The boat Mavi Marmara flotilla is boarded and IDF imme-
diately opens fire.
EDIT/UPDATE: June 1st; The death toll seems to be around 9, by most reports, not 20. Activists aboard the Mavi Marmara responded with anger and defensive combat when the Israeli militants boarded the boat by helicopter in the middle of the night. Military analyst Reuven Pedatzur, also writing in Haaretz, said he didn't understand why soldiers weren't ordered not to open fire with live ammunition under any circumstances. Commandos had paint guns, that they did not use; instead they murdered people with live ammunition.
May 31: "They were waving white flags, not clubs" is the latest statement from FreeGaza.org on the day of which at least 19 activists aboard the Gaza Flotilla, were murdered by the Israeli army.
What is being called the Freedom Flotilla is a small convoy of boats, differing in size, all of which carry humanitarian aid like medicine and clothing for those on the Gaza strip. The biggest of the ships was clearly labeled Humanitarian Aid, as the video footage will attest, yet this was the ship that was the recipient of live ammunition, gas, and was savagely boarded by the Israeli Defense Force.
A notable thing to mention is that the ships were floating in international, that is, non-Israeli, waters. Avital Leibovich, a spokeswoman for Israeli military, has confirmed this fact and said earlier today: "This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves."
Turkey's Mavi Marmara, setting sail on May 30th, 2010. This was the biggest of the boats
and is labeled with the words "humanitarian aid" in more than one language.
According to Al Jazeera's journalist Jamal Elshayyal, a white surrender flag was raised from the ship and there was no live fire coming from the passengers. They boarded all the boats; at least 60 civilians were injured, and nearly 20 met their death in this "defense" effort. For a list of passengers, click here.
Already Wikipedia has posted an article about this tragedy in their Gaza Flotilla Intercepted entry. According to their report, Israel is promising to deliver the contents of all the boats, which by all reports is said to be humanitarian aid paraphernalia, to Gaza by port. The only item supply that is not going to be given to the Gazans is cement, which Israel has forbid.
Still, it is evident that Israeli government officials have violated several articles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, Part VII. Article 87(a) provides for Freedom of Navigation and Article 89 states, "No state may validly purport to subject any part of the high seas to its sovereignty".
A University of Michigan graduate, filmmaker and Palestine Solidarity Organizer, Hena Ashraf, has shared the following statement with Examiner.com: Israel is a rogue state. It is a terrorist state. It is a violent, murdering state. In addition to occupying Palestine, Israel has bombed, starved, sieged and killed the people of Gaza, and then doesn't allow in relief supplies, humanitarian aide, and goods such as cement so that Gazans can rebuild the homes which Israel bombed to the ground. Israel has murdered unarmed civilian activists onboard the Freedom Flotilla who aimed to break the siege of Gaza and bring in supplies that the people of Gaza need. Most likely, the American government will continue to support the rogue state. Most likely, the mainstream media will continue to ignore what's happening to the people of Gaza, the blockade, and the efforts of the Freedom Flotilla and the massacre at the hands of the Israeli navy. In America, we must pressure our government to stop being hypocritical in its unrelenting support of Israel, and we must pressure the corporate media to stop being a biased mouthpiece for the Israeli and American governments. There must be justice.
Already the Turkish and American people have began to protest today's events. Reuters reports that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, on a visit to Chile, accused Israel of state terrorism and the United States has released this (lukewarm) statement: "The United States deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy."
A tragedy indeed.
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Comments
So much death - brings such pain to my heart. May Allah protect the innocents and give guidance to the perpetrators. Jazakallah for your article sister.
Maybe you missed the part of the story where the "peaceful activists" on the flotilla chanted -
"khaibar, khaibar, oh Jews! the Army of Muhammad will return!"
I have no respect of sympathy for the Palestinians. Everyone is aware of the fact that their leaders are corrupt, taking international aid and putting it in their Swiss bank accounts instead of helping their people. Hamas leaders torture their own people is the Israeli prisons so they don't spill their guts to the Shin-Bet. They deliberately keep their people is slum-like conditions with the purpose of demonizing Israel is the eyes of the world. They have done nothing to create peace, meanwhile Israel and America has bent over backwards to meet Palestinian demands. They subscribe to a genocidal ideology known as the "religion of peace."
