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+--- Thread: Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) (/thread-3885.html)
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Myra Bronstein - 31-05-2010
Magda Hassan Wrote:Don't forget Carsten's thread here: http://www.deeppoliticsforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3974
Looks like they were expecting action. Anyone for a quick game or Russian roulette?
Exactly what I'm wondering. Is Israel trying to provoke a strong reaction that will then "justify" the war it's already positioned to fight?
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Myra Bronstein - 31-05-2010
Here's the official story:
http://www.jta.org/news/article/2010/05/31/2739378/protesters-on-gaza-bound-ship-killed-in-rioting
"Protesters on ship bound for Gaza killed in rioting May 31, 2010
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Up to 14 activists onboard a flotilla of ships bound for Gaza were killed during rioting after Israeli Naval forces boarded the ships to redirect them to an Israeli port.
Israel's Navy intercepted six of the ships early Monday morning as they attempted to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Israel had radioed to the ships numerous times, requesting that they head to the port in Ashdod, where they could unload their aid material to be transferred to Gaza after security inspections, the Israel Defense Forces Spokesman said in a statement.
When Naval Forces boarded the shops, they were attacked with metal clubs and knives, as well as live fire, according to the IDF. "The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose," the statement said, adding that the Navy then used riot dispersal methods, which include live fire.
"The forces operated in adherence with operational commands and took all necessary actions in order to avoid violence, but to no avail," according to the IDF.
In addition to the reported 14 dead protesters, tens of protesters were injured and evacuated to Israeli hospitals. Ten Israeli soldiers were also injured, one in serious condition.
Israeli ministers decided last week not to allow the ships to reach Gaza."
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Myra Bronstein - 31-05-2010
Here's the website of the group that organized the Gaza flotilla, and their statement:
http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/press-releases/1191-civilians-under-attack-by-israel
Civilians Under Attack by Israel
Written by Free Gaza Team
31 May 2010
(Cyprus, June 1, 2010, 6:30 am) Under darkness of night, Israeli commandoes dropped from a helicopter onto the Turkish passenger ship, Mavi Marmara, and began to shoot the moment their feet hit the deck. They fired directly into the crowd of civilians asleep. According to the live video from the ship, two have been killed, and 31 injured. Al Jazeera has just confirmed the numbers.
Streaming video shows the Israeli soldiers shooting at civilians, and our last SPOT beacon said, “HELP, we are being contacted by the Israelis.” We know nothing about the other five boats. Israel says they are taking over the boats.
The coalition of Free Gaza Movement (FG), European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza (ECESG), Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), the Perdana Global Peace Organisation , Ship to Gaza Greece, Ship to Gaza Sweden, and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza appeal to the international community to demand that Israel stop their brutal attack on civilians delivering vitally needed aid to the imprisoned Palestinians of Gaza and permit the ships to continue on their way.
The attack has happened in international waters, 75 miles off the coast of Israel, in direct violation of international law.
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Peter Presland - 31-05-2010
Myra Bronstein Wrote:One Israeli minister issued immediate words of regret. "The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities," Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the trade and industry minister, told army radio. But he added that the commandoes had been attacked with batons and activists had sought to take their weapons off them.Weasel words from the man who, among other serious crimes against humanity, eye witnesses report as having personally executed prisoners of war,
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Peter Lemkin - 31-05-2010
Death toll now at 10....and rising!.....
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Magda Hassan - 31-05-2010
20 dead now.
2,000 protesting outside Israeli Embassy in Vienna Austria
Also huge protests in Beirut and in Turkey.
One of the dead is alleged to be high profile Sheikh Ra'ed Salah, the leader of the Islamic movement in Israel, how utterly convenient. I wonder if they shot the 86 year old holocaust survivor?
Pathetic BBC reporting of massacre so far.
Greece suspends military exercises with Israel in protest.
Israeli Arabs organise general strike
Many Israeli ambassadors called in to be read the riot actby their host nations.
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Peter Lemkin - 31-05-2010
Magda Hassan Wrote:20 dead now.
2,000 protesting outside Israeli Embassy in Vienna Austria
Also huge protests in Beirut and in Turkey.
One of the dead is alleged to be high profile Sheik
Pathetic BBC reporting of massacre so far.
Greece suspends military exercises with Israel in protest.
Israeli Arabs organise general strike
Israeli statement said flotilla members were armed...I very much doubt they were - or only to defend themselves with sticks. If there are weapons 'found', they will likely have been planted, IMO. This was a massacre. Israel just doesn't mind killing people for no reason......
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Magda Hassan - 31-05-2010
There were no arms. I know people who are on it and others and they are militant peaceniks and arms of any kind are anathema to them. Any arms would be planted for sure. But they have the right to defend themselves and there is no reason they should co-operate with armed terrorists in international waters boarding their boats. Which in a civilized world is recognized as an act of war even without the massacre which occurred in this case.
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Peter Presland - 31-05-2010
Per Paul R earlier, the 'they shot first we were only defending ourselves' refrain begins. This from Norway
Quote:Israel claims the activists on board the convoy shot first, and that its soldiers — who stormed the convoy, shot and killed as many as 20 persons and wounded 30 more –found weapons.Also some good points from Craig Murray who, as former head of the FCO Maritime section, knows a thing or two about international maritime law:
Quote:Having seen so many illegal wars lately, you might be interested to know that in international law Turkey could now with perfect legality declare itself to be at war with Israel. I do not advocate that, but after the fake justification over Iraq I thought you might be interested to see what a genuine causus belli looks like.
Israel has attacked Gaza Flotilla (dead and wounded) - Peter Lemkin - 31-05-2010
Magda Hassan Wrote:Ed Jewett Wrote:Does anyone have a fix on the precise location? I'm not entirely sure it matters except in terms of law... These folks are pretty much already deep into the international parish hall of shame. And the USofA which arms and supports them and, well, g'nite. May the world be somehow rosier in the morning.Haaretz has them in international waters.
Israel has NO legal claim to any waters heading into Gaza - those waters that are not international, belong to the Palestinians! So, it doesn't matter where they were - the action was one of piracy and murder - premeditated and disgusting in the extremes of the extreme.....:banghead: I'm now reading 16 dead.....for doing nothing more than trying to bring aid to the imprisoned and embattled Palestinians!:thefinger: