Turkish police fired tear gas and water cannons at midday Sunday to break up a pro-Palestinian protest rally after protesters tried to enter Incirlik Air Base, where US forces are stationed.

On Friday, this particular NGO started a convoy march from Istanbul, bound for Incirlik, in southern Turkey, with the aim of blocking the base.

Today the motorcade passed the last part of its route, while cars with demonstrators from the province of Urfa in southeastern Turkey also arrived in Incirlik.

This is the same organization that sent the “Mavi Marmara” ship to Gaza in 2010.

The ship was part of the “Freedom Fleet” that attempted to break the blockade of Gaza and was carrying about 800 activists. Israeli commandos stormed the ship, killing 10 activists and injuring many, including 10 Israeli soldiers.

After this episode, Israel-Turkey diplomatic relations were “frozen”.

The organization’s president, Bulent Yildirim, is asking the Turkish government to close the US Incirlik and Kurecik bases, claiming that they are part of the US plan to occupy Turkey. He has also called for a blockade of US bases around the world.