Ship to Gaza flotilla attacked!

[Black Sheep]

Ship to Gaza is a mission to transport resources and medicine to gaza.It began its journey at around 16:00 Saturday. 6 ships.
A little while ago, the flotilla was attacked by Israeli Navy, there are 2 confirmed dead about 30 injured, says the turkish channel TRT.

The Israelis attacked the ships with live ammunition, in international waters at around 5:30.

Ship to Gaza is an(other) attempt to break the Gaza blockade.
Until now, only the Greek ship "Elevtheri Mesogeios' continues despite the threats, the others have been stopped.

from shiptogaza.gr

At 4:50 the sionist army attacked the flotilla with helicopters and zodiacs.Using live ammunition they first seized control of the turkish passenger ship.
Then they moved to the two turkish freighters and Sfendoni, which they seized as well.'Eleftheri Mesogeios' stayed its course.After requests to the ship to surrender, its crew and passengers refused.
Zodiacs with sionist military are headed towards the greek ship.There are many rumors and information we cannot verify at the moment.

[Black Sheep]

From Skai Radio,contacting Politis, the captain from the greek ship, they stormed the turkish passenger boat with tear gas as well.
THe greek ship continues south,claims they have no protection from international navy, they are trying to communicate with the greek goverment (but shit).
They have no communication with the other ships.
The sionist zodiacs are a few meters from the ship,probably will try to board it now.
They are 80 miles from shore, in international waters.
He mentions 'piracy in international waters by the israelis'.

These from the captain of eleftheri mesogeios (EM from now on)
Sorry i am typing the above as i listen to them, real time

[Black Sheep]

They are boarding the greek ship now.

[Philanthropist]

Report of three dead? Can anyone confirm or deny?

[Black Sheep]

5:55 the last greek sheep was seized as well. The seized ships are being led to Israeli ports.
There are about 40+ greek people in the flotilla. (i am sorry, the info is from greek mainstream media..)
From SKAI TV (they have a journalist onboard)


Report of three dead? Can anyone confirm or deny?
TRT reported that.
I ll post as soon as there is solid confirmation.

[Black Sheep]

Ministry of Exterior in Greece is absent from the face of the earth.
Still waiting confirmation and further info since the arrest.
edit:

6:20 phone link, SKAI TV
at 3 am they started surrounding the flotilla.
they attacked with a legit commando-style

[Robocommie]

God-damnit, fucking Israel. They'll even attack civilian shipping to keep food and medicine out of Palestine!

[Black Sheep]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjNim1Ak4E

[Saorsa]

Goddamn Israel. We need protests outside Israeli embassies world wide - if it's true that they fired on the ships and killed people, surely there's gonna be outrage all over the place.

[Black Sheep]

Goddamn Israel. We need protests outside Israeli embassies world wide - if it's true that they fired on the ships and killed people, surely there's gonna be outrage all over the place.

Organize it! Phones and SMS's.

[Saorsa]

The news will be confirmed by tomorrow - that gives us more than enough time to prepare something.

[Black Sheep]

for those online now, there is a livestream 4 info

http://www.livestream.com/shiptogaza?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=ui-chat&utm_campaign=shiptogaza&utm_content=shiptogaza

[Rusty Shackleford]

i need some sources. so i can give the info to some comrades.

[Philanthropist]

Organize it! Phones and SMS's.
Exactly, this needs to be made into a large international issue, as if it wasn't already. Every form of communication should be utilized now to get this story out to as many people as possible. If the mainstream media are going to ignore this, it should be the responsibility of all right minded individuals to ensure this is not allowed be swept under the carpet.

There is a live link to footage aboard one of the floatillas. I cannot post the link because of a lack of posts, but google insaniyardim and your sure to find it.

[Black Sheep]

from TRT (turkish)
http://www.trt.net.tr/Haber/HaberDetay.aspx?HaberKodu=4262e350-82e0-4c9d-b7ae-d2125bbd7282



more videos from tvxs.gr
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvRQu54B9Qw&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laV9xzQQpHY&feature=player_embedded
tvxs link (http://tvxs.gr/news/%CF%80%CF%81%CF%8E%CF%84%CE%B7-%CF%83%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B1-%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%83%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%B4%C E%BF/%CE%B1%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%81%CE%AE-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%AF%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%83%CE%B7-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%B9-%CE%BA%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%AC%CE%BB%CE%B7%CF%88%CE%B7-%CF%84%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%AF%CF%89%CE%BD-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%B8%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%AF%C E%B1%CF%82-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%B7%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BD%C E%AD%CF%82-%CE%B4) (greek)
Btw they are wearing life jackets, because the israelis ordered them to (implying threats that they will sink them)

[#FF0000]

They honestly think that Israel won't use deadly force against them? I have a really awful feeling about this.

[blake 3:17]

There's afeed here: http://gazafreedommarch.org/cms/en/flotilla.aspx GPS and tweeting I think.

There's an all day vigil/protest at the Israeli consulate here tomorrow from 9am on. Folks could do likewise if they can get to a consulate ot embassy. Make sure it is peaceful and calling for lifting of sanctions on Gaza.

[NaxalbariZindabad]

Report of three dead? Can anyone confirm or deny?

http://www.aktifhaber.com/images/news/134042.jpg

There is a clip from Turkish CNN at the bottom of this article:

http://translate.google.ca/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aktifhaber.com%2Fnews _detail.php%3Fid%3D291912&sl=tr&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Here's a rough transcription I made from what an English-speaking journalist is heard saying in the middle of this clip:

"they are raising a white flag
this is after one person has been killed
a civilian who was killed by munition
that number could be more
despite the white flag being raised
the Israeli army is still shooting
still firing live munition"

[Black Sheep]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7029777.html

HAIFA, Israel — Two TV networks are reporting that Israeli warships have attacked the six ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid for blockaded Gaza, killing at least two and wounding an unknown number of people on board.
The Israeli military refused to comment on the report.
The al-Jazeera satellite channel reported by telephone early Monday from the Turkish ship leading the flotilla that Israeli navy forces fired at the ship and boarded it, wounding the captain. The Turkish NTV network also reported an Israeli takeover with gunfire and casualties.
The al-Jazeera broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, "Everybody shut up!"
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
HAIFA, Israel (AP) — Two TV networks are reporting that Israeli warships have attacked the six ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid for blockaded Gaza, killing at least two and wounding an unknown number of people on board.
The Israeli military refused to comment on the report.
The al-Jazeera satellite channel reported by telephone early Monday from the Turkish ship leading the flotilla that Israeli navy forces fired at the ship and boarded it, wounding the captain. The Turkish NTV network also reported an Israeli takeover with gunfire and casualties.
The al-Jazeera broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, "Everybody shut up!"




The Palestinian movement Hamas says the Israeli navy has intercepted a flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip.
Hamas says the interception took place in international waters, more than 150km (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza. Israel has made no comment.
The activists on board the ships have rejected Israeli calls to turn back.
The flotilla is carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid to the Gaza Strip in an effort to break an Israeli blockade.
The organisers of the flotilla say all communication with the ships has been lost.
The six-ship flotilla left international waters off the coast of Cyprus on Sunday and was expected to arrive in Gaza later on Monday.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/10195838.stm

[Palestine]

Oh shit, this is turning so bad, I saw this coming, since they surprised them tonight at 11 pm they surprised them in the night so cameras couldn't shoot them. but they didn't warn them or anything they started shooting. Israel is above the law, and wouldn't have done that without a US green light, to punish Turkey.

[Black Sheep]

Israel had announced like a week ago that the flottila wasn't going to be allowed to reach Gaza, and that they would be stopped with military means if necesary.

[Delenda Carthago]

israel is killing anything that moves around it.lets not leave that without an anwer.

[Palestine]

Israel should be punished, this is pirating the ship is Turkish and was in international waters, do you know what happend to the Irish ship??

[Black Sheep]

some photos at flickr from freegaza dot org http://www.flickr.com/photos/freegaza/
last known location of the greek ship

7:01

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?oldmmsi=239219000&zoom=10&olddate=5/31/2010%202:48:36%20AM

[Rusty Shackleford]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnuZaglG7_M


http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=176961


zens injured in navy's boarding of ships, according to Turkish media.


At least two dead and dozens wounded in clashes as the Israeli navy boards the protest flotilla, according to Turkish media. Hundreds of Israelis commandos boarded the ships at once, firing guns and employing gas, according to an Al-Jazeera report.
Prime Minister Haniyeh of Hamas came on Al-Jazeera to condemn the “brutal attack” and call on the UN to intervene on the activists behalf.
Apparently, IDF attempts to prevent broadcasting from the ships were unable to block the Turkish camera crew on board one of the ships.


The flotilla's change of course earlier in the night to force the confrontation with the navy to occur in daylight, seems to have succeeded.

Earlier tonight, the IDF contacted the boats by radio, clarified that the Gaza Strip is a closed military zone and offered the sailors two options: to follow the navy to Ashdod Port or be commandeered by commandos, according to flotilla organizers.

The initial contact took place about 200 km. off the Gaza Coast. Flotilla organizers said they detected three Israel Navy ships on the radar.




http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/Gaza_TVNews/2010/05/31/Gaza-TVs-phlog-3-Confirmed-Dead (http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/Gaza_TVNews/2010/05/31/Gaza-TVs-phlog-3-Confirmed-Dead)

[Black Sheep]

SKAI TV :
2 activists dead, many injured.
there's footage of israeli commandos getting onboard the turkish Mavi Marmara dropping from a chopper.
As if the flotilla was full of god damn terrorists.


2 israeli ships last night went to meet the flotilla to stop them.
They told the flotilla "if u dont change coursemevery measure will be taken to stop you"

TRT broadcasted some video footage with injured passenger, blood everywhere and stuff.
It was via stream.

the phone links with members the captured crew and terrifying..

