Israeli Navy Raids Gaza Aid Flotilla, 10 Confirmed Dead

[JB Globe]

From: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053113252437484.html

Israeli commandos have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships off the coast of the Gaza Strip, killing up to 19 people on board.

Dozens of others were injured when troops raided the convoy of six ships, dubbed the Freedom Flotilla, early on Monday.

Israel said activists on board attacked its commandos as they boarded the ships, while the flotilla's organisers said the Israeli forces opened fire first, as soon as they stormed the convoy.

Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, gave his "full backing" to the military forces after the raid.

"The prime minister... reiterated his full backing for the IDF [israeli Defence Forces] and inquired about the well-being of the wounded," his office told the AFP news agency.

Israeli media reported that many of the dead were Turkish nationals.

Organisers of the Freedom Flotilla say it was carrying 700 activists and 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid with the aim of breaking the Israeli siege of Gaza.

Protests worldwide

Hamas, the Palestinian group which governs the Gaza Strip, said the assault was a "massacre" and called on the international community to intervene.

Hamas, whose leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, called the Israeli action "barbaric", urged Arabs and Muslims to show their anger by staging protests outside Israeli embassies across the globe.

The call came even as demonstrations denouncing the Israeli raid were being held in many cities around the world, including the capitals of Syria, Jordan and Lebanon.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank clashed with Israeli security forces who responded with tear gas, injuring many.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, officially declared a three-day state of mourning.

Thousands of Turkish protesters tried to storm the Israeli consulate in Istanbul soon after the news of the operation broke. The protesters shouted "Damn Israel" as police blocked them.

"[The interception on the convoy] is unacceptable ... Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behaviour," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

The United Nations Security Council was to meet on Monday afternoon for an emergency session to discuss the matter.

Turkey, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Sweden have all summoned the Israeli ambassadors in their respective countries to protest against the assault.

Live ammunition

Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, on board the flotilla's lead ship, the Mavi Marmara, said in his last report before communications were cut off, that Israeli troops used live ammunition during the assault.

The Israeli military, 10 of whose soldiers were reportedly wounded in the operation, said troops opened fire after "demonstrators on board attacked the IDF naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs".

Our correspondent said that a white surrender flag was raised from the ship and there was no live fire coming from the passengers.

Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros, reporting from the Israeli port of Ashdod, were the aid ships were taken after the assault, said the Israeli army was not giving any details of who had been killed, injured or detained.

She said at least 16 flotilla activists had been taken to an Israeli prison after the first two ships docked.

"As soon as [the ships] land here, the goods are taken, put into a terminal, and the passengers undergo extensive security checks.

"[They are] given the choice either to go home straight away, in which case they're being bussed to Tel Aviv airport, or if they resist deportation, they are taken to a nearby detention centre where we understand they will be for at least 72 hours."

Defending Monday's military raid, Mark Regev, the Israeli government spokesperson, said the Israeli commandos came under fire from people on board the flotilla whom he branded as "violent extremists".

"Israel was totally within its rights under international law to intercept the ship and to take it to the port of Ashdod," he told Al Jazeera.

"Unfortunately they were met by the activists on the boats with deadly violence, knives, metal clubs, even live fire on our service people. They initiated the violence."

He said the people on board the flotilla were not peaceful activists.

"They are part of the IHH, which is a radical Turkish Islamist organisation which has been investigated by Western governments and by the Turkish government itself in the past for their links with terrorist organisations."

Turkish denial

The Turkish parliament has dismissed this claim, saying it had investigated the ship and the people on board, finding no links to such organisations.

Murat Mercan, the head of Turkey's foreign relations committee, said claiming that activists on board had links to terrorist organisations was Israel's way of covering up its mistake.

"Any allegation that the members of this ship is attached to al-Qaeda is a big lie because there are Israeli civilians, Israeli authorities, Israeli parliamentarians on board the ship," he told Al Jazeera.

"Does he [Regev] think that those are also attached to al-Qaeda?"

The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Palestinian coastal enclave.

Avital Leibovich, an Israeli military spokeswoman, confirmed that the attack took place in international waters, saying: "This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves."

Footage from the Mavi Marmara showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.

Israeli accounts of the incident said its navy had contacted the Mavi Marmara's captain asking him to identify himself and say where the ship was headed.

