The released prisoners include 73 women, four Turks and a Palestinian, said a member of the IHH's executive board, Huseyin Oruc.

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First of all, the Turkish government-supported NGO behind the operation is IHH.

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However, the head of the IHH earlier said 2, 130 civilian prisoners would be released by the Syrian authorities in return for the Iranians.

BBC: Iranians held by Syria rebels released

In 1999, the Turkish government was so wary of IHH that it barred the group from participating in relief efforts following a devastating earthquake.

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In and of itself, the fact that Erdogan was openly supporting IHH's leading role in the flotilla told Israel everything it needed to know about the Turkish leader's intentions.

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Netanyahu's staff knew that the IHH was so extreme that the previous Turkish government had barred its operatives from participating in humanitarian relief efforts after the devastating 1999 earthquake.

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