[Antifa94]

FUCKING DESPICABLE
I am DYING To see how the zionists are going to try and condone this
there will be attacks in daylight next
FOR CHRIST SAKES THERE IS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ON BOARD

[Philanthropist]

Confirmed by Al Jazeera

Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country's siege on Gaza, according to a Turkish aid agency being quoted by Turkish media.
At least two people were killed and more than 30 people injured, the report said early on Monday.
Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, appeared to show armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html

[Black Sheep]

I favorite'd this a few days ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUTu_7RGxGY

Fucking irony. :(

[Antifa94]

HAIFA, Israel — Two TV networks are reporting that Israeli warships have attacked the six ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid for blockaded Gaza, killing at least two and wounding an unknown number of people on board.
The Israeli military refused to comment on the report.
The al-Jazeera satellite channel reported by telephone early Monday from the Turkish ship leading the flotilla that Israeli navy forces fired at the ship and boarded it, wounding the captain. The Turkish NTV network also reported an Israeli takeover with gunfire and casualties.
The al-Jazeera broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, "Everybody shut up!"

[Rusty Shackleford]

someone made a facebook group. im sure it would be useful for information swapping on the crisis.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123060867727980

[NaxalbariZindabad]

The Free Gaza Movement gives regular updates on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/freegazaorg

They just wrote:

"Our Israeli attorney in Haifa has said that ten people have been murdered"

"And that the boats are being hauled into Haifa and not Ashdod so that journalists are not there"

[Antifa94]

fuck fuck fuck we need the world to know I HOPE some journalists will get there

[Black Sheep]

fuck fuck fuck we need the world to know I HOPE some journalists will get there
There are.
There's a guy Aris Xatzhstefanou from SKAI network and a woman from TVXS.gr.
And there have to be from Turkey for sure.
I mean they were on the ships.

[Saorsa]

There was an Al Jazeera reporter on board at the time.

We need international protests people!

[Antifa94]

I want to say that I am surprised and furious but i can't, because israel's murderous nature is so mundane, so generic that this news hits with all the force of a lukewarm diluted cappucino.

[Black Sheep]

Greek state TV reports that one of the boats was rammed as well.

what the shit? Israeli TV reports 10 deaths.

[Antifa94]

I hope CNN and BBC etc get to ashdod/haifa and show the world this atrocity

[FinnMacCool]

I'm wondering what the implications of this could be. It seems like its a clear act of aggression on Israel's part.

[Antifa94]

turkish-israeli war?

[Philanthropist]

turkish-israeli war?
Highly unlikely.

Reported on the bbc now:


The Israeli navy has stormed at least one of a convoy of ships carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip, amid reports of casualties on board.

Organisers of the aid flotilla say 30 people were hurt in the confrontation. Israel has declined to comment.

The interception reportedly took place in international waters, more than 150km (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza.

The ships are carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid to the Gaza Strip in an effort to break an Israeli blockade.

Turkish TV pictures taken on board the Turkish ship leading the flotilla show Israeli soldiers fighting to control passengers.

The footage showed a number of people, apparently injured, lying on the ground. The sound of gunshots could be heard. It is not clear whether the fighting is ongoing.

Al-Jazeera TV reported from the same ship that Israeli navy forces had fired and boarded the vessel, wounding the captain.

The Al-Jazeera broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, "Everybody shut up!".

Some reports suggest two people were killed in the clashes.
"Provocation'

The six-ship flotilla left international waters off the coast of Cyprus on Sunday and was expected to arrive in Gaza later on Monday.

Israel has said it would stop the boats, calling the campaign a "provocation intended to delegitimise Israel".

An economic blockade was imposed by Israel after the Islamist movement Hamas took power in Gaza.

Israel says it allows about 15,000 tones of humanitarian aid into Gaza every week.

But the United Nations says this is less than a quarter of what is needed.

Hamas, a militant palestinian group that controls the Gaza strip, has fired thousands of rockets into Israel over the past decade.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10195838.stm

[Rusty Shackleford]

turkish-israeli war?
i doubt it, but i wouldn't doubt israel dropping form acting as a mediator.

[#FF0000]

turkish-israeli war?

Noooooooo way.

[Antifa94]

I doubted it too, it was an impulsive post.
The implications of this action will be protests and violence.

[Rusty Shackleford]

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html


Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country's siege on Gaza.
At least 10 people were killed and more than 30 people injured when Israeli troops stormed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, the Israeli Army Radio said.
The flotilla was attacked when it was 65km off the Gaza coast.
Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, appeared to show armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.
Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, on board the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops had used live ammunition during the operation.
The Israeli Army Radio said soldiers opened fire "after confronting those on board carrying sharp objects".
Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the ships.
They also said the ships were now being towed to the Israeli town of Haifa, instead of Ashdod to avoid waiting journalists.
Earlier, the Israeli navy had contacted the captain of the Mavi Marmara, asking him to identify himself and say where the ship was headed.

[Palestine]

Israeli sources: 10-15 killed and more than 60 injured

[RedScare]

What on earth.... I did not expect people to die in this. The Israeli authorities were afraid of being de-ligitimized if the flotilla got through, what the hell did they think using live ammunition would do? The are digging their own grave with this behavior.

My condolences to the families of the dead activists.

[Palestine]

What on earth.... I did not expect people to die in this. The Israeli authorities were afraid of being de-ligitimized if the flotilla got through, what the hell did they think using live ammunition would do? The are digging their own grave with this behavior.

My condolences to the families of the dead activists.

I totally agree

[FinnMacCool]

Israeli sources: 10-15 killed and more than 60 injured

This is sad. We should do something. But what?

[Communist]

.
Great work comrades in keeping the links and news coming, I've sent it out to several comrades online who also wish to convey their thanks.

This is horrible, horrible.

.

[Palestine]

Israel raises the red alert, and asks all troops to be ready for any developments

[#FF0000]

Welp, I'm gonna see about taking a bus to NY tomorrow on an adventure to find the Israeli embassy.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Israel raises the red alert, and asks all troops to be ready for any developments
source please

[Communist]

.
There is an emergency demo in Times Square at 3 PM Monday. That's all I have so far, for those in NYC...I won't be there until Friday.

.

[Palestine]

source please

Aljazeera news

[Black Sheep]

16 deaths! :bored: FUUUUUCK
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html

[#FF0000]

Apparently Israel is trying to censor the death count?

[Palestine]

Not sure yet, but FUCCCCCCCCK Israel is in really deep shit

[#FF0000]

Not sure yet, but FUCCCCCCCCK Israel is in really deep shit

I have a terrible feeling that this isn't the case at all. They bombed American warships before and the U.S. didn't retaliate.

[Antifa94]

yes source
he does live in Israel though

[Rusty Shackleford]

al jazeera now reports 16 dead.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html



Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet
http://english.aljazeera.net/mritems/Images//2010/5/31/20105313550402580_5.jpg Aid convoy was attacked 65km off the Gaza coast Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country's siege on Gaza.
Up to 16 people were killed and more than 30 people injured when troops stormed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, the Israeli Army Radio said.
The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Gaza coast.
Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.
Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, on board the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops had used live ammunition during the operation.
The Israeli Army Radio said soldiers opened fire "after confronting those on board carrying sharp objects".
Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the ships.
They also said the ships were now being towed to the Israeli town of Haifa, instead of Ashdod to avoid waiting journalists.
Earlier, the Israeli navy had contacted the captain of the Mavi Marmara, asking him to identify himself and say where the ship was headed.

[Palestine]

well was watching al-jazeera and the reporter said that.

[nrbsl2212]

I have a terrible feeling that this isn't the case at all. They bombed American warships before and the U.S. didn't retaliate.

Yeah, at best I can only see the US making some vague wishy washy statement that doesn't really condemn Israel at all.

[RedScare]

I'm watching Al-Jazeera as well, and there's diplomatic stuff happening right now. Big protest in Istanbul outside Israeli embassy.

[NaxalbariZindabad]

From the Free Gaza Movement (http://twitter.com/freegazaorg):

"Reports coming from Istanbul is that Turks are storming the Israeli embassy there in outrage over what Israel has done"

[Philanthropist]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE64T21120100531

[Saorsa]

The question is - was this deliberately ordered from on high, or a case of trigger happy IDF troops charging through a crowded, enclosed environment?

Either way the blood is on Israel's hands.

[FinnMacCool]

.
There is an emergency demo in Times Square at 3 PM Monday. That's all I have so far, for those in NYC...I won't be there until Friday.

.

Can you give me a link plz?

[Palestine]

The question is - was this deliberately ordered from on high, or a case of trigger happy IDF troops charging through a crowded, enclosed environment?

Either way the blood is on Israel's hands.

According to Al-Jazeera, the israeli defense minister Ehud Barak issued the attack

[Communist]

Can you give me a link plz?

Not yet. This info came from comrades in NYC over the phone.

.

[Black Sheep]

A greek TV network claims the israelis opened fire after they were attacked by passengers of the Mavi Marmara (the turkish boat) carrying knives and axes.

[FinnMacCool]

A greek TV network claims the israelis opened fire after they were attacked by passengers of the Mavi Marmara (the turkish boat) carrying knives and axes.

I find that hard to believe. Who would attack people that have guns with knives and axes? I think people are scrambling for justification.

[#FF0000]

A greek TV network claims the israelis opened fire after they were attacked by passengers of the Mavi Marmara (the turkish boat) carrying knives and axes.

I remember back in the day of the wooden ship when two vessels would go broadsides so the crew in either boat could just fence it out over the side or something.


Fucking nonsense.

[Martin Blank]

According to Al-Jazeera, the israeli defense minister Ehud Barak issued the attack

If that's the source of the orders, then you can damn well be sure that Washington was behind this. They've been looking to destabilize the EU lately, and forcing two of its member states into a belligerent posture against a U.S. client state -- a posture that the rest of the EU will likely not support -- will reverberate and strain the already tense relations in Europe following the recent crisis in Greece.

[Philanthropist]

A greek TV network claims the israelis opened fire after they were attacked by passengers of the Mavi Marmara (the turkish boat) carrying knives and axes.
That is just pure laziness and lack of imagination, not to mind absolutely disgusting!