Shortly afterwards, two Israeli naval vessels flanked the flotilla on either side, but at a distance.

Organisers of the flotilla then diverted their ships and slowed down to avoid a confrontation during the night.

They also issued all passengers life jackets and asked them to remain below deck.

Troops on alert

Following the news of the flotilla deaths, Israeli police were put on a heightened state of alert across the country to prevent any civil disturbances.

Sheikh Raed Salah,a leading member of the Islamic Movement who was on board the Mavi Marmara, was reported to have been seriously injured in Monday's raid. He was being treated in Israel's Tal Hasharon hospital.

In Um Al Faham, the stronghold of the Islamic Movement in Israel and the birthplace of Salah, preparations for mass demonstrations were under way.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, including a Nobel laureate and several European legislators, were on board the flotilla.

They came from the UK, Ireland, Algeria, Kuwait, Greece and Turkey among other countries.

But Israel had said it would stop the flotilla before it could reach Gaza.

The flotilla had set sail from a port in Cyprus on Sunday and aimed to reach Gaza by Monday morning.

Israel said the boats were embarking on "an act of provocation" against the Israeli military rather than providing aid, and issued warrants to prohibit their entrance to Gaza.

It asserted that the flotilla would be breaking international law by landing in Gaza, a claim the organisers rejected.

The 10,000 tonnes of aid carried by the convoy included medicine, water purification devices and construction material.

Adnan Abu-Hasana, a spokesman for UNRWA, said the Gazans are in dire need of aid after Israel's war on the territory in December 2008-January 2009 destroyed buildings and infrastructure.

"We need hundreds of thousands of tonnes [of aid] to rebuild Gaza," he told Al Jazeera.

"We need more of building materials... We need spare parts for machines in the agricultural and industrial sectors, for the fishermen, all these sectors are nearly collapsed.

"Eighty per cent of the Gazans are dependent on humanitarian aid coming from UN organisations such as UNRWA."

Al Jazeera English has been following this story since the beginning, and had reporters on board filing stories from the flotilla, I figured they'd be better informed at this point than other outlets which are coming late to the story only after the incident.

Edited May 31, 2010 by JB Globe

[JB Globe]

Like I've said numerous times before, when you assume the role of occupier, you enter into a relationship that slowly transforms you from whatever nation you once were, into a monstrous version of your former self.

Key facts of this incident:

1 - The convoy was inspected and cleared by the customs officials at each of the ports of origin for the ships. These ships are almost entirely from European countries and Turkey as well - which is a military ally of Israel (they were due to hold a joint exercise together this weekend, which has now been cancelled because of this incident.)

2 - The incident took place in international waters.

3 - White flags were raised prior to Israeli commandos boarding the ships.

4 - Reporters on board the ships reported no incidents of crews or activists carrying or firing any kind of weapon.

Update: the IDF is now saying in a news conference that the commandos who stormed the lead ship, Mavi Marmara faced gunfire and knives - this happened to be the ship that Al-Jazeera English had a reporter and camera team on-board, who reported to the contrary that there was no guns or knives among the crew and activists.

This was the ship that was carrying several EU members of parliament, Holocaust survivors, a Catholic Archbishop, among others.

Update: The Israeli deputy foreign minister is now saying that the organizers are linked to Hamas and Al-Qaeda . . . I think they're clutching for straws if they're trying to make an Al-Qaeda connection, that's quite sad.

Frankly I think there will be many more of these kinds of incidents so long as the occupation continues and the Neo-con/Fundamentalist alliance continues to control Israeli politics. Of course, this will see a slow and steady degradation of support for the Israeli government, both from non-Jews, and Jews as well.

This is an incredibly stupid move on Israel's part - it looks like it will seriously harm it's relations with Turkey - their PM has called the actions "state terrorism" - and for the record, Israel greatly needs Turkey's help in dealing with Lebanon & Syria, as they're both on the same page with those nations.

It plays terribly PR-wise - even during the Gaza war I didn't see the comments sections of any Canadian/International news so overwhelmingly against the Israeli position.

Personally I believe that Bibi Netanyahu is simply playing to his base on this and not caring about the international reaction, because he's betting that through Israeli lobby groups in Washington and now Harper's hard-on for Israel that he'll always have the minimum level of support from key international countries so that they never are forced into following international law.

