'Freedom Flotilla' aid convoy sets off for Gaza

Here is some raw footage of the attacks.

www.youtube.com...#!

Reaction of people and governments around the world.

In Jordan, hundreds demonstrated in the capital, Amman, to protest the Israeli action and demand that their government breaks diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

The Israeli ambassadors in Sweden, Spain, Denmark and Greece were summoned for meetings, and the French foreign minister called for an investigation. Activists from all of those European countries were on board the flotilla.

Besides swift, angry reaction from the Palestinians, strong condemnation came from the United Nations and the European Union. Greece suspended a military exercise with Israel, and the Arab League called an emergency meeting.

The United Nations expressed "shock" and condemned the killings.

"We are in contact with the Israeli authorities to express our deep concern and to seek a full explanation," said a statement from the highest-ranking U.N. official in the region, Robert Serry.

www.guardian.co.uk...

Where is the British response? We had people on this ship as well. Sarah Colborne she is director of campaigns at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Kevin Ovenden is from the Viva Palestina charity.

Just another thought that I'm wondering whether or not it crossed the minds of any others. It just hit me that Rahm Emmanuel has been in Israel the last several days. I'm not implying that he has anything at all to do with this, but it does make for interesting conspiracy possibilities. Seriously, does anyone think the presence of Rahm Emmanuel being in Israel while this is going down could have any bearing at all in how this situation turns out?

reply to post by Atomic Honey


Could do. The American response is obviously vital in getting this on to the agenda at the U.N.. It's pretty clear that Obama is no fan of Israel but will he risk open censure against Israel in the run up to the Mid Term elections in the U.S.?

According to Turkish state television Turkey has recalled its ambassador from Israel and cancelled upcoming joint military operations. What a way to treat an ally eh Israel?

Oh i forget this behaviour is the RULE not the exception. The attack on the U.S.S. Liberty during the Six Day War. Constant spying on the U.S.. Possible foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks. Use of British, Irish, French, etc passports in the killing of Al-Mabhouh in Dubai.

[edit on 31-5-2010 by Peruvianmonk]

British FO response.

The Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on the Government of Israel to open all crossings for aid to enter Gaza and deplored the loss of life during the interception of the Gaza Flotilla. Foreign Secretary William Hague Crown Copyright

In a statement this morning the Foreign Secretary said: "‪‪I deplore the loss of life during the interception of the Gaza Flotilla. Our Embassy is in urgent contact with the Israeli Government. We are asking for more information and urgent access to any UK nationals involved.‪ ‪

We have consistently advised against attempting to access Gaza in this way, because of the risks involved. But at the same time, there is a clear need for Israel to act with restraint and in line with international obligations. It will be important to establish the facts about this incident, and especially whether enough was done to prevent deaths and injuries. ‪

This news underlines the need to lift the restrictions on access to Gaza, in line with UNSCR 1860. The closure is unacceptable and counter-productive. There can be no better response from the international community to this tragedy than to achieve urgently a durable resolution to the Gaza crisis. I call on the Government of Israel to open the crossings to allow unfettered access for aid to Gaza, and address the serious concerns about the deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation and about the effect on a generation of young Palestinians‪."

www.fco.gov.uk...

Although this is a disaster for the people who were killed, injured and their families their sacrifice could ultimately lead to exactly what they wanted, the lifting of the siege of Gaza.

International pressure could really mount now.

Of course Obama and Netanyahu are meeting today. Although apparently Netanyahu is mulling cancelling the visit.

Meanwhile. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering the cancellation of his imminent trip to the United States, in wake of the deaths of at least 10 people after Israel Navy troops boarded a flotilla of ships heading to the Gaza Strip carrying aid. Netanyahu was due to head to Washington at the invitation of President Barack Obama.

www.haaretz.com...

I wouldn't be surprised if it is actually the Americans who are trying to cancel the visit. Netanyahu and Obama standing together with gurrantees of American support are exactly what Israel would want today.

Please Obama, cancel the visit, come out in condemnation in the strongest possible terms and call for the lifting of the siege on Gaza. Forget the elections, forget AIPAC, remember your principles.

[edit on 31-5-2010 by Peruvianmonk]

According to this link,the Israeli helicopters were also firing on the aid ship:

However the aid group, the Free Gaza Movement, has denied Israel's claims of instigating the violence.
"I don't know anything about the knives and axes or anything," said Audrey Bomse, Free Gaza Movement's legal coordinator.
"There is absolutely no evidence of live fire. You see this live streaming on the Turkish strip, you see the Israeli helicopters shooting. There's no evidence of fire passing them."

www.abc.net.au...

Sick.

reply to post by Silcone Synapse


Like i said before for me it is irrelavant who fired first. The ship was being illegally hijacked and they had a philosphical and internationally recognised right to defend themselves.

The fact that these pirates killed 20 of these protesters show their was no limit on their ROE.

Of course there were no weapons on this ship, the Mavi Marmara, that was attacked.

A Turkish customs official on Monday denied Israeli allegations that activists aboard a Turkish aid ship for Gaza stormed by Israeli forces possessed weapons, the Anatolia news agency reported. "Allegations that there were weapons aboard the Turkish ship are baseless," Fevzi Gulcan, the head of customs at the Mediterranean port city of Antalya, told Anatolia. Passengers on the ship, the Mavi Marmara, were allowed on board after they were searched by security officers and x-ray scanners before setting out into the Mediterranean on their mission, he added.

www.vancouversun.com...

The Mavi Marmara.





This Israeli crime has already lead to riots from their Arab populace.

There was a spontaneous eruption of rioting in Nazareth, an Arab-populated town in the northern region of Israel, as a reaction to the killing of pro-Palestinian activists on board the ships of the aid flotilla. This was the first response from Israel’s Arab population to the recent actions of the military. Source: www.providingnews.com...

More is to come.

What will be impossible to ignore, however, is the likely backlash among Palestinians, both in the West Bank and in the Arab-dominated parts of Israel (more than 1m Israeli citizens are of Palestinian origin).

That is why both Israelis and Palestinians were paying special attention to reports that among the passengers injured in the raid was Raed Salah, the powerful leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel. Should he indeed be among the casualties, Israel could well face an explosion of popular anger among its Palestinian citizens.

www.ft.com...

But the central story here is Israel's Arabs. If Salah is indeed among the casualties, the result could be a wave of riots led by Islamic Movement activists. Targeted provocations by Islamists and left-wing activists will now take on strategic significance. Under certain circumstances, and if both sides fail to take steps to calm the situation, this could even end in a third intifada, or Palestinian uprising.

www.haaretz.com...


Netanyahooo's administration has made a grave error and Israeli civilians are likely to be the ones who will pay for it with their lives.

It is almost like this Israeli administration is Anti-Semetic and actually wants to hasten the destruction of Israel.






[edit on 31-5-2010 by Peruvianmonk]

I'm off to the protest demo in Bristol. But if anyone wants to reply or contribute to the thread you would be most welcome.

Here are some pics from the demonstration against Israel for the Palestinians in the heart of Bristol, England.

There were 200-300 of us there. And we recieved much support from passing motorists.













As you can see there were people of all colours and creeds at this demonstration. When i left it was moving on to picket outisde Marks and Spencers to urge them to boycott Israeli goods.

One of the organisers announced that Tesco would stop buying Oranges from illegal West Bank Settlements and Israeli orange groves. Can anyone confirm this?

[edit on 31-5-2010 by Peruvianmonk]

So the U.N. security council are meeting right now. I hope for a condemnation in the strongest possible terms but i expect some watering down due to American pressure. However the Russians and E.U. have been pretty srong with their words.

May 31 (Bloomberg) -- The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting after pro-Palestinian activists died in a clash when Israeli forces intercepted ships carrying humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip. The council is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. today in New York, the UN said in an e-mailed statement.

Lebanon, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month, requested the meeting along with council member Turkey, according to Lebanon’s mission to the UN. The Palestinian Authority also requested the meeting in a letter to the council, Lebanon’s mission said.

www.businessweek.com...

Let's see what happens.

reply to post by Peruvianmonk


Good job on getting to that demo,wish I could have got out today to go to one.


The Turkish PM wants a meeting with NATO about this attack as well,and he described it as "State sponsored terror."
Which about sums it up IMO.

Turkey has accused Israel of state-sponsored terrorism while describing Monday morning's Israeli attack on a fleet of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
“This action, totally contrary to the principles of international law, is inhumane state terrorism. No one should think we will keep quiet in face of this,” Erdoğan said. He added that this attack openly and in a clear way displayed that Israel does not want peace in the region.

Noting that he had to cancel his meeting in Chile due to the Israeli attack on the Gaza aid convoy, Erdoğan said in a press conference before he left Chile late on Monday that Israel had violated international law. He said participants were solely involved in a humanitarian mission and added that the ships had obeyed international maritime laws. Noting that there were white flags on the ships during the attack, the prime minister said people were only carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, where women and children live in poor conditions. Rejecting Israeli reports that there were weapons onboard, Erdoğan said Israel's claims are a lie.

www.todayszaman.com...

Turkey recalls ambassador to Israel:
Turkey's prime minister described the raid as "state terrorism," saying Israel had violated international law and shown it doesn't want peace in the region.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey will call on NATO to convene in an emergency session to discuss the incident. It has made a similar plea to the UN Security Council.

"This attack is state terrorism, violating international law," Erdogan said. "It should be known that we are not going to remain silent in the face of this inhumane state terrorism."

www.cbc.ca...

Well said Erdogan IMO.

reply to post by Silcone Synapse


Why would Israel, not just today, but over the last year strain relations with Turkey, it's only real Muslim ally? Insane.