This is why the media were brought on board, to ensure that people would see the truth. Even though the IDF attacked at night to use the cover of darkness hopefully footage will emerge to silence the apologists of tonights disgraceful actions.

[#FF0000]

I heard that the volunteers attacked when Israeli commandos were dropped on the boat.

Either way, they're totally justified in trying to hack up folks who are there to hijack their boat in International Waters.

[Palestine]

If that's the source of the orders, then you can damn well be sure that Washington was behind this. They've been looking to destabilize the EU lately, and forcing two of its member states into a belligerent posture against a U.S. client state -- a posture that the rest of the EU will likely not support -- will reverberate and strain the already tense relations in Europe following the recent crisis in Greece.

Don't forget that Israeli prime minister is currently in Washington with president Obama

[FinnMacCool]

I heard that the volunteers attacked when Israeli commandos were dropped on the boat.

Either way, they're totally justified in trying to hack up folks who are there to hijack their boat in International Waters.

Do we know for sure that it was in international waters?

[#FF0000]

Do we know for sure that it was in international waters?

Oh absolutely. The boat was 90 miles out (65 km).

[Communist]

Can you give me a link plz?

Here (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125497597470475&ref=mf) is info for Monday's Times Square demo from 3 to 5 PM.

.

[FinnMacCool]

Oh absolutely. The boat was 90 miles out (65 km).
do you have a source?

[FinnMacCool]

Here (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125497597470475&ref=mf) is info for Monday's Times Square demo from 3 to 5 PM.

.
Thank you, I'll make a point to be there.

[Martin Blank]

Don't forget that Israeli prime minister is currently in Washington with president Obama

Bingo! I'm now convinced this was an agreed-upon action between Obama and Netanyahu -- a deliberate provocation.

[Palestine]

Al-jazeera: Sheikh Raed Salah is injured badly

[#FF0000]

do you have a source?

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html

[Philanthropist]

Turkish police blocked dozens of stone-throwing protesters who tried to storm the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul over reports of an Israeli attack on at least one aid ship in international waters on Monday, news channels reported.
CNN-Turk and NTV showed dozens of angry protesters scuffling with Turkish police guarding the consulate in downtown Istanbul.
"Damn Israel," the protesters shouted.
Two TV networks reported earlier that Israeli warships attacked the six ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid for blockaded Gaza, killing at least 10 and wounding an unknown number of people on board.
"We were not expecting such an operation in international waters," Omer Faruk Korkmaz, an official of the pro-Islamic aid group, IHH, that led the aid shipment said in Turkey. "Israel has been caught redhanded and the international community will not forgive it."
Korkmaz said the ship was being escorted to Haifa.
Turkey's foreign ministry called the reported attack "unacceptable" and summoned the Israeli ambassador to to discuss the incident - bringing already tense relations between Turkey and Israel to new levels.
"I was expecting an intervention," said Murat Mercan, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party. "I was not expecting bloodshed, the use of arms and bullets."
"Israel is engaged in activity that will extremely hurt its image," he said.

http://www.haaretz.com/polopoly_fs/1.293177.1275283154%21/image/2249893771.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_295/2249893771.jpg

[NaxalbariZindabad]

From Free Gaza Movement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qypNDvEz_yI

[Palestine]

Al-Jazeera taking over the ships and ships now are headed to Ashdod's port, and they are preparing the injured for hospitals

[Palestine]

Israeli right wingers are trying to disrept Al-jazeera's broadcast

[MilitantWorker]

:crying: MOTHERFUCKERS!! :mad:

[#FF0000]

Israel's saying two soldiers were wounded after a fight broke out when the volunteers tried to seize the soldier's weapons (http://ht.ly/1RWw9). Gee I wonder why people in international waters would try to disarm soldiers who illegally boarded their vessel?

[Palestine]

Israel's saying two soldiers were wounded after a fight broke out when the volunteers tried to seize the soldier's weapons. Gee I wonder why people in international waters would try to disarm soldiers who illegally boarded their vessel?

For some reason that made me laugh

[#FF0000]

For some reason that made me laugh

I can see the israeli cabinet meeting.

"Why can't we just do whatever we want? I don't understand"

[Tiktaalik]

Bingo! I'm now convinced this was an agreed-upon action between Obama and Netanyahu -- a deliberate provocation.

You do know that Biden walked on a meeting with Netanyahu when the latter said he wouldn't stop the settlements, right?

Washington and Israel are at the weakest point in their relationship since Israel's formation.

[Black Sheep]

Israel's saying two soldiers were wounded after a fight broke out when the volunteers tried to seize the soldier's weapons (http://ht.ly/1RWw9). Gee I wonder why people in international waters would try to disarm soldiers who illegally boarded their vessel?
Israeli translation:
They attacked us with axes and knives!

[Martin Blank]

You do know that Biden walked on a meeting with Netanyahu when the latter said he wouldn't stop the settlements, right?

Washington and Israel are at the weakest point in their relationship since Israel's formation.

I am aware. I'm also aware that Washington has backed down on the settlements for now. And I'm also, also aware that the best way for the U.S. and Israel to improve their relations is for the two of them to work to undermine Washington's chief Great Power rival, the EU.

[#FF0000]

Change we can believe in hurr durr

[Palestine]

Ynet (for those who don't is yedioth ahronot Israeli news paper): they claim that 4 commados were injured by live ammunition and knives

[blake 3:17]

Just saw 10 people killed.

[Palestine]

Al-Jazeera: Palestinian Prime minister Ismail Haniyye anounced tomorrow to be a black day A STRIKE

[NaxalbariZindabad]

Again from Free Gaza Movement:

"Israeli mouthpiece says soldiers responded to fire by firing back.That is a lie. Video from IHH shows soldiers landing on deck and shooting"

"There was no fire from our side. Watch the IHH video of soldiers firing the moment their feet hit the deck. They shot civilians asleep"

[Palestine]

Al-Jazeera: thousands thround the Israeli consulta in Istanbul, and they threaten to break in.

[Saorsa]

Up to 28 people dead, and the soldiers are still firing!

I hope there are rocket launchers being assembled in Gaza as we speak.

[#FF0000]

Up to 28 people dead, and the soldiers are still firing!

Fucking christ.

[nrbsl2212]

Still firing?

[Black Sheep]

I was away for a while.
What do you mean 28 dead??

From the flotilla or there's unrest in palestinian centers within Israel?

[NaxalbariZindabad]

PM Netanyahu is expected to hold a press conference in Ottawa at 6:00pm Israel time. (source (http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/60117/Gaza-Flotilla-Operation))

I guess he'll probably say something like those who were killed were being "very, very violent", like the Israeli army said:
"The people on the boats were very, very violent toward the soldiers," Israeli military spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich was quoted by AFP news agency as saying. (source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10195838.stm))

Unfortunately for Israeli PR, the IDF didn't succeed in shutting down all cameras:
"Israeli spin is that THEY were attacked first. Of course, you can see the video where they rappel, aim and shoot at civilians sleeping" (source (http://twitter.com/freegazaorg/))

[bricolage]

This is disgusting.
If anyone is in London there is an emergency demonstration at Downing Street today at 2 o clock.

[Wanted Man]

Up to 28 people dead, and the soldiers are still firing!

Source for this?

[Saorsa]

The 28 people dead thing was from a Turkish friend of mine who I was speaking to online, haven't been able to find any other sources.

Still, a minimum of ten at this point - this is a black day.

[Jimmie Higgins]

Not surprisingly, the US "liberal media" is leading their reporting with things like:


10 pro-Palestinian activists have been killed after attacking naval commandos


More than 10 people onboard a flotilla carrying aid for the Palestinian territory of Gaza were killed when security forces boarded the boats Monday, the Israeli military said. Four soldiers were wounded, the military added.

Both of the above were the lead in to the news... as if Commandos were minding their own business and propelling down wires when suddenly the freedom flotilla jumped up from under them and the activists jumped the IDF commandos. Then again in the US, police brutality stories usually go something like this... "a young person jumped in front of a cop's bullet and was killed today":mad:.

It's not surprising considering that "international news" in the US is just repeating whatever the pentagon says (in this case the IDF), but disgusting none the less.

I haven't heard of any response being organized for the California bay area yet, but I'm sure there will be something by the early afternoon tomorrow (it's 1am here now).

[Ligeia]

I've seen on the news that the israeli government released a statement saying that the ships carried weapons-supplies. That's their excuse now.
But the ships obviously didn't carry weapons at all.


No guns aboard Gaza humanitarian aid ships

Customs officials at the Antalya port have denied Israel’s claims that weapons were detected on a ship taking humanitarian aid to Gaza that took off from Antalya on Sunday.
Officials of the Customs Directorate said all of the passengers that boarded the Mavi Marmara ship had to go through X-ray detectors. They said not a single passenger had weapons in their person. “42 passengers had boarded in Istanbul, here 504 passengers got on the ship. They passed through detectors and X-rays. We did not spot any weapons and there is no such record in our logs. We did not notice anything suspicious about Mavi Marmara. If our officers got suspicious of anything, they would have reported it.”
Israeli commandoes stormed a flotilla of ships carrying activists and aid supplies to Gaza on the early hours of Monday. 16 were reported dead.

Source (http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=211621&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

[Palestine]

For all those in Israel, there is a demonstration today infront of the Hebrew University at 4 pm infront of the main gate.

[Wanted Man]

There will be an action at the Israeli embassy in The Hague today as well, from 5.30 PM till 7 PM.

If this despicable attack shows anything, it's that international solidarity to the Palestinians does make a difference, considering the great lengths that Israel is prepared to go to stop it.

[Jimmie Higgins]

The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/may/31/israel-troops-gaza-ships) now has ongoing updates up:


9.24am:
This is a rather different version of events from the Free Gaza Movement (http://www.freegaza.org/), which had two boats in the "Freedom Flotilla":

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2010/04/08/quote_red.gif Under darkness of night, Israeli commandoes dropped from a helicopter onto the Turkish passenger ship, Mavi Marmara, and began to shoot the moment their feet hit the deck. They fired directly into the crowd of civilians asleep. According to the live video from the ship, two have been killed, and 31 injured. Al Jazeera has just confirmed the numbers.
Streaming video shows the Israeli soldiers shooting at civilians, and our last SPOT beacon said, "HELP, we are being contacted by the Israelis."
We know nothing about the other five boats. Israel says they are taking over the boats.


The coalition of Free Gaza Movement (FG), European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza (ECESG), Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), the Perdana Global Peace Organisation , Ship to Gaza Greece, Ship to Gaza Sweden, and the International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza appeal to the international community to demand that Israel stop their brutal attack on civilians delivering vitally needed aid to the imprisoned Palestinians of Gaza and permit the ships to continue on their way.


The attack has happened in international waters, 75 miles off the coast of Israel, in direct violation of international law.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Israeli translation:
They attacked us with axes and knives!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10196420.stm


According to the Israeli army at least 10 peace activists were killed when navy commandos boarded the Gaza aid flotilla in the early hours of the morning.
An army spokesman said the activists refused an order not to go to Gaza with their boats laden with humanitarian aid and instead dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod.
The army says its troops were attacked by the activists with axes, knives and firearms.
At least four Israeli marines were injured, said a spokeswoman, including one who was shot when his gun was snatched by an activist.
There's now a state of alert across Israel.

[Palestine]

This is not confirmed, maybe rumors maybe true, Sheikh Raed Salah is said to be amongst the killed. No one is sure yet.

[Palestine]

Al-Jazeera: The ships are arriving at Ashdod's port

[Rusty Shackleford]

This is not confirmed, maybe rumors maybe true, Sheikh Raed Salah is said to be amongst the killed. No one is sure yet.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3896625,00.html


Military sources said Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, was located on one of the ships of the Gaza aid flotilla. The sources said he was injured in the IDF takeover, but was not in serious condition and was found conscious.

This comes in contrast to previous reports, according to which Salah was rushed to the Sheba Medical Center operating room. (Shmulik Grossman and Amnon Meranda)

dunno if the military is the one to trust right now but looks like he might not be dead.

[Palestine]

I know him in person, I hope he is okay

[Chambered Word]

I just found out half an hour ago, this is absolutely fucking repulsive. :mad: If any Australians are available to protest tomorrow the details for emergency demos are on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127899930562639&ref=mf (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=130452640304560)

EDIT: Link might not have been working, try again. If it still isn't, try copying the link into the address bar a couple of times in the same window.

[AK]

This is disgusting. Don't just protest outside the embassies - burn them to the ground.

FUCKING DESPICABLE
I am DYING To see how the zionists are going to try and condone this
there will be attacks in daylight next
FOR CHRIST SAKES THERE IS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR ON BOARD
You thought the bourgeois state gave a shit about victims of imperialism?
Religion, nation and race are just tools used by the bourgeoisie to blur class lines and get the support of the lower classes.

someone made a facebook group. im sure it would be useful for information swapping on the crisis.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=123060867727980
Group was deleted...?

I wonder what the Israeli working class' reaction is to this, anyway.

[Palestine]

Most of Israel is right wing

[AK]

Most of Israel is right wing
It's not surprising.
Would there be any protests planned in Israel?

[Palestine]

we planned one infront of the hebrew university infront of the main gat in har hatzofim at 4

[Palestine]

This is intresting and ironic
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11302.shtml

[IrishWorker]

Protest against Israeli aggression today Belfast City Hall 4.00pm.

[AK]

Nice to see the protests are getting organised quickly :)

[Palestine]

This just in from Al-Jazeera: Israeli Police pushes reinforcements in Arab towns and cities, and a strike is in Jerusalem.

I am going to the portest now

[IrishWorker]

This just in from Al-Jazeera: Israeli Police pushes reinforcements in Arab towns and cities, and a strike is in Jerusalem.

I am going to the portest now

Stay safe comrade.

[Spawn of Stalin]

Yo fuck Israel

[Philanthropist]

Can anyone post links to the reported strikes and protests in Israel itself?

[REVLEFT'S BIEGGST MATSER TROL]

Yo fuck isreal !!!!! Raghghgh!

[eyedrop]

Demo at 5 in most major cities here.
Link with times and locations (http://www.palestinakomiteen.no/aktivitetskalender-mainmenu-124/44-aktivitetskalender/1666-israel-borda-i-natt-nodhjelpsbatene-til-gaza-demonstrasjon-kl-17-ved-den-israelske-ambassaden)

[Idle Bandit]

Firstly I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends and comrades of the brave volunteers who have today been brutally murdered by the Zionist imperialist war machine. I would also like to express my solidarity with the oppressed masses of Palestine in general and the besieged masses of Gaza in particular and I encourage any and all Irish comrades here to make their way this evening to whatever demonstration is on nearest to them.

For A Palestinian Workers State From the Jordan to the Sea!

[Comrade Wolfie's Very Nearly Banned Adventures]

Now I'm sad.

[Barra]

Nothing will come off this.The British and US goverments will say its a serious matter and urge restraint and let the Israeli fascist state continue murdering innocent people while they supply them with weapons to the tune of millions. This is just another murderous act out of thousands which the Racist israeli state will get away with because they can act with impunity as long as they have US support.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Maybe if enough people protest they will cease being a capitalist state.

[piet11111]

If only Israel would have to face serious consequences for this but alas not while the USA is around will a client state ever be in trouble.

Though this is going to create difficulty in Europe as they blew a lot of public good will because of this.

[kefka]

The hybris of the Israeli state seems to have grown rapidly the last years: the Gaza war, the Eastern Jerusalem-question and now this, three crimes that even the most ideologically convinced pro-israeli douche have a hard time to justify.

Not that it matters for their support in Washington, Bruxelles and such but maybe it will convince some workers that it's just stupid to use the "but the Hamas is just as bad" logic.

[aty]

Follow the protest in Sweden, Stockholm live, it will go on to 21.00; http://www.webbkameror.se/webbkameror/sergelstorg/index.php

[Ligeia]

I don't know how serious this warning is but there you go:

A shocked world has responded with outrage. Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel and warned of unprecedented and incalculable reprisals.
Two Turkish activists were reported to be among those killed in the flotilla. Ankara warned that further supply vessels will be sent to Gaza, escorted by the Turkish Navy, a development with unpredictable consequences.

Source (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/turkey-threatens-action-israel-on-alert/116743-2.html)

[aty]

Reports coming in that the famous swedish writer Henning Mankell has been shot by Israeli forces! He has sold millions of books all over Europe and are very famous in Sweden and Germany!

[gorillafuck]

I know that the United States media will be full of people being apologists for this, it's so fucking frustrating to hear. It makes you feel so helpless to hear outright lies being spread by mainstream media that everyone watches when you know it's not true.

I hope there are massive protests of this.

[chegitz guevara]

Demo @ 5 in Miami at the Torch of Friendship, just a block or so from the Israeli consulate in Miami.

[piet11111]

While its true that those commando's where attacked (like that makes any difference) they are no victims in any way the passengers not only have the right but the moral duty to defend themselves and their precious cargo from this act of piracy.

Its a shame that they did not manage to kill some of those bastards.

[Shader]

Hello comrades I haven't logged in here for a loooooooooong time. Just wanted to share the news as I'm from Turkey.

My girl friend SMS'ed me in the morning, to check the news. The first news were that the fleet was attacked and Israel army confirmed 2 dead and 30 injured. Also, a group in Ankara(Turkey capital) made a demonstration at 5:00AM in the morning.

There is no communication with the fleet, so they get the info from Israel.
In the later news, the dead and injured number has increased, they were expecting 19 dead but now Israel told it's 9 dead. The ships were taken to Ashod. The people are slowly returning to their homes.

The zionist government claims that the people in the ships attacked them with knifes and sticks. There are some Israeli military videos of the operations trying to prove they "defended" themselves, as far as I can understand(There are Hebrew subtitles).

Today there was also a demo in the Taksim square(Which was also opened for 1 May after 32 years, the right wing party tries to promote itself, a**holes.)

Anyway the thing which bothers me is that almost all of the protests are fascist protests. They shouted fundamentalist words, waved ottoman flags and stuff, you know. I'm going to delete half of my school mates from my Facebook because of their fascist behavior on this incident! :thumbdown:

As far as I know there was a demo from TKP(Turkish Communist Party):
haber.sol.org.tr/soldakiler/tkp-israil-saldirisini-protesto-ediyor-haberi-29005

Also, ÖDP(Freedom and Solidarity Party-also socialist) made an explanation:
birgun.net/politics_index.php?news_code=1275307601&day=31&month=05&year=2010

Sorry that I can't translate them, you can use google translate.

Solidarity with all of you!

Also: Forgot to tell you guys:
Today there was also an attack to a Turkish military base from PKK(Kurdish nationalist milita, which I personally think that helps USA to build a second Israel in the middle east). There are rumours that this is not an accident, but is on purpose.

[aty]

Live-tv from Stockholm, the biggest newspaper in Sweden sending live; http://www.aftonbladet.se/webbtv/nyheter/utrikes/article7216388.ab

Tens of thousands demonstrating all over Sweden right now!

[Absolut]

Just got back from the demonstration where I live, I would estimate it to around 500 people or so, which is pretty damn good seeing as the demonstration was called this morning. Either way, there were speeches from a wide range of parties, from the Greens to the communists (which were best, without a doubt). When the conservatives were about to speak, their representative got to say about a sentance, before he was forced away with people shouting stuff to him.

[Communist]

.
Statement on the massacre by the Israeli
armed forces of aid workers headed for Gaza

Statement (http://bayan.ph/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1275303389&archive&start_from&ucat=1)
May 31, 2010


The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) condemns in the strongest terms possible the barbaric killings of at least 19 aid workers belonging to the Freedom Flotilla which sought to bring much needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. The six ships had civilians on board, including Nobel laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland, European legislators and Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, 85 according to reports.

There is nothing that can justify the massacre of these aid workers by the Israeli armed forces.

The US-backed Israeli government has long violated the rights of the Palestinian people, from the inhumane economic blockade and the large-scale destruction it inflicted when it bombed Gaza in 2008. The Israeli government now extends its atrocities to international waters after it blocked and boarded the six aid ships on opened fire on the people on board.

We call on the Philippine government and the international community to protest this latest atrocity. We call on the US government to stop providing economic, political and military aid to the terroristic Israeli government. We call for an end to the occupation of Palestine by Israel and for the lifting of the inhumane blockade.

We call for international solidarity for the Palestinian people and for justice for the victims of the massacre.

.

[aty]

Just got back from the demonstration where I live, I would estimate it to around 500 people or so, which is pretty damn good seeing as the demonstration was called this morning. Either way, there were speeches from a wide range of parties, from the Greens to the communists (which were best, without a doubt). When the conservatives were about to speak, their representative got to say about a sentance, before he was forced away with people shouting stuff to him.
Exactly the same thing happend in Stockholm just now when a representative from the neoliberal Centerparty started to speak! :lol:

[eyedrop]

Reports coming in that the famous swedish writer Henning Mankell has been shot by Israeli forces! He has sold millions of books all over Europe and are very famous in Sweden and Germany!
The swedish foreign ministry stated that Mankell wasn't shot btw.

Source (http://www.dagbladet.no/2010/05/31/nyheter/utenriks/gaza/israel/demonstrasjon/11945183/)

[piet11111]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR2GQQBGTlY&feature=player_embedded

footage of the raid

[Black Sheep]

Photos from the Israeli embassy in athens, before the riot police attacked.Athens Indymedia reports more than 5.000 people.
More photos here http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_id=1177941
http://athens.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/1r3j2bj.jpg

http://athens.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/2yvqhdp.jpg

http://athens.indymedia.org/local/webcast/uploads/3pbt0tm.jpg

[aty]

About 10 000 people in Stockholm now outside the Israeli embassy!

http://www.dn.se/polopoly_fs/1.1114784.1275324897%21images/1451943863.jpg
http://www.svd.se/multimedia/dynamic/00593/demo-israel_593961b.jpg

[Absolut]

Heres a list of demonstrations thats taking place in Sweden, all over the country. The list is updated continually and was made by the Communist Party. It only lists demonstrations and manifestations theyre in, but I think its safe to say that theyll be in all of them.

Protester mot Israel (http://www.kommunisterna.org/kalendarium/2010/05/protester-mot-israel)

[Rusty Shackleford]

i got this info to you guys a bit late.

Subscribe (http://answer.pephost.org/site/R?i=gCHNotxC76uR9q6iEtNDwQ..)
http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr01/ltr/i_safe.gif http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr01/ltr/i_safe.gif (http://answer.pephost.org/site/R?i=CqR0F2E0_ut8zbGT3KPOFQ..)

TODAY: Monday, May 31
Emergency Demonstrations to
Protest Israeli Massacre of Gaza Aid Convoy


http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr01/ltr/i_safe.gif Washington, D.C. at 3:00pm
Israeli Embassy
3514 International Dr. NW
(near Van Ness and Reno Rd.)

New York City at 3:00pm
Times Square
44th Street & 7th Avenue

Los Angeles at 4:30pm
Israeli Consulate
6380 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
(Between Crescent Heights and San Vicente)

Boston, Mass. at 4pm
Park St. T Station

San Francisco at 1pm
Powell and Market

Miami at 5pm
Israeli Consulate
100 N. Biscayne Blvd.

New Haven, CT at 3pm
Federal Courthouse
141 Church St.





EDIT:
Anyone in the Sacramento Area: There will be a demo tomorrow at 4 o'clock. i will be getting more info from a comrade of mine and i can relay to here as fast as i can. i have no idea of the organization or where it is at. let me know.

[syndicat]

at least 10 were killed, maybe as many as 16. the Israeli navy attempted to board the largest ship, with 600 passengers, 40 miles out to sea, in international waters. in some cases apparently the passengers fought back, and grabbed guns from israeli commandos.

[Wanted Man]

Between 400 and 500 people demonstrated in The Hague. The riot police kept them away from the embassy. Video can be seen on the right here: http://nos.nl/artikel/161143-me-grijpt-in-bij-antiisraeldemonstratie-in-den-haag.html

[Crux]

Reports coming in that the famous swedish writer Henning Mankell has been shot by Israeli forces! He has sold millions of books all over Europe and are very famous in Sweden and Germany!
Shot as in wounded or shot as in dead?

[Crux]

"Unarmed activists slaughtered" by IDF paratroopers

www.socialistworld.net, 31/05/2010
website of the committee for a workers' international, CWI
Irish Socialist Party MEP calls for solidarity demonstrations with activists and Gaza
Press release by Joe Higgins, Socialist Party (CWI Ireland) MEP
http://www.socialistworld.net/img/20100531Grafik591668148965213948.jpg
According news reports, anywhere between 9 and 19 people were killed when Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip. Armed forces boarded the vessels overnight, clashing with some of the 600 protesters on board. It took place around 40 miles (64 km) out to sea, in international waters. Peace activists say Israeli troops came on board shooting.
Israel has maintained a blockade of the Palestinian territory of 1.5m people, and previously halted activist ships, although some others have reached Gaza.
The convoy set off in international waters off Cyprus yesterday in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of Gaza.
Protests against this atrocity are taking place today, and over the next days, across the world. CWI members are participating in many of these protests, including in Israel.
The following statement by Joe Higgins, Socialist Party (CWI Ireland) MEP was released shortly after news circulated about the IDF shootinings.
More reports will follow on socialistworld.net.
Socialistworld.net
News reports have not yet provided a definitive account of the extent of the IDF attack on the flotilla of eight humanitarian aid ships on their way to Gaza. However, it is clear that IDF forces have taken over some of the ships and at least 10 unarmed activists have been slaughtered and others injured. There are at least eleven Irish nationals on this flotilla and we do not yet know the condition they are in.
An IDF officer is reported in this morning’s Jerusalem Post describing how IDF paratroopers landing by helicopter on the ships in international waters were “ambushed” by aid workers “armed” with whatever was at hand! I am already aware that language has lost all meaning to the Israeli authorities having received some e-mails myself from the Israeli Embassy in Dublin late last week defending their position when I making representations to them in anticipation of the attacks on the aid flotilla.
The Israeli government and the IDF commanders order these atrocities safe in the knowledge that their allies in the West will leave them unchallenged. Indeed, by welcoming Israel into the OECD last week, the Israeli political establishment can now label itself as part of the “advanced” West.
I condemn this attack and demand that that MV Rachael Corrie, which left Dundalk harbour this weekend carrying aid for Gaza, be allowed to make its journey without harassment. I call on people to attend the demonstration today at 6pm in O’Connell Street in solidarity with these activists and the people of Gaza.

http://www.socialistworld.net/img/article/2010-05-31Grafik7911853505358694462.jpg
While the Israeli government claims to be acting in the interests of the Israeli population, it uses methods, like the permanent blockade of Gaza, that are reminiscent of the collective punishment imposed in the past on Jews in the old ghettos of Europe. This Israeli government does not defend the real, long-term interests of Israeli citizens and oppresses the Palestinians.
Only a joint movement of ordinary Palestinians and Israeli Jews against the Israeli capitalist state can prevent further atrocities and secure democratic rights for all.
The Egyptian government must immediately open its border with Gaza and allow free movement acros it.
www.JoeHiggins.eu (http://www.joehiggins.eu/)
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[Crux]

’Stop the killing of Gaza demonstrators’

www.socialistworld.net, 31/05/2010
website of the committee for a workers' international, CWI
Lift the blockade now!
Statement by of Tnua’t Maavak Sozialisti / Harakat Nidal Eshtaraki (Socialist Struggle Movement, CWI Israel)
Below is a translated and a slightly edited statement posted earlier today (31/05/2010) on the website of Tnua’t Maavak Sozialisti / Harakat Nidal Eshtaraki (Socialist Struggle Movement –the Committee for a Workers’ International in Israel: http://maavak.org.il/maavak/?article=664 ) on the killing of peace protesters by IDF paratroopers early this morning.
Socialistworld.net
Below we provide an initial response from Socialist Struggle Movement in Israel (CWI) following the killing of protesters during the IDF takeover of the international aid convoy, last night. We call on everyone to participate in demonstrations and protests.
Close to 20 protesters were killed and others wounded last night during a violent, right-wing government-initiated raid against the protestors on the international aid flotilla on Monday, bringing aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. Like previous protests, the demonstrators did not endanger [in any way] the security of Israeli residents. This time, helicopters were sent... missile boats, commando forces, and 200 officials were waiting for them, outside Israel’s official territory, to drive them from Gaza.
The Israeli government cynically disclaims responsibility. But we do not need a ‘commission of inquiry’ to understand that the responsibility for the killing of protestors lies on the shoulders of senior [ministers/officers]. While there is a media blackout on the details, the press tells us that soldiers were attacked in one of the ships with various ‘objects’. But the IDF soldiers did not have to be there. In reality, the army is used to... trample the right to protest.
Ministers, their generals and their kept journalists, are trying to divert attention from the policy of aggression by the destructive, oppressive government of Bibi - Barak - Lieberman, including the siege and occupation of Gaza itself, as well as the wild and racist incitements against the Arab - Palestinian people in Israel. The government of Israel, a warmongering government, which suppresses the Palestinians, also damages the long-term interests of the residents of Israel.
[The Socialist Struggle Movement in Israel proclaims that] the only way out of such disasters and other horrors of the Israeli - Palestinian conflict is the construction of a broad social movement of Israelis and Palestinians unifying Jews and Arabs, against the instigators of "divide and rule", against the siege and occupation, against all oppression and discrimination, [and which stands for] democratic national rights, equal for all, and for the overthrow of the corrupt capitalist elites in the region.
The Socialist Struggle Movement supports the expansion of the socialist struggle and [will participate in / calls for participation in] the protest demonstrations to be held tonight at in Tel - Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa.
We urge you to share with us, Jews and Arabs, [the following protests/chants]:
To protest is not ‘terrorism’ – end the siege [of Gaza]

Security is not built on demonstrators’ bodies

The racist government – [is the] security threat

[The actions of the Israeli state does] not [make us] ‘safe’; it’s a disaster - the [Israeli] government lies...