Edited May 31, 2010 by JB Globe

[Sir Bandelot]

Personally I believe that Bibi Netanyahu is simply playing to his base on this and not caring about the international reaction, because he's betting that through Israeli lobby groups in Washington and now Harper's hard-on for Israel that he'll always have the minimum level of support from key international countries so that they never are forced into following international law.

Isn't he visiting Canada today? It would be interesting to hear what Harper has to say about this.

Edited May 31, 2010 by Sir Bandelot

[eyeball]

Personally I believe that Bibi Netanyahu is simply playing to his base on this and not caring about the international reaction...

I think we're seeing something very similar in the reaction of some people to the detainee issue here at home. In the face of behaviour that is at such odds with our countries stated principles...

...you enter into a relationship that slowly transforms you from whatever nation you once were, into a monstrous version of your former self.

Bingo.

[M.Dancer]

Key facts of this incident:

1 - The convoy was inspected and cleared by the customs officials at each of the ports of origin for the ships. These ships are almost entirely from European countries and Turkey as well - which is a military ally of Israel (they were due to hold a joint exercise together this weekend, which has now been cancelled because of this incident.)

Irrelevant. It is what is off loaded that counts.

2 - The incident took place in international waters.

Again irrelevant. Their stated intentions were to runthe blockade. When their intentions are know, where they are boarded makes no difference according to maritime law.

3 - White flags were raised prior to Israeli commandos boarding the ships.

A white flag is the international symbol of surrender. Why did they fly a w2hite flag and not allow the israelis on peacefully?

4 - Reporters on board the ships reported no incidents of crews or activists carrying or firing any kind of weapon.

The old if a reporter didn't see it, it didn't happen arguement

Edited May 31, 2010 by M.Dancer

[bush_cheney2004]

...Personally I believe that Bibi Netanyahu is simply playing to his base on this and not caring about the international reaction, because he's betting that through Israeli lobby groups in Washington and now Harper's hard-on for Israel that he'll always have the minimum level of support from key international countries so that they never are forced into following international law.

Ya think? Killing 34 and wounding 171 crewmembers on the USS Liberty over 40 years ago worked out just fine. "International law" is an oxymoron.

[eyeball]

The legality of the blockade is highly debatable to say the least.

The neutrality of this is in dispute

Story

Edited May 31, 2010 by eyeball

[JB Globe]

Irrelevant. It is what is off loaded that counts.

Actually it's totally relevant - the ships were cleared by customs and proceeded to Gaza. There were media and EU MPs present the entire trip,

A white flag is the international symbol of surrender. Why did they fly a w2hite flag and not allow the israelis on peacefully?

At this point we don't know exactly what happened, let's not assume we know who got aggressive first at this point, all we have are conflicting reports from reporters and IDF officials.

The old if a reporter didn't see it, it didn't happen arguement

As opposed to what? If the IDF said it, it must have happened argument?

Frankly I tend to believe reporters over the accounts of any government that has been known to engage in the kind of disinformation campaigns that Israel is known for.

Remember the whole "we are absolutely NOT using White Phosphorous! . . . Okay, so maybe we are using it." during the Gaza War?

Face it, the IDF is not a trustworthy source.

[myata]

And the legality of occupation... And the legality of building settlements in the occupied territories, like there's no tomorrow. Sounds no, walks, quacks and acts like a pattern.

[DogOnPorch]

Last I checked, Hamas and Israel are enemies. WTF does one expect if you try and run a blockade to bring aid to Israel's sworn foe? Milk and cookies?

They were apparently supposed to put in at an Israeli port if they wanted a favorable reaction from the IDF.

Dollars to donuts, the people who put thisd convoy together knew exactly what they wanted...and got it.

[JB Globe]

This is NOT playing well in Israel either.

A columnist for Israel's biggest daily has called for Defense Minister Ehud Barak to resign, and calls the incident a "regional disaster"

He notes the standard operating procedure of disabling a ship bound to break a blockade that apparently Israel did not follow.

Also, he claims that imposing a naval blockade on Gaza is beyond the limits of Israel's power.

[Guest American Woman]

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says commandos who raided a Gaza aid flotilla, killing nine and injuring dozens of others, were under attack and acting in self defense.

