'Freedom Flotilla' aid convoy sets off for Gaza

The Israeli idea of having the ships offload at an Israeli port and the aid supplies trucked in is laughable.
The whole reason this is being attempted by the sea route is because Israel prevents much aid from getting into Gaza via the recognised land routes, deliberately so to make the lives of the Palestinians even worse.

The last time this happened, the Israelis took control of the ship, in international waters - that in itself was nothing more than piracy and against international laws - sailed it into an Israeli port then charged the occupants with entering Israel illegally. And yet not a whimper from the cowardly press or politicians.... disgusting!

This time too, Israel is threatening to board the vessels and steer them to an Israeli port and arrest the occupants. When that happens, and they get even more bad press, be ready for them to play vicitm again and daub a few swastikas on synagogues and Jewish graves and scream anti-semitism.

The claims that these aid vessels may be carrying arms to the "terrorists" is ridiculous and insulting. Still, I'm sure the Israelis would find something to vindicate them once the vessels are searched in an Israeli port. Not that I am sufggesting they'd plant anything to frame the aid organisers.

reply to post by Britguy


Agreed.

If Hamas and other groups within Gaza require weapons they will smuggle them through the tunnels. I can't see this fleet risking invalidating their cause by being caught in possesstion of weapons. It wouldn't invalidate it for me, but the World's media would have a field day.

The U.N. are trying to get involved. Seems a bit late in the day and a little muted.

“We understand from press reports that private citizens have assembled a number of ships carrying material intended for Gaza and will seek to deliver these materials directly by sea to Gaza,” UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement. “We strongly urge that all involved act with a sense of care and responsibility and work for a satisfactory resolution,” he added.

“We have the right to sail from international waters into the waters of Gaza,” said Greta Berlin, one of the flotilla’s organizers. “The only illegal presence in the area is Israel,” she told AFP, adding the “Freedom Flotilla” was on schedule to arrive in the Palestinian enclave on Saturday with more than 10,000 tonnes of building and other supplies.

www.khaleejtimes.com.../middleeast/2010/May/middleeast_May485.xml§ion=middleeast&col=

Exactly Greta. Exactly.

Check this out from AP,via google:

HAIFA, Israel — Israeli gunships headed out to sea on Friday to stop a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists from reaching the Gaza Strip, the military said, setting the stage for what could become a dramatic showdown on the high seas.
Israel's foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, said the country was prepared to stop the flotilla "at any cost." He called the aid mission a provocation and urged the international community to show understanding for the tough response.
"We really have all determination and political will to prevent this provocation against us," he said. "I think that we're ready at any cost ... to prevent this provocation."
Military officials said an initial group of gunships went out to sea Friday to prepare for the flotilla's arrival. But plans to dispatch additional gunships were put on hold late Friday after reports that the flotilla had encountered mechanical problems, military officials said.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity under military guidelines, said the gunships would remain in port until the flotilla got closer.
The military says it will intercept the ships, escort the vessels to shore and give the activists the choice of deportation or going to jail.

www.google.com...

Sounds a bit OTT and unfair to have your navy go and treat people like ciminals just because they are trying to give food and medicine to people who need it.

In fact that sounds completley darkside IMO.

Sources: Turkish military aircraft fleet will protect the freedom: http://(link tracking not allowed)/9qHEMm via @addthis

[edit on 29-5-2010 by muggl3z]

from what I can tell. This is the live stream from the flotilla.
www.livestream.com...

Does anyone know how far they have left to go?

They were supposed to leave yesterday but had a technical problem on one of their ships so are planning to leave today.

If that is the case then they should arrive by Sunday.

Cypriot authorities countinue to deny the flotilla accsess to their waters and ports depsite an earlier pledge.

Sommer-Houdeville said that the Cyprus authorities had briefly detained the captians of the boats that were aiming to take the politicians on board on Friday night. He said that the captains were later released.

The flotilla organisers have said that Cypriot officials have not fulfilled a pledge to let the boats sail from its waters. The activists have alleged that Israeli pressure has swayed the authorities.

english.aljazeera.net...

I can imagine Cyprus is under massive pressure from Israel to be as non-cooperative as possible with the aid convoy.