Generals and ministers - Stop the killing of demonstrators

End the use of soldiers against civilians

No cover-up...

Jews - refuse to be enemies [of the Palestinians]

Invest in education - not siege and occupation

Yes to rehabilitation [of public services for all] [and] medicine - no more wars

End the siege / dismantle settlements / overthrow the ‘wall’ / end separation / smash racism

End the occupation

[FinnMacCool]

I was unable to attend to demo in NYC today. Is there another one tomorrow? I heard there was.

[Paul Cockshott]

Bingo! I'm now convinced this was an agreed-upon action between Obama and Netanyahu -- a deliberate provocation.
No he has had to cancel meeting Obama.

[Paul Cockshott]

BBC report that Turkey calling for NATO assistance. They would appear to have a prima facie case to invoke article 5, which would really embarrass the US were they to do it.

[Rusty Shackleford]

BBC report that Turkey calling for NATO assistance. They would appear to have a prima facie case to invoke article 5, which would really embarrass the US were they to do it.




The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations (http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/bt-un51.htm), will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security.


Article 5 for anyone who is curious.

[Martin Blank]

No he has had to cancel meeting Obama.

I have a sense Netanyahu already got what he wanted, even though he was in Canada at the time and not the U.S. And I am still of the opinion that this wouldn't have happened without the consent of the Obama White House.

[Martin Blank]

Article 5 for anyone who is curious.

The problem is the clause "in Europe or North America". This occurred in international waters, and not directly adjacent to either European or North American territory. This will be the clause that allows NATO countries to weasel out of their Article V obligations.

[Sankofa]

Haha, I was just flipping through the news. Apparently Israel's story is that the activists on the boats had "Al Qaeda" connections, which justifies their use of force. :lol:

[NaxalbariZindabad]

The problem is the clause "in Europe or North America". This occurred in international waters, and not directly adjacent to either European or North American territory. This will be the clause that allows NATO countries to weasel out of their Article V obligations.

But there is this next article in the NATO Charter:


Article 6

For the purpose of Article 5, an armed attack on one or more of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack:


on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America, on the Algerian Departments of France, on the territory of Turkey or on the islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer;
on the forces, vessels, or aircraft of any of the Parties, when in or over these territories or any other area in Europe in which occupation forces of any of the Parties were stationed on the date when the Treaty entered into force or the Mediterranean Sea or the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer.

( my emphasis, source: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17245.htm )

[Martin Blank]

But there is this next article in the NATO Charter:

( my emphasis, source: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17245.htm )

This doesn't necessarily include flagged civilian vessels, though. The language implies government vessels, primarily naval and merchant marine ships. Now, if the ships were captained and staffed by naval and/or merchant marine personnel, Article VI may apply, since the ships would then be de facto government vessels. But I doubt that either the Greek or Turkish governments would even own up to such a thing.

[Edgar]

Haha, I was just flipping through the news. Apparently Israel's story is that the activists on the boats had "Al Qaeda" connections, which justifies their use of force. :lol:

Yep, I was just watching CBC News in Canada here and some Israeli public relations guy was using the "Al-Qaeda connections" talking point. Some people will fall for this lie, but I think, on the whole, Israel is totally losing the public relations war this time around. Their propagandists and defenders in the media can spin all they like, but Israel has been thoroughly exposed for the criminal entity it is.

[chegitz guevara]

Best source of information on what the hell is going on I've found yet.

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/05/31/israel/index.html

[Antifa94]

Israel Defends Self at U.N. Security Council Amidst Controversy Over Flotilla Raid
Published May 31, 2010 | NewsCore
Print Email Share Comments (239) Text Size
Israel offered a vigorous defense Monday amidst a rapidly deepening international dispute over its deadly overnight raid on a flotilla of ships carrying aid bound for Gaza.

Under pressure from even its allies over the incident that killed at least nine people, Israel’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Daniel Carmon took to the floor of the international body to fire back against the idea that the ships were peaceful, unarmed and humanitarian.

“What kind of peace activists use knives, clubs and fire from weapons stolen from soldiers...to attack soldiers to attack soldiers who board a ship in accordance with international law?,” he asked.

"They are not peace activists; They are not messengers of good will. They cynically use a humanitarian platform to send a message of hate and to implement violence," he added.

Israeli commandos attacked a Gaza-bound aid flotilla Monday carrying 10,000 tons of aid destined for the blockaded Gaza Strip. The Israeli military said seven soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously.


Arab states, most of whom were already in an uneasy peace with the U.S.-allied Jewish state, were said to be furious over the incident, AFP reported. The European Union’s 27 nations issued their own statement against the raid.

Earlier at the U.N., Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Israel “lost all legitimacy” because of the raid.

But Carmon, the Israeli deputy ambassador, said the flotilla turned down repeated requests from Israeli troops to stand down for inspection in accordance with international laws. He characterized the incident on the ship as a "lynch" on Israeli soldiers.

The flotilla was organized by a group with a "radical anti-Western orientation," that supports terrorist organizations like Hamas and al Qaeda, Carmon said.

“The results of last night's events are tragic and unfortunate, and Israel deeply regrets any loss of innocent lives,” Carmon said. “But it cannot compromise its security. Nobody would.



>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


I can not believe this utter shit that the PM is spewing. Fuck zionism

[nrbsl2212]

Haha, I was just flipping through the news. Apparently Israel's story is that the activists on the boats had "Al Qaeda" connections, which justifies their use of force. :lol:

There's also been a lot of whining about how the IDF were being attacked first and they have a video to "prove" that (which was probably filmed conveniently after the Israelis started opening fire from their helicopters), so clearly they had no choice. I'm sure many people will just take their word for it too, it's infuriating.

[GreenCommunism]

Haha, I was just flipping through the news. Apparently Israel's story is that the activists on the boats had "Al Qaeda" connections, which justifies their use of force.
did al-qaeda ever hurt israel?

The flotilla was organized by a group with a "radical anti-Western orientation," that supports terrorist organizations like Hamas and al Qaeda, Carmon said.
how does radical anti-western means supporting al-qaeda or hamas. lame lame

[The Vegan Marxist]

Yep, it's been confirmed. At least 19 people have been killed in the attack, but apparently, as the video shows below, the people on the ship are fighting back!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OTLoxIZEGc&feature=player_embedded

If anybody wants to remain updated constantly, here's the best site to do it: http://witnessgaza.com/

[Robocommie]

You know this, in conjunction with the bullshit the Mossad pulled in Dubai a while back, is really just showing that Israel is apparently hell-bent on alienating everyone. Normally this stuff just manifests as milquetoast UN resolutions and angry ambassadors, but who knows, if Israel keeps on fucking up like this...

[Red Commissar]

Apologists for the Israeli state are already in full force as expected. I wonder what tune they would be singing if a different nation did this.

What I'm confused about really is why Israel continues to do such brash actions. Even with Americans behind them and giving them a blank check for anything they do, these stupid things they keep doing is harming the shit image they try to present the world.

I mean just in the past decade we've seen the following actions by Israel,

-The construction of the walls to seal off the West Bank and Gaza.
-Expanding settlements and continuing to take Palestinian lands well beyond what had been agreed to in previous arrangements
-Grossly disproportionate response in their invasion of southern Lebanon in 2006. Civilian casualties.
-Grossly disproportionate response in their bombing of Gaza in 2007. Massive civilian casualties.
-Subsequent blockade on Gaza under guise of "fighting" Hamas. Humanitarian crisis.

And now we have this. Obviously we know one point- any other nation in Israel's position would have been fiercely criticized and condemned by the international community. My point is in the past decade Israel has suffered major damages to their image and they continue to do this. In terms of PR each of these things is like shooting themselves in the foot, and in my experience sympathy for Palestinians has increased a lot compared to the past years. In the long run this will only hurt them. I'm not complaining about the Israeli state going on a crash course, it's just confusing that the state apparatus is letting this slide. I suppose they're relying on collective amnesia for people to forget about this, as usual?

[GreenCommunism]

maybe it's just small time israelis soldiers who are so brainwashed that arabs are terrorist bent on destroying israel that they do such bad action? then the israel state has to cover up for them?

[Red Commissar]

Looking at some comments from the peanut gallery,

"They want to be a martyr for the cause then bring it on and move to the head of the line. 72 virgin express service, no waiting."

The ignorance sickens me.

[The Vegan Marxist]

Israel occupies the ship in the search for weapons, & guess what guys, they found them! Definitely weapons of mass destruction (http://i.imgur.com/fq3oD.jpg)! :rolleyes:

[Red Commissar]

Israel occupies the ship in the search for weapons, & guess what guys, they found them! Definitely weapons of mass destruction (http://i.imgur.com/fq3oD.jpg)! :rolleyes:

Disproportionate response has been a cornerstone in Israel's forces. Hell, they even seem to pride themselves on it.

[Die Rote Fahne]

Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country's siege on Gaza.
At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured when troops intercepted the convoy of ships dubbed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, Israeli radio reported.
The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Gaza coast.
Avital Leibovich, an Israeli military spokeswoman, confirmed that the attack took place in international waters, saying: "This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves."
Al Jazeera

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html

I'm probably late on putting this here...my bad.

[GreenCommunism]

Looking at some comments from the peanut gallery,

"They want to be a martyr for the cause then bring it on and move to the head of the line. 72 virgin express service, no waiting."

The ignorance sickens me.

notice how the knives are placed on a flag? like there's a link or something.

Edit: oops it was about this

Israel occupies the ship in the search for weapons, & guess what guys, they found them! Definitely weapons of mass destruction!

[Red Commissar]

Al Jazeera

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html

I'm probably late on putting this here...my bad.

The quote from the defense spokesperson is amusing,

"This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves."

