- Join the France 24 community here
- Log in
Latest update: 31/05/2010
- Gaza Strip - Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli navy storms Gaza-bound aid ships in deadly raid
The Israeli navy has intercepted a flotilla of six ships carrying aid bound for the Gaza Strip. At least 10 people were killed in the operation, according to the Israeli military.
By News Wires (text)
AFP - Israeli naval forces stormed a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters before dawn on Monday, killing at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists, most of them reportedly Turkish nationals.
The bloody ending to the high-profile mission to deliver supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip plunged Israel into a diplomatic crisis on the eve of a meeting in Washington between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
|
Israel pointed the finger of blame at the activists on the boats, accusing them of initiating the deadly bloodshed when they attacked a naval boarding force with live fire, knives and clubs on some of the six ships.
The military said "it seems as if part of the participants onboard the ships were planning to lynch the forces."
"As a result of this life-threatening and violent activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means, including live fire," it said.
Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, too blamed the passengers.
"They initiated the violence," Regev told AFP. "We made every possible effort to avoid this incident. The servicemen were given instructions that it was to be a police operation and to use maximum restraint.
"Unfortunately they were attacked with deadly force by the people on the boats -- with iron bars, knives and live fire."
The army said "numerous" passengers, and four naval forces were injured in the operation which took place in international waters at around 4:30-5:00 am.
A Turkish charity involved with the flotilla claimed at least 15 people were killed, most of them Turkish nationals.
Media reports also said that senior Arab Israeli Islamist leader Raed Salah had been severely injured in the clashes.
Police said Israeli security forces were put on high alert to handle any "possible disturbances" in the wake of the deadly naval raid, which brought hundreds of demonstrators onto the streets of the northern city of Nazareth.
Turkey's foreign ministry warned that the raid on the flotilla, which included Turkish vessels, may lead to "irreparable consequences" in bilateral ties.
"We strongly condemn these inhumane practices of Israel," a written statement said.
Greece summoned Israel's ambassador to demand an "immediate" report on the safety of about 30 Greeks on board.
The Palestinian Authority called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council "to discuss the piracy, the crime and the Israeli massacre," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat.
|
The PA also urged the US administration to take urgent measures to put an end to the "Israeli crimes," he said.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton demanded Israeli authorities mount a "full inquiry."
The Islamist Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip reacted angrily to the raid.
"We call on the Palestinian Authority to halt negotiations, direct or indirect, with Israel because of this crime," said Ismail Haniya, the Islamist movement's prime minister in Gaza.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, for his part, said "difficult decisions" would be made on Monday evening during a meeting of Palestinian leaders.
The Israeli military censor ordered a block on all information regarding those injured or killed during the storming of the ship.
Television showed footage of black-clad Israeli commandos descending from helicopters and clashing with activists, as well as several wounded people lying on the deck of the ship.
The ships, carrying more than 700 passengers, were on the last leg of an aid mission to deliver some 10,000 tonnes of supplies to Gaza, which has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since 2007.
About six hours after the flotilla left waters off the Cyprus coast, three Israeli missile boats left their base in the northern coastal city of Haifa on a mission to intercept the ships, reporters on board one of the vessels said before being told to turn off their phones.
Israel had warned the attempt to break the Gaza blockade was illegal and that it would intercept the ships, tow them to the Ashdod port and detain the activists before deporting them.
It labelled the convoy a media stunt, insisting the humanitarian situation is stable in Gaza despite reports to the contrary from aid agencies.
Related Content
Breaking news from the MIDDLE EAST
‘Darth Vader’ demands free land from Ukrainian government
Browse all editions
FRANCE 24 PARTNERS
Comments (11)
Israel all the way?
Its amazing how every time Israel comes under fire for its behaviour messageboards are flooded with masses of pro-Israeli comments despite that the only support for Israel is in Israel itself and the US.
In reply to Susan; you are saying that the massive criticism of Israel is purely a media construct? Not the fact that they boarded a ship in international waters and killed at least ten innocent people for nothing more than attempting to sail to Gaza with a perfectly legitimate cargo. And also you say that the Gazans are not in need because hey are not starving?? They are not starving but they are getting only a quarter of the aid they need according to the UN. And to imply that the Gazans are fine because they aren't starving is such a racist attitude that treats Palestinians as deserving nothing more than to exist, if even that. It seems to me you and Israeli policies are putting the ABSOLUTE security of some of its citizens higher than the most basic rights of ALL the people of Gaza, which is pure racism.