Netanyahu spoke after a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

According to the article, Israel wanted to check to make sure there were no weapons on board and had successfully checked five ships, but the sixth didn't cooperate, beating and clubbing the soldiers.

link

I would find it odd if Israel decided to attack a ship for no reason, after leaving the five previous ships alone.

Edited May 31, 2010 by American Woman

[naomiglover]

First the carnage in Gaza and now this.

When these extremists feel that they can get away with what they did in Gaza, why not this?

Since the people killed are not Gazans, perhaps there will be more pressure on governments around the world to respond to what majority of the people around the world feel about Israel's continuous despicable actions.

Only morally and ethically corrupt people would make excuses for Israel's actions.

[naomiglover]

No food, medicine, shelter for you Gazans!

This is what the apologists like Dancer, Dogonporch and American Woman are supporting.

[DogOnPorch]

First the carnage in Gaza and now this.

When these extremists feel that they can get away with what they did in Gaza, why not this?

Since the people killed are not Gazans, perhaps there will be more pressure on governments around the world to respond to what majority of the people around the world feel about Israel's continuous despicable actions.

Only morally and ethically corrupt people would make excuses for Israel's actions.

Honestly, what did you think would happen once they decided to run the blockade? Israel stands aside and says...

Have a nice day.

???

The people that decided to put this stupid 'humanitarian' convoy together are to blame.

[JB Globe]

Last I checked, Hamas and Israel are enemies. WTF does one expect if you try and run a blockade to bring aid to Israel's sworn foe? Milk and cookies?

The thing is, this was humanitarian aid destined for civilians. Things like food, water purifying equipment, medical supplies, etc. It was not economic/military aid being given to Hamas.

It's standard international practice to continue giving aid to civilians who need it for survival even if say, the UN has condemned the regime they live under.

To blockade humanitarian aid is actually illegal under international law because it is collective punishment - which is what Israel has been doing since the start of the Gaza blockade.

They were apparently supposed to put in at an Israeli port if they wanted a favorable reaction from the IDF.

Actually, if Israel has supposedly disengaged from Gaza and is not occupying it as it claims it has, than it has no jurisdiction over what ships can or can't enter it's waters. By taking this action, Israel is demonstrating that they are still occupying Gaza by enforcing Israeli policy on ships that were only entering Gazan waters.

And practically speaking, if the ships had docked at an Israeli port they would have never had been allowed into Gaza, period, because that would have broken Israel's policy of collective punishment of Gaza's civilian population.

Dollars to donuts, the people who put thisd convoy together knew exactly what they wanted...and got it.

Exactly - the blockade wanted to get aid to Gaza, and fail that, illustrate that the IDF will use brute force to prevent humanitarian aid from getting to Gaza.

That's the beauty of non-violent protest, it's a win-win as long as you keep your resolve.

[Guest American Woman]

No food, medicine, shelter for you Gazans!

This is what the apologists like Dancer, Dogonporch and American Woman are supporting.

Wow. Way to refute what I said. Simply ignore everything I posted and instead throw some moronic accusations around, based solely on what you claim I support.

Edited May 31, 2010 by American Woman

[naomiglover]

Honestly, what did you think would happen once they decided to run the blockade? Israel stands aside and says...

???

The people that decided to put this stupid 'humanitarian' convoy together are to blame.

It's a humanitarian convoy.

[DogOnPorch]

The thing is, this was humanitarian aid destined for civilians. Things like food, water purifying equipment, medical supplies, etc. It was not economic/military aid being given to Hamas.

Sez you. Hamas is the terrorist org in control of the place. They take what they want at gunpoint if needed.

It's standard international practice to continue giving aid to civilians who need it for survival even if say, the UN has condemned the regime they live under.

To blockade humanitarian aid is actually illegal under international law because it is collective punishment - which is what Israel has been doing since the start of the Gaza blockade.

Israel is specific what you can send to Gaza.

Actually, if Israel has supposedly disengaged from Gaza and is not occupying it as it claims it has, than it has no jurisdiction over what ships can or can't enter it's waters. By taking this action, Israel is demonstrating that they are still occupying Gaza by enforcing Israeli policy on ships that were only entering Gazan waters.

And practically speaking, if the ships had docked at an Israeli port they would have never had been allowed into Gaza, period, because that would have broken Israel's policy of collective punishment of Gaza's civilian population.

That might hold water if Hamas wasn't at war with Israel.