[pastradamus]

Israel occupies the ship in the search for weapons, & guess what guys, they found them! Definitely weapons of mass destruction (http://i.imgur.com/fq3oD.jpg)! :rolleyes:

A huge haul!
!NEWSFLASH!
* ISRAEL HAS SEIZED OVER TEN KITCHEN KNIVES FROM THE CANTEEN ON THE SHIP!*

Notice how they even included an ornamental Arab knife thats about as blunt as my arse. Also they included an instrument used for sharpening knives....as if this photo wasn't already ridiculous enough!

[RedLaw]

God-damnit, fucking Israel. They'll even attack civilian shipping to keep food and medicine out of Palestine!

Israel is about as popular as British Petroleum (BP). It's amazing the things
that country tries to get away with (and does!)But the world watching this
isn't going to forget any time soon.

[The Vegan Marxist]

PFLP condemns the murderous crimes of the Israeli pirates and salutes the heroes of the Freedom Flotilla

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine condemns the latest Israeli massacre on the high seas, in international waters, the brutal assault on the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza on May 31, 2010. The Israeli state terror pirates, said the Front, attacked the humanitarian aid and international solidarity ships with firearms and commandos; the Front said that this is the latest crime against humanity committed by the occupation state, illustrating its blatant disregard for international law.

The Front saluted all of the members of the Freedom Flotilla, particularly the martyrs and wounded, saying that these are martyrs of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, and of the struggle of people everywhere for liberation, justice and freedom, and will be immortal in our struggle, and that the Flotilla's prisoners are with the prisoners of our Palestinian Arab nation, prisoners of freedom in the hands of a terror occupation state.

It called upon the Palstinian movement in Palestine and in exile and all progressive forces around the world to continue and escalate their actions at Israeli embassies and consulates around the world, including emulating the example of the Turkish people in occupying the Israeli embassy in Anakara, and demanded an immediate end to any so-called indirect or direct negotiations with the murderous regime.

The Front demanded that all Arab nations end their relations with the occupation state and cut off diplomatic ties, demanding serious international action at an official level to bring the criminal leaders of the occupation state to justice in international courts and severely punish them for their crimes. Furthermore, the Front said that the United States government and all silent and complicit governments bear responsibility for this latest crime as well as all of the ongoing crimes of this occupation state against the Palestinian Arab people.

The Front pledged to hold fast to the examples of these activists, the latest martyrs of the great struggle of people for liberation and return and for justice in the face of an occupier and invader. They shall live on, the PFLP pledged, in the determination and resistance of the Palestinian people to see justice and freedom and end the crimes of the terror state.

Source (http://www.pflp.ps/english/?q=pflp-condemns-murderous-crimes-israeli-pirates-and)

[Rusty Shackleford]

COMRADES IN THE SACRAMENTO AREA

there will be a demo in Sacramento on 16th and J street at 4pm to 6pm on Tuesday, June 1st(tomorrow).

Not really sure who its organized by, but i believe its organized by the Arab community in Sacramento.

EDIT: its going to be at the Memorial Auditorium:

1515 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

[JacobVardy]

In Sydney the Coalition for Peace and Justice in Palestine has called a solidarity vigil for 5.30pm at the Town Hall (Tuesday 1st June)

[Gecko]

israel is becoming more and more like an aggressive imperialist USA hell bent on hegemony..the difference is that israel has as it's goal the conquest .."from the nile to the euphrates..greater Israel"..
israel is mimicking it's big brother the USA..the USA told the world to go fuck themselves when it came to attacking and invading iraq and afghanistan..despite overwhelming condemnation and opposition from most of the world as well as prominent world body organizations such as the UN etc etc..
both the USA and Israel aren't fucking around..they are deadly serious and anyone who stands in their way will face their killing machines..
these two nations are nothing but a bunch of pirates and corporate mafia criminal groups..
if they ever faced the prospect of real defeat they won't just go down..they will launch those nuclear tipped ICBM's and destroy the world..they are totally fucking psychotics and totally evil bastards..and you're damn right they would rather nuke the world than give up their wealth,power,position and privilege..
in the final analysis the USA doesn't give a shit what the world thinks so why would Israel be any different..

[rararoadrunner]

Esteemed comrades:

By now, you know of the cowardly pirate attack on a peaceful, humanitarian convoy by elements of the Israeli armed forces.

In view of the direct implications of such an attack, I have submitted the following petitions to the Free Gaza Movement for their discussion, and if they approve, circulation:


URGENT ACTION MESSAGE TO REDEPLOY ELEMENTS OF COMBINED TASK FORCE 150 TO THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN!

To: Rear Adm Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Navy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Commander, Combined Task Force 150.

On May 31, 2010, elements of the Israeli Defence Forces attacked a civilian convoy bringing urgently-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, resulting in the deaths and imprisonment of civilians,internment of vessels, and confiscation of the supplies.

We, the undersigned, urge you, in your capacity as commander of Combined Task Force 150, to order elements of that international task force to set sail for the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, in order to escort ships bound for Gaza, protecting them from further pirate attacks.


URGENT ACTION MESSAGE TO DEFEND MERCHANT MARINE OF A NATO MEMBER STATE AGAINST ATTACK BY ARMED FORCES OF NON-NATO STATE.

To: Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Secretary General, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

On May 31, 2010, elements of the Israeli Defence Forces attacked a civilian convoy bringing urgently-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, resulting in the deaths and imprisonment of civilians,internment of vessels, and confiscation of the supplies.

We, the undersigned, urge you, in your capacity as Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, to respond effectively to an attack on a vessel of the Merchant Marine of the Republic of Turkey, a NATO member state, by the armed forces of Israel, a non-member state.

[The Vegan Marxist]

480 activists held in Israeli jails
By JPOST.COM STAFF
06/01/2010

Some 480 passengers from the Gaza-bound flotilla which was raided by Israeli forces were detained on Monday evening and Tuesday morning.

During the course of their investigations, authorities will decide which activists will be deported and which will be detained. According to Israel Radio, most of the detainees were slated for deportation.

Early Tuesday morning, 48 of the detainees were transferred to Ben Gurion International Airport for deportation to their countries of residence.

Among the detainees is the Islamic Movement’s Northern branch leader, Sheikh Raed Salah, according to Israel Radio. Salah was said to have been injured in the Monday raid, but the reports turned out to be false.

Arab MK Haneen Zoabi had been detained, but was released after she was questioned by authorities.

Source (http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177091)

[Sperm-Doll Setsuna]

Source (http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177091)


Also Tuesday morning, meanwhile, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilna'i hinted that Israel had sabotaged some of the ships which were meant to take part in the flotilla.

When asked during an Israel Radio interview whether it might not have been possible to stop the ships in a more sophisticated manner, Vilna'i responded, “Every possibility was considered. The fact is that there were ten less ships in the flotilla than were originally planned.”

The deputy defense minister stressed that there was no choice but to stop the ships, as otherwise supplies would have been transferred to terror bases in the Gaza Strip, which threaten “the very heart” of Israel.

That isn't exactly legal activity either, is it...

They just don't know when to quit, do they.

[GreenCommunism]

can someone tell me something positive about israel, we should make a list of negative and positive. when was the last time israel did something humanitarian, i mean i'm not being a dick i just want to know what kind of humanitarian work that israel does. cuba is by far more humanitarian and much poorer.

[~Spectre]

can someone tell me something positive about israel, we should make a list of negative and positive. when was the last time israel did something humanitarian, i mean i'm not being a dick i just want to know what kind of humanitarian work that israel does. cuba is by far more humanitarian and much poorer.

Their propaganda ministry has a great running gag where they rephrase bits of 1984, and then see how seriously Zionists parrot them.

[IrishWorker]

The Irish ship the Rachel Corrie which was delayed for 48 hours from joining the main flotilla will try and break the blockade any time now it is carrying 1000 tones of aid and has passengers from all over the world.

[IrishWorker]

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...855&sec=nation

Aid ship Rachel Corrie, with 6 M’sians, presses on to Gaza (Update 3)

* Israeli Navy ready to stop the 3 ships
* Israel detains 480 captured, deports 48
* Najib wants status of 11 captured Malaysians ascertained
* Pakatan wants emergency Parliament sitting to condemn Israel

KUALA LUMPUR: The humanitarian aid ship Rachel Corrie, which has six Malaysians on board, is pressing ahead in rough seas to breach the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Two other ships are also going ahead to deliver aid despite fresh news reports on Tuesday that the Israeli Navy was standing ready to intercept the ships.

"The ships will proceed until they are stopped. If they are stopped, they will appeal for safe passage. After all, they are carrying humanitarian aid," said former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in an interview on Al Jazeera television.

"They are risking much to fulfil their undertaking to deliver aid to Gaza," he said in the 1.15pm interview on Tuesday. Dr Mahathir heads the NGO Perdana Global Peace Organisation which is one of the sponsors of the aid being carried in Rachel Corrie.

He said that the Rachel Corrie and the other two aid ships were not part of the six-ship flotilla captured by Israelis on Monday because mechanical difficulties had delayed their set off.

Early Monday, Israeli commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish ship leading a flotilla of six aid ships heading for Gaza, saying that the ship carried passengers with terrorist links.

At least 10 people were killed in that raid, triggering international outrage and condemnation.

The Mavi Marmara was 65 km off Gaza in international waters. News reports say that all six ships in the flotilla are now in the Israeli port of Ashdod and the passengers and crew in custody.

Dr Mahathir dismissed Israeli allegations that passengers on the captured ships had Hamas links. Hamas rules Gaza and Israel has deemed it a terrorist group.

"What Hamas links? These are people without Hamas links, They are just people who are aware of the extent of the Palestinian suffering," he said.

Earlier in the day, Dr Mahathir's secretary Sufi Yusoff told Star Online that he had contacted veteran journalist Shamsul Akmar on board the Rachel Corrie by satellite phone at 10am.

According to Shamsul the ship was about 300km from Gaza and the rough seas meant that it would be about 48 hours before it could reach Gaza.

The rough seas made it difficult to predict when they would reach Gaza, Sufi said, adding that the small ship had a total of 19 people on board - six Malaysians, five Irish and eight crew.

