BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhuanet) -- A Turkish court has begun the trial of 4 ex-Israeli military chiefs. They are being tried for the attack on a Turkish aid ship bound for Gaza that killed 9 Turkish activists in May 2010.

Hundreds of people have gathered outside the court in the capital, Istanbul, to voice their anger. Prosecutors are seeking life sentences for the incident that plunged Israel-Turkey relations into a deep crisis. Israel has branded the proceedings as a show trial.

The defendants did not appear before the court, after Israel refused to hand them over.

Last year, an Israeli investigation ruled the raid did not break international law. One of the lawyers for the plaintiffs says he expects the Turkish court to issue an arrest warrant for the men.

(Source: CNTV.cn)