Exactly - the blockade wanted to get aid to Gaza, and fail that, illustrate that the IDF will use brute force to prevent humanitarian aid from getting to Gaza.

That's the beauty of non-violent protest, it's a win-win as long as you keep your resolve.

The Sri Lankan Army did the same for those trying to help the Tamil Tigers. Israel just weighs the odds, I imagine. Protecting its citizens against terrorism or keeping a bunch of Western hippies with too much time on their hands happy. Tough choice.

Edited May 31, 2010 by DogOnPorch

[JB Globe]

The people that decided to put this stupid 'humanitarian' convoy together are to blame.

But there would be no convoy if Israel didn't engage in collective punishment in Gaza, which is illegal under international law, and let humanitarian aid into Gaza.

It seems as though you have no problem with Israel flouting international law, but you do have a problem with people who organize to call attention to this fact.

In short, it's not the wrong-doers who are wrong, it's the people who point their finger at the wrong-doers.

In that sense, it was MLK's fault that civil rights protestors had dogs and water canons used on them. After all, if he didn't organize the march, none of that would have happened. Never mind that the state forced people to march because it was violating their human rights . . .

Same principle - you should apply it across the board if you don't want to be a hypocrite.

[Guest American Woman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo&eurl=http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk&feature=player_profilepage#!

Video taken by IDF naval boat shows the passengers of the Mavi Marmara, one of the ships in the 'Free Gaza' Flotilla, violently attacking IDF soldiers who were trying to board the ship after having sent repeated requests for the boat to change course.

Large groups of passengers surrounded soldiers and beat them with metal poles and chairs, and threw one soldier over the side of the ship. Some passengers grabbed pistols from the IDF soldiers and opened fire. As a result of the attacks, seven IDF soldiers were injured, and nine of the passengers were killed.

The 'Free Gaza' Flotilla had publicly insisted on their non-violent intentions, however their violent attack on the IDF soldiers was clearly premeditated. They had knives, metal rods, firebombs and other items ready to use.

[GostHacked]

This kind of helps prove my point that this is in fact an occupation of Gaza/West Bank by Israel. I mean people tried to prove me wrong in the other thread, and in the end could not refute my claim. This completely backs my claim about the occupation.

Although this will turn into a pissing match between certain posters, I hope we can avoid that in this thread.

[DogOnPorch]

But there would be no convoy if Israel didn't engage in collective punishment in Gaza, which is illegal under international law, and let humanitarian aid into Gaza.

It seems as though you have no problem with Israel flouting international law, but you do have a problem with people who organize to call attention to this fact.

In short, it's not the wrong-doers who are wrong, it's the people who point their finger at the wrong-doers.

In that sense, it was MLK's fault that civil rights protestors had dogs and water canons used on them. After all, if he didn't organize the march, none of that would have happened. Never mind that the state forced people to march because it was violating their human rights . . .

Same principle - you should apply it across the board if you don't want to be a hypocrite.

Alright let's play that game. There was this guy named Haj Muhammed Amin al-Husseini. In 1948 he led the call to war with the new state of Israel rather than taking his part of the Ottoman pie.....

[DogOnPorch]

This kind of helps prove my point that this is in fact an occupation of Gaza/West Bank by Israel. I mean people tried to prove me wrong in the other thread, and in the end could not refute my claim. This completely backs my claim about the occupation.

Although this will turn into a pissing match between certain posters, I hope we can avoid that in this thread.

It proves you listen to Hamas rather than more sensible voices out there.

[DogOnPorch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo&eurl=http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk&feature=player_profilepage#!

Video taken by IDF naval boat shows the passengers of the Mavi Marmara, one of the ships in the 'Free Gaza' Flotilla, violently attacking IDF soldiers who were trying to board the ship after having sent repeated requests for the boat to change course.

Large groups of passengers surrounded soldiers and beat them with metal poles and chairs, and threw one soldier over the side of the ship. Some passengers grabbed pistols from the IDF soldiers and opened fire. As a result of the attacks, seven IDF soldiers were injured, and nine of the passengers were killed.

The 'Free Gaza' Flotilla had publicly insisted on their non-violent intentions, however their violent attack on the IDF soldiers was clearly premeditated. They had knives, metal rods, firebombs and other items ready to use.

Naturally, the terrorist supporters were just playing a brisk game of shuffle-board.