( CNN ) -- Turkey 's foreign minister continued Saturday to press for an apology from Israel over its forces killing nine Turkish activists , a day before the boat that set off the row between the two countries is scheduled to arrive in Istanbul . Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu criticized Israel for not reciprocating his country 's efforts to remedy relations , despite Turkey 's `` wish to reconcile with Israel , '' according to the state-run Anadolu news agency . `` We are having difficulty , when we do n't receive the same will from the other side , '' he said . `` If our friendship with Israel is going to continue , an apology and compensation are the only possible ways for it . '' Turkey was once Israel 's strongest ally among Muslim nations , but the relationship between the two nations has been chilly since May 31 , when Israeli forces intercepted an aid flotilla headed to Gaza from Turkey . Violence broke out , and nine Turkish activists were killed . Tens of thousands of people are expected Sunday to greet the boat at the center of the controversy , the Mavi Marmara , when it arrives Sunday in Istanbul , according to a press release from Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief . Israel has maintained that its troops used force on the activists only after they were attacked by those on board one boat . But passengers on board insist Israeli troops fired on them without provocation . On Saturday , Davutoglu said that Tel Aviv 's attempts to lay blame were unfounded . `` Turkish citizens were killed in international waters , '' he told reporters , according to the Anadolu report . `` Nothing can cover this fact . Turkey can not be blamed . '' In September , the U.N. Human Rights Council concluded that Israeli forces committed serious violations of international law in the mid-sea interception . The 56-page report described the circumstances of the deaths of `` at least six of the passengers '' as being `` consistent with ... an arbitrary and summary execution . '' Officials from Israel and Turkey met earlier this month in Geneva , Switzerland , in an attempt to reduce tensions . That meeting came days after Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan sent two firefighting planes to Israel to help combat a deadly wildfire , according to a Turkish foreign ministry official . Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly thanked Erdogan , then called him to thank him again , the official said . While on the telephone , Netanyahu said he hoped the two countries could discuss the state of their relationship in a different context .
Turkey 's minister says Israel is not reciprocating his nation 's efforts to remedy relations . The row began after Turkish forces killed at least six Israeli activists on an aid flotilla . He says `` an apology '' is needed for Israel 's `` friendship '' with Turkey to continue . Israel has said that its troops used force only after they were attacked themselves .