Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet

ahmedsid

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Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html

Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country's siege on Gaza.

More than 10 people were killed and dozens injured when troops stormed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, the Israeli military said.

The Israeli Army Radio said earlier that up to 16 people had been killed.

Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.

Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, on board the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops had used live ammunition during the operation.

The Israeli military said four soldiers had been wounded, one of them seriously, and claimed troops opened fire after "demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF Naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs".

Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the ships.

They also said the ships were now being towed to the Israeli town of Haifa, instead of Ashdod to avoid waiting journalists.

Israeli intervention

Earlier, the Israeli navy had contacted the captain of the Mavi Marmara, asking him to identify himself and say where the ship was headed.

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

Organisers of the flotilla carrying 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid 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.

Al Jazeera's Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Jerusalem, said the Israeli action was surprising.

"All the images being shown from the activists on board those ships show clearly that they were civilians and peaceful in nature, with medical supplies on board. So it will surprise many in the international community to learn what could have possibly led to this type of confrontation," he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli police have been put on a heightened state of alert across the country to prevent any civil disturbances.

Protests

Condemnation has been quick to pour in after the Israeli action.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, officially declared a three-day state of mourning over Monday's deaths.

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.

Turkey is also reported to have summoned the Israeli ambassador to lodge a protest.

"(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.

Ismail Haniya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, has also dubbed the Israeli action as "barbaric".

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, including a Nobel laureate and several European legislators, were with the flotilla, aiming to reach Gaza in defiance of an Israeli embargo.

But Israel had said it would not allow the flotilla to reach the Gaza Strip and vowed to stop the six ships from reaching the coastal Palestinian territory.

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 that it had 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.
 

Oracle

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Something is definitely fishy here. I cannot believe Israel attacked ships with humanitarian supplies for no reason at all. They are known to conduct pristine operations.
 

ahmedsid

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Its being reported that 15 People Killed, 5 Israeli Commandos Injured, one of them Seriously. Reports suggesting it seems to be a well planned attack.

This is a shocking, and hugely deplorable Incident, and it was unwarranted. It has to be condemned in the strongest of words. They could have boarded the ship and detained the captain, and taken over the Ship, not go on a shooting spree. If the Ship was carrying weapons, it would have been justified, but this is crazy, plain crazy!!! Never thought this would be Israels course of action!
 

Oracle

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Unless fired upon, I do not think Israeli navy would fire and kill people. And if that is the case, then it certainly should be condemned. I actually would like to stay put for a couple of days and learn about the whole incident, from all angles.
 

ahmedsid

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Something is definitely fishy here. I cannot believe Israel attacked ships with humanitarian supplies for no reason at all. They are known to conduct pristine operations.
Israel going on PR overdrive, telling that the 800 People aboard the ships were Hamas Supporters, which is untrue because the Passenger list was published on the net, and there were many well known people aboard too. Even Israelis were supporting this, with Israelis aboard too, including Knesset members were supporting it. Will a ship carrying weapons make this much publicity with Journalists aboard take this route? I dont think so. This just goes onto prove that Israel is flexing its muscle against unarmed people.

This will give all those Terrorists more fodder to Brainwash uneducated people! We know that Israelis were themselves supporting the Aid Flotilla, but the Terrorists will go onto paint another picture!! This is How terrorism grows, this is their tonic! God Speed
 

youngindian

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did the ship take permission from the Israeli navy before entering Israeli waters??
 

AJSINGH

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are there weapons onboard that ship ? to which israel is retaliating ?
 

ahmedsid

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No reports of weapons! The attack happened like 70KMs away from Gaza. Reports saying it happened in International Waters.
 

charan

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I have read news that the Israeli marine commandos were first attacked with axes and Knives. In retaliation, the poor commandos had to attack.
 

AJSINGH

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strange reasons for attack from isralies but after all they are very ferocious in protecting their country . India should have that attitude
 

ahmedsid

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Israel should parade the captured weapons the Activists used to Fire. But Would you Think the Israelis aboard the ship would have gone in the ship had they known that there were preparations for a lynch and guns too? I mean, it would ruin the image of the peace activists! The Israeli Army has been known to use disproportionate force, but the Activists doing this? Israel should make this more transparent.
 

youngindian

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Israel should parade the captured weapons the Activists used to Fire. But Would you Think the Israelis aboard the ship would have gone in the ship had they known that there were preparations for a lynch and guns too? I mean, it would ruin the image of the peace activists! The Israeli Army has been known to use disproportionate force, but the Activists doing this? Israel should make this more transparent.
totally agree with you./////////
 

plugwater

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IDF gave plenty of warning. Israel was willing to let the boats come in, unload their cargo, the IDF would screen them, making sure there weren't any weapons and then eventually send them into Gaza.

But the boats refused them , if the people in the boats, had simply let the IDF take over their boats, there would have been no need for the IDF to shoot them in self defense.
 

ejazr

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Greece cancels military exercises with Israel over flotilla attack

Athens - Greece on Monday said that a joint air force exercise with Israel has been cancelled, following an early Monday morning attack on foreign activists by Israel's military.

Greek Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas made the announcement following emergency talks with Israel's ambassador to Athens after at least 10 foreign activists were killed after the Israel navy stormed a flotilla of six ships bound for the Gaza ship with aid.

The flotilla of six boats, containing 10,000 tons of aid had been warned before setting sail for Gaza that it would be denied entry.

Reports said there were more than 40 Greek activists, doctors and journalists sailing on the two Greek ships.

Earlier, Greek Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Grigoris Delavekouras said it was not certain whether there were any Greek casualties.

Greece's air force had begun joint training exercises with Israel off the southern Mediterranean island of Crete on May 9.

The manoeuvres, code-named "Minoas 2010," were expected to run until June 3 and consisted of aerial manoeuvres and knowledge exchange involving 10 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters.

The operation also involved simulated aerial combat, attacks on terrestrial targets, aerial refueling and search and rescue missions from the air force base of Souda to the Aegean island of Aghios Eftrastio.

Greece and Israel began joint manoeuvres in 1994, although the aim to date had been natural disaster response. Combat equipment was first used in such exercises was last June.
 

ahmedsid

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Israeli Press conference has made it clear that there were arms aboard the ship and that they fired on the Soldiers.

But this happened in International Waters, so does this action hold legality? It does if the Ship intends to carry arms to Gaza, otherwise its just farce.

There were parliamentarians and others on board, and had the tacit support of many countries, would the activists indulge in something like this? Their job was to draw attention to the Gaza blockade, not get a backlash! Anyways, an Independent Investigation will reveal the truth. We have to wait
 

plugwater

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This issue was a lose-lose situation on Israel part. Decisions needed to be made to minimize the political relations damage.
 

san

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I am a supporter of Israel but this incident forced me to believe, Israel is too pro active and too viscious that this extra courage can land Israel into a very bad situation. I have seen some documentry of Gaza, people are in a very very poor condition. In this centuary nobody can forced to strave such a huge population.
 

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