Your statement about whether the Palestinians ruled themselves is rather ridiculous as well. They may not have ruled themselves inside the last two thousand plus years but they did actually live there, which is more than can be said about the Israelis/Jews.
Gaza Flotilla
All foreign news stations which are broadcast in Israel have taken a clear anti-Israel stance. Most reports are highly sympathetic in tone to the position of the activists (BBC World Service even had the presumption to call them Peace Activists). Most “eye-witness” reports are provided by these activists who have absolutely no motive to be impartial or honest. They claim that they were unarmed and passive, however, the video clip taken during the Israeli commando raid clearly shows otherwise. However, no reporter that I have heard has questioned these activist reports. If Israel is in an embarrassing position it is the media to blame – the media report what they want, place emphasis on sensational but not necessarily honest accounts. As to the humanitarian situation in Gaza – while life is surely far from pleasant there, the Palestinian population are not starving. I suggest that we see some impartial reporting from the Gaza strip and Gaza city itself. I certainly do know that Gaza residents receive medical treatment in Israel and that Israeli volunteer organizations provide them with material support while they are receiving that treatment. Why is Israel’s humanitarian activity on behalf of the Palestinians never reported? Why is no mention being made of the fact that the Hamas has flaunted all international and moral laws by murdering the opposition to their regime, by refusing access by the International Red Cross to Gilad Shalit, by refusing to recognize Israel’s right to existence, by firing rockets on to a civilian population (how would the UK government react if Welsh militants fired rockets onto Bristol in “support” of a demand for autonomy?) and by collaborating with Iran and the Hizbollah in calling for and acting towards the destruction of the Israeli State. When I hear Muslim demonstrators being interviewed in the street, they spout so much ignorance. They have no idea of the historical facts which led to the establishment of the State of Israel. The territory in this part of the world has been transferred back and forth by the world powers and Palestinians have never ruled here. They have lived here, but always under the auspices of another power. They now have an opportunity to realize independence and still they find reasons to avoid it.
israelian soldier just defend themselves
my government every day tell us in TV all israelian people should die and thay never say anything about terorist activity of hamas but many of us know that israel have right to defend himself against terorists like hamas
good job israel god bless u
israeli`s soldiers defend themselves
what they could do when hamas people shoot at them
I am an Iranian and my government tell us every day that all israelian people should be killed but we all know that israel is defend himself against hamas terorist
sorry for israel.they are
sorry for israel.they are very wild.i dont know it .:(
Poor Moslims -- honest; non vilolent; and kind;
Never provocative, always honest, never violent.
Israel is a thug state
Do they think that because they can attack and kill Palestinians indiscriminately they can attack and kill anyone?
why so much hate against Palestinians?
I would not write that '10 people died' instead I would use words like assassination or murdering!
Axes and knives does not look so powerful weapons against Uzi and M16!
innocent civillian peopel ???
those "innocent civillian peopel" on the board, attacked israeli's soldiers with knifes \ sticks and afterwards got one of the soldier's weapon and started firing to the israelis, that ofcourse led the soldiers defend themselves, but ofcourse this provocative move was intended to make israel look bad infront of the media, because seriously, people who really would want to help gaza people with aid flows, could just do it legally
Gaza Aid?? Flotilla
It looks like the timing of this organized media event was arranged to sabotage Israeli-Palestinian talks. Negotiations that Hamas and their Iranina mentors strongly oppose.
Despite prior claims to the press of "peaceful" and "passive" resistance, the first use of weapons was by the pro-Hamas people. First they tried to stab one of the Israelis, and then they snatched a gun from another (who was under orders not to shoot unless life was in danger) and opened fire. So who's at fault here?
They were supposed to be bringing "humanitarian aid". So why was the offer to transport it by truck from Ashdod refused? That offer only required that the material undergo inspection to ensure that Gaza would not receive materials for building fortifications or weapons. Remember that rockets and mortars are once again being fired into Israel on a fairly regular schedule.
Another failure
The blockade is already a failure, as in three years it has not managed to remove Hamas, get it to change its controversial charter or release the captured Israeli soldier. Now a dozen people have been killed in an attempt to maintain the failed blockade - all this in international waters. Again and again, the word "disproportionate" keeps coming back. Let's hope the Israeli cabinet will be man enough to recognise they have been approaching this the wrong way for at least three years already. Egypt should also look at its role in upholding the blockade.
Post new comment