A bipartisan group of 36 U.S. Congressmen have called upon Turkey to prevent another “humanitarian” flotilla from departing for the Gaza strip. The latest flotilla, sponsored by the terrorist-linked IHH, is expected to leave Turkey in June. It will likely attempt to recreate the violent incident one year ago, when flotilla members attacked Israeli soldiers with knives and bats.

“We write today to express our serious concern over reports that the so-called Free Gaza Movement and the IHH are planning to send another flotilla to Gaza in the coming weeks to provoke a confrontation with Israel,” the letter says. “As members of the United States House of Representatives we ask you to help discourage these efforts and work with the Israeli government in a productive way as it continues to allow legitimate aid, but not weapons, to enter Gaza.”

Rep. Steve Israel (D–N.Y.), who organized the letter along with Rep. Tom Cole (R–Okla.), pointed out that there are plenty of non-violent and non-provocative ways to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza, if that is Turkey’s goal.

“Another so-called aid flotilla to Gaza is nothing but an attempt to provoke Israel,” Rep. Israel said. “The Turkish government can help prevent violence by saying ‘no.’ We are urging Prime Minister Erdogan to actively work to put a stop to this and join with Israel in providing real humanitarian assistance to Gaza.”

Will this letter actually persuade the Turkish government to speak out against the flotilla? Probably not. But if another incident erupts that’s similar to the violence of last May, it’s important to get the message out preemptively that the flotilla, not the state of Israel, is the real aggressor. Members of congress should continue to speak out on this issue, so that another communications problem can be avoided this time around.