone +1 519 859 3579 E-mail: david.heap@gmail.com
canadaboatgaza.org/  Facebook: CanadaBoatGaza Twitter (X): @CanadaBoatGaza

[United States] US Boat to Gaza
Contacts:
Ann Wright: Phone: +1 808 741 1141
Huwaida Arraf: Phone: +1 917 588 3482
E-mail: media@usboatstogaza.org
Web Site: US Boat to Gaza
Twitter: usboattogaza

‘‘[Israel] They’re executing doctors’’ [Jennifer Koonings]. Angel heart, nurse form NYC.