The entire world will condemn Israel on this day because they have to. But support for Israel will not diminish, because the whole world knows that Israel is on the right side of history.
"Israel is a rogue state. It is a terrorist state."
No Sakina. Terrorist states recruit their young men to strap explosive vests to themselves.
Terrorist states subscribe to a ideology of hate and violence.
Terrorist states hide behind civilians and fire rockets into innocent people.
Terrorist states say they want peace, then go to rallies and chant 'death to America' and 'death to Israel'.
Terrorist states complain about "apartheid walls" only because it keeps their suicide bombers from entering the civilian living areas.
It is obvious that the occupants of the "freedom flotilla" did everything in their power to provoke a response from the Israeli Navy. It was all a plan, to create a hostile situation and antagonize the Jews, hopefully escalating to the point where Israelis had no choice but to defend themselves. This in turn creates a perfect opportunity to once again become the victims in the eyes of the world, in hopes of gaining international sympathy.
israel and american governments are the real terrorists
This is nothing less than an act of war against Israel. Humanitarian flotillas do not carry knives, rocks and pistols if they are truly delivering aid to Palestine.
If the Arab nationd want war, they should not playing these silly games, they should begin their assualt!
Ed is in denial of the real problem which is Zionism and the goal of Israel to destroy the Palestinian people...Zionism is racism. How can you compare clubs and knives to the fire power of the Israeli Defense Force...get a clue. Israel is just doing exactly what was done to them...the victim is now the victimizer. Plain and simple. Go there and see for your own eyes Ed....you'll be disappointed.
Randa is in denial of the real problem - Israel wants peace, Palestine doesn't. Israel treats its own citizens humanely (even Arab Muslims) and Palestine exploits its own people and blames it on the Jews.
"How can you compare clubs and knives to the fire power of the IDL?"
Randa, you even acknowledge that this incident was ENTIRELY instigated by the so-called freedom flotillas!
"I'd rather be a second-class citizen in Israel than a first-class citizen in any Arab country."
- Khaled Abu Toameh
I can never accept that the loss of lives is worth whatever it is people are fighting over. The fact that humans justify murder - on either side - is disturbing. Such conflicts will never end until justice becomes the marker rather than winning.
It is so sad. Gaza deserve a peaceful and comfortable life. Why some ppl have the right to life a perfect life while other are in the verge of death. I hope children and elders doesn't suffer for the guilty and ignorance of the youth. But sadly this is always the fact.
Israeli did wrong and their government should be responsible for theirs acts. I am very sure that even among Israel many don't support this horrible incident.
Taking life is not a solution to bring peace. I am sure all agree on that.
Hey, everyone!
I have updated and added an edit to this article. Please feel free to continue the dialogue on this page.
Thank you, Ay and Heidi and Qasim.
I have been listening to the news here in Turkey. American news (CNN, ABC, etc.) put the total deaths at 10 but than changed it to only 9, however, Turkish news put the total deaths above 10 (~16 +/-).
Salaam, Marie, I hope the accurate and true number will be revealed widely soon, inshaAllah.
To the nine (9) brave Turkish souls I have this to say:
I don’t know where Rachel Aliene Corrie is ( God Bless her brave Soul), but wherever she is, she must be so proud of your sacrifice. We will never forget your ultimate sacrifice my brothers :
1. Furkan Dogan ( 19 )
2. Necdet Yildrim ( 32 )
3. Cevdet Kiliclar ( 38 )
4. Ali Heyder Bengi ( 39 )
5. Cengiz Akyuz ( 41 )
6. Fahri Yaldiz ( 43 )
7. Cengiz Songur ( 47)
8. Cetin Topcuoglu ( 54 )
9. Ibrahim Bilgen ( 61 )
We will never forget – as long as we live. God Bless everyone of you.
Atique Mirza
Thank you for that information Atique Mirza. May Allah Have Mercy on Them.
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