Israel forces attack Freedom Gaza flotilla - Activists critically injured

by Watcher Mon May 31, 2010 05:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9104214

by Watcher Mon May 31, 2010 05:07

Please makes your best efforts to come to this demo today to protest against the attack

-----The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign is calling for a public demonstration in solidarity with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla which is under threat from the Israeli Navy who say they aim to hijack the ships, and their 10,000 tonnes of supplies, and arrest, detain and/or deport their passengers.

We are calling for people to mobilise at 6pm on Monday 31st May at the Spire on O'Connell Street in a public display of support for the brave people of many nationalities - including 11 Irish nationals - who are aiming to break Israel's inhumane 3-year-old seige by sea.

Whether it will be a celebration for the supplies and people reaching their destination or a protest against Israeli piracy on the high seas is in the hands of the Israeli state.-----

by TD - Free Palestine Campaign Mon May 31, 2010 07:25

So as to whitewash the bloodbath and avoid the waiting world media, the ships are being hauled to Haifa rather than Ashdod.

by Mick Mon May 31, 2010 07:40

The Jerusalem Post is reporting that; Upon boarding the ships, the soldiers encountered fierce resistance from the passangers who were armed with knives, bats and metal pipes. The soldiers used non-lethal measures to disperse the crowd. The activists succeeded in stealing the weapon from one of the IDF’s soldiers and reportedly opened fire, leading to an escalation in violence. “It was like a well-planned lynch,” one IDF officer said. “These people were anything but peace activists.”

by John - Viva Palestina Mon May 31, 2010 08:13

Reports have now confirmed 20 dead, and over 100 injured.

Among the dead is the head of the Islamic Movement in Israel.

This is a very sad day, and my thoughts are with all the families.

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Mon May 31, 2010 08:15

Yes Mick. And Rachel Corrie had a bazooka up her sleeve and was premeditating a suicide bombing mission on her next weekend off.That bulldozer saved a lot of innocent Israei kids from her malevolent intent.Well spotted.

by Justin Morahan Mon May 31, 2010 08:29

RTE news are reporting that sixteen peace activists were killed by Israel on the Turkish ship..Outrage
Israeli spokesperson says "the injured and the killed" are being flown to an Israeli hospital." (RTE)

by Justin Morahan Mon May 31, 2010 17:59

30 mins ago.
No arms on board and will allow inspection.

by Contrarian Mon May 31, 2010 20:45

Well then, why not dock in Israel instead where (after inspection) the aid can be delivered by UN/Red Cross etc. to Gaza. If the objective of the flotilla is REALLY to get urgent aid to Gaza then isn't this the quickest way to do it?

Or was the flotilla always about propaganda rather than aid?

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Mon May 31, 2010 20:46

AS IN ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL.

Do you have any idea what time they cross out of international waters?On the radio it sounded to me like they are still a couple of days out.

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Mon May 31, 2010 21:01

The objective is to stop the unrelenting assaults and collective punishment imposed on the people of Gaza, and end the continuing expansion of the militarised, illegally nuclear-armed, Israel at the expense of the indiginous people.To willingly dock in Israel would indeed constitute a propaganda coup for the IDF, by associating them with the UN and Red Cross whose personnel they would like to use as camouflage for their crimes
Next question?

by Mr Man Mon May 31, 2010 23:05

Seems to me the boarding wasn't as peacefully recieved as one would be led to believe

Demonstrators Use Violence Against Israeli Navy Soldiers Attempting to Board Ship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU12KW-XyZE&feature=play...edded

Close-Up Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Attacking IDF Soldiers (With Sound)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LulDJh4fWI&feature=play...dded#!

by I hate racist Israel Mon May 31, 2010 23:52

In contrast to the possibly-doctored Israeli-released video footage, there are also other sources of raw footage to be found at this link - RAW FOOTAGE : ISRAELI NAVY MASSACRE FLOTILLA ACTIVISTS - http://mycatbirdseat.com/2010/06/raw-footage-israeli-na...ists/

by hb Tue Jun 01, 2010 00:06

the flotilla members were peaceful until attacked by the IDF Nazis - rappelling onto a vessel in international waters is a very hostile act.

Attempting to forcefully repel armed attackers engaged in the illegal boarding of a vessel in international waters is an act of self-defence -

firing upon the people attempting to repel armed attackers engaged in the illegal boarding of a vessel in international waters is yet another example of Israelis lack of concern for the lives of anyone but Jewish Israelis and just another example of the despicable racial-supremacism of the average Israeli

by hb Tue Jun 01, 2010 00:32

Israel has just announced that it will prosecute the #Freedom Flotilla members who "attacked" its soldiers.

http://twitter.com/freegazaorg/statuses/15105236922

Israel's arrogance would be unbelievable were it not just more of the usual Israeli bullshit.

They illegaly attack the aid convoy in international waters, murder 20 people in the process and then they want to throw those who tried to defend themselves into prison!

by hb Tue Jun 01, 2010 00:41

http://www.gilad.co.uk/writings/israeli-butchery-at-sea....html

For days the Israeli government prepared the Israeli society for the massacre at sea. It said that the Flotilla carried weapons, it had ‘terrorists’ on board. Only yesterday evening it occurred to me that this Israeli malicious media spin was there to prepare the Israeli public for a full scale Israeli deadly military operation in international waters. Make no mistake. If I knew exactly where Israel was heading and the possible

consequences, the Israeli cabinet and military elite were fully aware of it all the way along. What happened yesterday wasn’t just a pirate terrorist attack. It was actually murder in broad day light even though it happened in the dark.

Yesterday at 10 pm I contacted Free Gaza and shared with them everything I knew. I obviously grasped that hundreds of peace activists most of them elders, had very little chance against the Israeli killing machine. I was praying all night for our brothers and sisters. At 5am GMT the news broke to the world. In international waters Israel raided an innocent international convoy of boats carrying cement, paper and medical aid to the besieged Gazans. The Israelis were using live ammunition murdering and injuring everything around them.

Today we will see demonstrations around the world, we will see many events mourning our dead. We may even see some of Israel’s friends ‘posturing’ against the slaughter. Clearly this is not enough.

The massacre that took place yesterday was a premeditated Israeli operation. Israel wanted blood because it believes that its ‘power of deterrence’ expands with the more dead it leaves behind. The Israeli decision to use hundreds of commando soldiers against civilians was taken by the Israeli cabinet together with the Israeli top military commanders. What we saw yesterday wasn’t just a failure on the ground. It was actually an institutional failure of a morbid society that a long time ago lost touch with humanity. . . . .

by V for vendetta Tue Jun 01, 2010 02:39

Even Pat kenny was not completely happy with the actions of Israel tonight. The observation was made on the "frontline" show that perhaps this happened because if the Israelis did not create a deterrent and stop these ships and let them through, tomorrow there would be 30 ships then the next day 60 then that would be the end of the blockade.

I agree. I believe that they had orders from on high to open fire if challenged at all, in order to set a strong example and create a major deterrent to other ships thinking of coming in the future. Notice how they picked a ship with lots of turkish activists on board because they probably thought the rest of the world was as racist as they were and would not care so much about brown skinned activists.

How utterly cynical and racist if true.

They sure don't like women either.
They threw that israeli woman to the wolves on frontline, expecting her to defend the indefensible while the men hid under the table in the Irish Israeli Embassy

by Dagenham Tue Jun 01, 2010 09:13

"While they wrestled with the protesters, at least two pistols were snatched from them. The outnumbered commandos were at risk of having their comrades lynched, and opened fire. "