According to Army Radio, and as reported by Haaretz, the Lebanese newspaper, al-Mustaqbal, reported that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan is considering sailing to Gaza himself, and will request a Turkish Navy escort. You can read the Haaretz article here.
While a report of a report of report may not be the most reliable, if it were true, it poses so many interesting questions.
The Haaretz article notes that the Turkish military is not on the same page as the Turkish government regarding cancelling joint military exercises with Israel. If it were Pakistan, such a schism between government and military would normally result in the military taking over the country. But Turkey is a far more stable country, and a military take over is fanciful and far-fetched. How often has the Turkish military and Turkish government been at odds in terms of its security policies? If Erdogan does decide to sail to Gaza and the Turkish Navy refuses his request for an escort, then what happens? Does he go without the navy?
Erdogan is no doubt feeling the popular outrage at the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians and perhaps he floated this rumor to gain popular support but really has no intention of actually sailing to Gaza. But maybe he really means it!
If, in fact, Erdogan sails to Gaza with the purpose of breaking the blockade, and the Turkish navy consented to an escort, how would Israel react? Would Israeli commandos board the ship, jam its communications as it has with the Free Gaza flotilla ships? Would Turkish and Israeli naval commandos engage in combat? How would the U.S. react faced with a choice between defending a NATO ally or siding with Israel? Will the U.S. withdraw from NATO? Would NATO survive without the U.S.? Would Turkey be ejected from NATO?
Tangentially related thoughts. Will Turkey try to leverage its position in the UN security council to put off voting with the U.S. for tougher sanctions on Iran unless and until Israeli eases or ends its blockage of Gaza?
Dear Kossacks, your thoughts, as always, are most welcome and appreciated.