The U.N. meeting is happening now and is being streamed live on BBC News 24.

Correction:

It was being streamed on BBC News 24, but is now back to analysis of the crime.



[edit on 31-5-2010 by Peruvianmonk]

reply to post by Peruvianmonk


It all comes back to how the Israeli mil/gov percieve how they want their future to look I think..We know they follow their bible prophecies as their military stratagey,and sadly as some have mentioned it seems they are activley attempting to make evryone hate them.

They cannot have a single Muslim ally,when they really want to paint the Muslims as their major enemy in the "end times."

Thus,they really needed to piss of Turkey before they go into Iran.

Now I realise that sounds completely mental,which it is-but that seems to be their mode of operations at the moment IMO,nothing else can explain this insane and cruel behaviour by them.

I don't buy the whole prophecy deal,but I am starting to think that they really do,which is bad news for everyone IMO.

reply to post by Silcone Synapse


Agreed. The British F.O. William Hague and the British Ambassador at the U.N. are not mincing words. They are demanding the lifting of the siege of Gaza.

reply to post by Peruvianmonk


Good on William Hauge-For a long while I have actually thought he may be one of those one in a trillion MPs who actually do want to make the world a better place,and help those who need it for the right reasons.

And we know our Deputy PM has been very critical of Israels treatment of Gaza in the past-I hope he is pushing for action as well.

Our new government is actually surprising me quite alot these days,not in a bad way either.

I hope its not all just window dressing...

reply to post by Peruvianmonk


Hey Peruvian,
Thanks for the thread,and your rational input on the matter-I have also been visiting this thread,

www.abovetopsecret.com...

but its begun to get properly depressing,as many folks on there seem to be thinking the flotilla was a terrorist mission.

Amazing how easily some people suck up the lies and propaganda IMO.
Oh well,Regards from me.
And thanks again for going to that protest.

reply to post by Silcone Synapse


Thanks mate, no problem.

Yes i have looked at that thread and all it seems to be is members firing abuse at each other, which is why i persevered with my original thread.

The Israelis are releasing a lot of footage of their soldiers being attacked on boarding the Mavi Mamara. How much it can be trusted we don't know.

www.youtube.com...

It is a disturbing scence but hardly unexpected and a completly appropriate reaction to the Israeli commandos committing an act of illegal aggression. But is not the real issue.

The real issue is the siege of Gaza. Israel may have hastened the end of the siege through this blatent act of piracy and disregard for international law.

The issue is that this Israeli act was another blanted breaking of international law. A very important one, that is freedom of navigation in international seas safe from attack and harrasment.

Today, the concept of 'Freedom of the Seas' can be found in the 'United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea' under Article 87(1) which states: "the high seas are open to all states, whether coastal or land-locked." Article 87(1) (a) to (f) gives a non-exhaustive list of freedoms including navigation, overflight, the laying of submarine cables, building artificial islands, fishing and scientific research.

en.wikipedia.org...

As airspoon is reporting in this thread. www.abovetopsecret.com... . Richard Falk, U.N. representitivein Plaestine for Human Rights, is calling for the prosecution of those responsible for this operation which obvioulsy includes Ehud Barak and Netanyahooo.

Well put Richard, well put.

What this has done of course is place the scrutiny back on the Israeli siege of Gaza. And international pressure is growing for it to be lifted.

Members of the United Nations Security Council on Monday urged Israel to lift its economic blockade of the Gaza Strip, in an emergency session to discuss the deadly Israel Navy raid on a convoy of international activists sailing to the coastal territory.

Assistant Secretary-General Oscar Fernandez-Taranco said in his briefing to the UN's most powerful body that Monday's bloodshed would have been avoided if repeated calls on Israel to end the "counterproductive and unacceptable" blockade of Gaza had been heeded.

www.haaretz.com...

On Channel 4 news, George Galloway reports that he recieved a text from one of the activists on the Mavi Mamara as they were just pulling into the Israeli port of Ashdod reporting that 29, REPEAT 29 passengers are confirmed dead.

www.channel4.com...

The video is loacated at the bottom right hand side.

Channel 4 are the only place i have heard this-well found.
The rest of the news media seem to have lowered the amount of dead today,to 9,or at least 9.

I imagine it may take a few weeks to get to the truth,as many of the flotilla have opted to be jailed in Irael until they get deported through the courts.

Once they get back home we will find out the true number of dead.

Unless something happens in the meantime which dwarfs the events of yesterday.
Its not looking good for the next few days IMO,if the Turks decide to give a naval escort to latest flotilla,due to sail in 2 days I think.

God knows how Israel will respond to an armed naval escort.
Although we do know they couldn't give a damn about international opinions.

I am starting to worry that Israel may attempt to start something bigger with Iran in the near future,to distract the global media away from what has been a PR disaster for Israel.

Hope I am wrong.