ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters, calling it “banditry” and accusing Israel of trying to “conceal its crimes in Gaza.”

“I condemn the banditry targeting the Sumud Flotilla, which set out to draw attention to the barbarity in Gaza, where children are starving, and to provide humanitarian aid to the oppressed,” Erdogan said, cited by Turkish state-owned Anadolu Agency (AA).

He further accused Israel of having “no tolerance for even the possibility of peace, let alone its establishment.”

The Turkish president referred to the boarding of the vessels as evidence that “the genocidal cadre is driven mad to conceal its crimes in Gaza” and warned that Turkish “authorized units are monitoring developments and taking measures to prevent any harm to our citizens.” 

The statement added that “our doors are open to those who refuse to surrender to the pressure.”

Israeli naval forces intercepted several vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla late Wednesday, assuming control of the ships and detaining the activists onboard. The fleet started with 44 vessels, carrying activists aiming to deliver aid to Gaza, but according to the flotilla's official tracker, only the Mikeno boat is still approaching the Strip as of Thursday morning.

Erdogan's criticism came shortly after the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office announced an investigation into the Israeli detention of Turkish citizens aboard the flotilla.

The probe concerns “24 Turkish citizens arrested following the attack carried out by elements of the Israeli navy in international waters against the Global Sumud Flotilla,” a statement said, according to AA. 

The investigation is being conducted under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and Turkish law, citing charges including “deprivation of liberty,” “hijacking or seizure of means of transport,” “aggravated robbery,” “damage to property,” and “torture.” 

Following widespread international condemnation, Israel’s foreign ministry said several vessels were “safely stopped,” with their passengers being transferred to an Israeli port from where they will be deported to Europe.

Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed over 66,000 people, most of whom are civilians, according to Gaza's health ministry. The bloodshed has drawn growing international backlash, most recently seen in a torrent of recognition of Palestinian statehood by Western countries, placing pressure on Israel and its allies to halt the conflict.