ISTANBUL - Tens of thousands of Turks turned up at Sultanahmet harbor in Istanbul on Sunday for the return of the Mavi Marmara, the ill-fated flagship of the Gaza flotilla, which was violently raided by Israeli commando forces in May.

Pro-Palestinian activists wave Turkish and Palestinian flags during the welcoming ceremony for cruise liner Mavi Marmara at the Sarayburnu port of Istanbul December 26, 2010. Nine Turkish activists died in May when Israeli commandos raided the boat, which was part of a flotilla seeking to break the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip. [Photo/Agencies]

People celebrated the return of the ship by waving flags of the Palestinian territories and chanting anti-Israeli slogans.

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The ship departed on May 22 with 578 activists from 37 countries seeking to break the Israeli blockade and deliver relief supplies to Gaza. The raid occurred in international waters off Israel on May 31, killing nine activists and wounding 54.

Bulent Yildirim, president of the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), which organized the Gaza-bound flotilla as well as Sunday's rally, told the crowd that he was proud of having been able to show the resistance.

"They (the Israelis) tell us to stay away, then you stay away from Gaza, from the West Bank, from the Al-Aksa mosque and we'll stay away from you," he said.

Yildirim as well as many others from Greece and Sweden, all said the world was ready to take action against the Israeli occupation, and greater initiatives would be done in the future.

Mavi Marmara was pulled into the harbor at local time 13:00 ( 1100 GMT) amidst fanfare, fireworks and balloons being released upon its arrival.

The ship will be open to public for a month before being taken to the Tuzla shipyards to be repaired.

Refraining from attending the welcoming ceremony, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Sunday that Turkey had intention to make peace with Israel.

During his meeting with columnists of several newspapers in Istanbul, Davutoglu said "Turkey has intention to make peace with Israel. We are in favor of peace with all countries."

However, he said apology and compensation were needed to continue friendship with Israel.