"If Israel ... gives the green light for the establishment of an international (inquiry) commission and is ready to answer to the commission, then naturally Turkish-Israeli ties will follow a different path," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters in Istanbul. "But if it continues to evade that, normalization in relations would be out of the question," he said.

Nine Turks, among them a dual US national, were killed in the May 31 raid on the aid flotilla, which plunged already strained ties between the once-close allies into deep crisis, with Turkey recalling its ambassador from Tel Aviv and scrapping joint military drills.

Asked about the future of a Turkish-Israeli military cooperation deal signed in 1996, Davutoglu said that "discussions on the issue are still under way" and that Israel's response to the crisis would shape Ankara's decision.

"Does any country have the right to intercept a civilian ship sailing in international waters? That's the primary question ... We cannot let any country harm our citizens knowingly and deliberately," he said.

"If they do not agree to (an international inquiry), it would mean that there are certain facts they want to hide ... Turkey is ready to answer all questions on this issue," he said.

The UN Human Rights Council set up Wednesday an independent international investigation into the raid, condemning Israeli's "outrageous attack" on the ships.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Turkey expected the commission to complete the inquiry within two months, Anatolia news agency reported. "We believe this commission will be set up and carry out its mission, no matter whether Israel wants it or not," he was quoted as saying. "Turkey wants the commission to ... present its conclusion to the (UN) secretary-general within two months at the latest," he said.

Apparently turning down the Turkish demand, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in Parliament that Israel would carry out its own investigation. He said Israel would also examine ways to minimize friction in enforcing its blockade of Gaza.

On Sunday, Tel Aviv rejected a proposal by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for an international investigation headed by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and including Turkish, Israeli and US representatives.

US Vice President Joe Biden, in Egypt for consultation with President Hosni Mubarak, said Monday his country is seeking new ways to deal with blockaded Gaza. "We are consulting closely with Egypt, as well as our other partners, on new ways to address the humanitarian, economic, security and political aspects of the situation in Gaza," he said after a meeting with Mubarak.

The two leaders held 90 minutes of talks in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh.

An Egyptian security official declared the blockade a failure and said his country will keep its border with the Palestinian territory open indefinitely. Keeping that crossing point open long term would ease the blockade imposed by Israel three years ago to isolate and punish Gaza's Hamas rulers. It also restores a link to the outside world for Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinians. Egypt opened its border with Gaza soon after Israel's deadly raid on May 31.

Egypt will not allow in large cargo shipments or construction material because the terminal is designed primarily as a crossing for travelers, said the Egyptian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who was in Istanbul to attend an Asian summit on Tuesday, said he would send a delegation to the Gaza Strip to seek reconciliation with Hamas. "The best answer to (the raid) ... is for Palestinian groups to reconcile and resist Israel hand-in-hand," Abbas told Turkey's NTV news channel.

"We have put together a delegation from the Palestinian leadership to go to Gaza and persuade Hamas to reconcile," he said. The only condition for reconciliation is for Hamas to accept the plan drawn up by Egypt last year which called on the two groups to make peace and hold elections, he said. "I believe and hope that this time we will succeed," the Palestinian leader added.