Turkey and Israel have reached a deal to normalize ties after a six-year diplomatic rift. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the two sides will exchange ambassadors as soon as possible.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim delivers a speech during a press conference after a Turkish-Israeli meeting, in Ankara, Turkey, on June 27, 2016. Turkey and Israel have reached a deal to normalise ties and the two countries will exchange ambassadors, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Monday, after a six-year diplomatic rift. (Xinhua/Mustafa Kaya)

Bilateral ties soured in 2010 when the Israeli military killed ten Turkish activists during an attack on an aid flotilla trying to reach the blockaded Gaza Strip. Under the new deal, Israel is offering a formal apology, and has agreed to pay 20 million US dollars compensation.

Turkey will drop all claims against Israeli soldiers and relinquish demand for Israel to lift the blockade of Gaza.