Israel must be a major trading partner of Cyprus?

No, the Cypriots are just smart. they arent going to aid and abet folks who keep firing the rockets.

reply to post by princeofpeace


For someone who calls themself a princeofpeace you have a poor understanding of what peace is.

Peace is not crushing a group of people in to the ground until they have no hope left.

Originally posted by Peruvianmonk
reply to post by princeofpeace

 

For someone who calls themself a princeofpeace you have a poor understanding of what peace is.

Peace is not crushing a group of people in to the ground until they have no hope left.

Wait, wait... next you'll be telling me spreading democracy isn't bombing people in mud huts!

the live stream
www.livestream.com...


They should be getting to port or stopped today.

it's 10:33am local time and they just came back on air.

I'll be going to bet shortly, but I wanted to bump this thread back up to the top, because I don't want this situation to be drowned out by the run-up to WWIII. Here's hoping the Israeli reaction isn't to over the top.

They just had the guy from Press TV on (in English).

He said they have 6 ships left in the flotilla, they lost a couple to alleged sabotage. (they had to turn back or couldn't come, I'm not sure. They didn't sink to be clear)

They expect to be 100miles from the Palestinian coast while they still have sun light so if they are attacked it will be easily seen on camera.

They are already preparing for an attack, tear gas or worse.

He said he will be back on in a couple of hours to update for Press TV.

The local time is 1:19pm.

Originally posted by Silcone Synapse
How any country can think it is acceptable to prevent food and medical supplies getting to a starving sick population is beyond my comprehension.

Unless I entertain the idea that the intended result is the slow death by starvation and disease of such a population.

The UN should have been sent in years ago-Its not up to israel to say who lives and dies in Gaza IMO.

Imagine if Saddam had done the same to his neighbors-the west would have called it attempted genocide.

But of course we are not allowed to say that about our "friend" israel.

Yes i agree with you and like your post.

What needs to be addresses is who controls most of the worlds press !

We also need to address the secret hand behind our banking system for these two must be inter-connected.

i'm no fan of the muslims but they have every right to live in there own lands as much as we have a right to live in our own lands and it's clear we both face the same enermy.

The flotilla has left for Gaza.

Tweet sent at about 9AM Eastern from the Freedom Flotilla which had been held up off Cyprus until today.

They left a half hour ago. They are on their way. Will arrive outside the waters of Gaza in 18 hours.

warincontext.org...

That means they should arrive tommorow morning.

The Israelis are preparing for the flotilla.

On Board the Mavi Marmara: Six hours after the Freedom Flotilla departure, three Israeli missile boats left their naval base in the northern coastal city of Haifa on a mission to intercept the flotilla, reporters on board one of the vessels said before being told to turn off their phones.

gulfnews.com...

[edit on 30-5-2010 by Peruvianmonk]

May the force be with these brave folks and let's pray no one gets hurt.

I just woke up a tuned in to see life vests and read on news sites that the Navy has already contacted them 150miles out, still in international waters.

It's 3am local time so I assume they're waiting until the sun comes up to get moving again? I just tuned in so can someone confirm this?

reply to post by Winnuting


They are scheduled to arrive sometime on Monday afternoon.

Huwaida Arraf, one of the flotilla organizers, said the six-ship flotilla began the journey from international waters off the coast of Cyprus Sunday afternoon after two days of delays. According to organizers, the flotilla was expected to reach Gaza, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) away, on Monday afternoon, and two more ships would follow in a second wave.

Ships awaiting the flotilla at Gaza.



www.haaretz.com...

[edit on 30-5-2010 by Peruvianmonk]

This flotilla seem to be very well organised and trained.

Al Jazeera, reporting live from the Freedom Flotilla at 6.30PM Eastern (1.30AM local Monday) said that after having been approached by Israeli navy ships several hours earlier, the flotilla has changed course in order to avoid a confrontation during the hours of darkness. The flotilla’s movements are being monitored by warships and aircraft — observers from the flotilla were not able to tell whether the distant aircraft was a helicopter of a drone.

warincontext.org...

I assume this will result in the fleet arriving in Gazan waters later than expected.

[edit on 30-5-2010 by Peruvianmonk]