“We would like to emphasise that this is a totally humanitarian exercise. There are no terrorist elements on board. The Israelis have no reason to attack this ship,” he said.

Aside from veteran journalist Shamsul, the other Malaysians are lawyer Matthias Chang, Parit MP Nizar Zakaria, activist Ahmad Faizal Azumu and TV3 crew members Halim Mohamed and Jufri Junid.

Among the Irish are Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire and former UN Assistant Secretary-General Denis Halliday.

"These are hardly terrorist elements. The Israelis can have no excuse to raid the Rachel Corrie," Sufi said.

The Rachel Corrie, an 1,200-ton Irish-owned cargo ship, is loaded with reconstruction, medical and educational supplies sponsored by the peoples of Malaysia, Ireland, Scotland, and Britain.

The vessel was to have been part of the flotilla but was delayed because of mechanical problems and only left Malta on May 30.

According to NGO Free Gaza, Israel has limited essential fuel to run the power station in the past three months and much of Gaza was often in darkness.

There were just enough trucks coming in to barely prevent total starvation, and Egypt, complicit with the Israeli-US policy of blockading Palestinians, was building an underground steel wall to prevent people in Gaza from bringing in vitally needed supplies through tunnels, it said.

About 1.5 million Palestinians were trapped in the ‘open-air prison’, it said.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak instructed Wisma Putra to get the latest status on the fate of the 11 Malaysian volunteers in the captured aid ships.

Israeli military censors have jammed communication lines making it impossible to contact the injured and other passengers on the Mavi Marmara and the other five ships now in Ashdod.

Meanwhile, Israeli public radio reported Tuesday noon that Israel had detained 480 pro-Palestinian activists captured in the Mavi Marmara and would deport 48 others.

The detained were being held at a prison in Ashdod. Those slotted for deportation were being taken to Ben Gurion international airport, said the report.

Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat has called on Najib to convene an emergency Parliament sitting to condemn Israel and want the Government to come up with a plan t

[Black Sheep]

at 13:00 the deported of the greek crew will have a press conference.

Btw 3 greek journalists are still missing (no info at all)

[Palestine]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB_CKL5h2_8

Norman Finkelstein has something to say about what happend.

[Palestine]

Turkish PM is talking infront of the parliament right now

[MaoTseHelen]

Turkish PM is talking infront of the parliament right now
A summary/transcript/etc would be appreciated much comrade.

[Chambered Word]

Attention: if anyone could find the actual video of the Israeli soldiers shooting it'd be appreciated, we need to fight the bullshit Israel's government is pumping out into the media.

1,500 people turned up in Melbourne, same with Sydney.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4659528348_4cc32d6883.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4659535192_7f088a9057.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4659627034_42449b7269.jpg
250 people in Brisbane marched on the Dept. of Foreign Affairs. There was a protest of around 80 people in Canberra outside the Israeli Embassy too.

In Perth we marched up to the Dept. of Foreign Affairs thoroughly pissed off and issued demands. It seemed to be about as lively as Perth gets...

Anyway we'll be going down to the Israeli consulate on Sunday.

The Middle East is getting really shitty about this as well: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/mp/7323897/protests-erupt-across-the-world-after-israeli-raid/

[The Grey Blur]

Turkish PM is talking infront of the parliament right now...A summary/transcript/etc would be appreciated much comrade.

Why? Are you really interested in the hypocrisies of a bourgeois leader who is responsible for the oppression of minorities and workers in his own country?

[Chambered Word]

Why? Are you really interested in the hypocrisies of a bourgeois leader who is responsible for the oppression of minorities and workers in his own country?

Other people are, and we as leftists have to deal with their bullshit.

[eyedrop]

Are there any other travesties happening around the world under the cover of the international spotlight is occupied with Israel?

Any escalations in Afghanistan, with Iran or anywhere else?

[Garret]

www1.folha.uol.com.br/multimidia/podcasts/743766-chegaram-atirando-relata-brasileira-a-bordo-de-navio-atacado.shtml

Brazilian news, a Brazilian woman testifying that the Israeli soldiers, as usual, boarded firing. That she thought they would shoot at the air, at most, on people's knees and other parts to incapacitate them, but they pointed and shot at their heads.

They were also outside the line of the blockage (check the map, the dotted line is where the ship was).

Even if Israel was, like Zionists affirm, the victims of crazy Arabs, that they just want to live in peace and caused no war ever, that they only defended themselves (including the Six-Day War, cough), etc, this is still absurd and beyond any excuse.

This is just one more of Israel's displays of complete lack of respect of others' lives. And you know what? They'll get away with it. They always do. And USA will, not surprisingly, either completely support them, or say something like "aw that wasn't cool, man" and do absolutely nothing else.

[Chambered Word]

www1.folha.uol.com.br/multimidia/podcasts/743766-chegaram-atirando-relata-brasileira-a-bordo-de-navio-atacado.shtml


A valuable piece of evidence, thank you very much comrade. :)



This is just one more of Israel's displays of complete lack of respect of others' lives. And you know what? They'll get away with it. They always do. And USA will, not surprisingly, either completely support them, or say something like "aw that wasn't cool, man" and do absolutely nothing else.This is why we have to be out on the streets, we cannot let them fucking get away with this. Only the working class can hold our governments and Israel in turn accountable for its genocidal crimes.

This is really making people appalled and we have the opportunity to mobilize a lot of people around the event.

Edit: I found this also, it has some good information against Zionist lies: http://www.fopwa.org/2010/05/arguments-against-israels-propaganda-line/

[Idle Bandit]

Irish activist deported and Irish vessel en route to Gaza. (http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0601/mideast.html)

[aty]

Swedens attendance at the demonstrations yesterday, assembled in hours;

Stockholm: 10 000
Gothenburg: 5000
Malmö: 2000
Umeå: 600
Uppsala: 500
Jönköping: 200
Linköping: 250
Norrköping: 150
Örebro: 250
Kristianstad: 250
Västerås: 150

Will be more demonstrations this weekend.

[Lyev]

In from the BBC a few hours ago. This isn't to say that the UN will actually do a lot. Everyone is too scared of America at the end of the day. Original link here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10201165.stm). (There's 3 separate little statements or articles separated from the main article with lots of *s)


UN urges inquiry into Israel convoy raid
Page last updated at 14:03 GMT, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 15:03 UK

Israeli army footage showing the violence on board the flotilla - the captions and circled points on this video were inserted by the Israeli army

The UN Security Council has issued a statement calling for an impartial inquiry into Israel's raid on a flotilla of Gaza-bound aid ships.

The statement said the investigation should be "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent".

It also condemned the "acts" which led to the deaths of at least 10 civilian activists during the operation.

The raid sparked strong international condemnation and calls for Israel to lift its three-year blockade of Gaza.

************************************************** ***************************************

LEGALITY OF CONVOY RAID

Continue reading the main story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10201165.stm#skip_feature_02) http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/47962000/gif/_47962292_gaza_aid_ship226.gif

The UN Charter on the Law of the Sea says only if a vessel is suspected to be transporting weapons, or weapons of mass destruction, can it be boarded in international waters. Otherwise the permission of the ship's flag carrying nation must be sought.
The charter allows for naval blockades, but the effect of the blockade on civilians must be proportionate to the effect on the military element for the blockade to be legally enforceable.
A ship trying to breach a blockade can be boarded and force may be used to stop it as long as it is "necessary and proportionate".
The Israeli Defense Forces say soldiers acted in self-defence.
An investigation, either by the UN or by the ship's flag-carrier Turkey, is required to find if the use of force was proportionate to a claim of self defence.

Profile: Free Gaza Movement (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10202678.stm) Q&A: Israeli raid on aid flotilla (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10203726.stm) Israeli raid: What went wrong? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10203333.stm) Guide: Gaza under blockade (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7545636.stm) Convoy raid sparks press fury (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8715427.stm) In pictures: Aid flotilla raid protests (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10203233.stm)

************************************************** ***************************************

The UN statement was reached after hours of discussion as the council deliberated through the night.

In Turkey, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Israel's raid a "bloody massacre" as he addressed parliament.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has ordered the border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to be opened. The Rafah crossing has been closed since 2007, although special medical cases are occasionally allowed through.

The Egyptian state news agency said the latest opening was to allow humanitarian aid through. It is not clear how long it will be kept open.
The UN statement was the result of a compromise between Turkey and the US. Turkey was reluctant to water down its criticism of Israel while the US - Israel's closest ally - wanted to temper the language used, says the BBC's UN correspondent Barbara Plett in New York.

Turkey is furious at the commando raid, which targeted a Turkish ship and appeared to have killed mostly Turkish activists, she says.

The compromise removed direct condemnation of Israel and removed references to an international investigation, our correspondent adds.
It also weakened demands for an end to the economic blockade of Gaza that the activists were trying to break, but the incident has refocused international attention on the siege and many states have renewed calls for it to be lifted, she says.

The Palestinian Observer at the UN, Riyad Mansour, said he was disappointed that the language in the final draft had been softened.
In its statement, the Security Council said it "deeply regretted the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza".

************************************************** ***************************************

AT THE SCENE
Jon Donnison
BBC News, Israel

Here at Beersheva prison in the Negev Desert, in the sweltering heat, a procession of foreign diplomats and lawyers has been trying to gain access to the prisoners.

Most have been let in and so has a party from the International Red Cross. Those who have come out have not said much more than that they have been able to see their prisoners.

Behind the blue and white 8m-high concrete walls, more than 600 people are being held.

For how long and to what purpose is not yet clear. Perspiring journalists can be seen scanning the Israeli newspapers, the headlines reading "Botched raid on Free Gaza Flotilla" and "Flotilla Fiasco".

************************************************** ***************************************

The council "condemns those acts which resulted in the loss of at least 10 civilians and many wounded, and expresses its condolences to their families".

The council requested the immediate release of the ships as well as the civilians held by Israel.

It also stressed that the situation in Gaza was "not sustainable".
Shortly after the UN statement was released, several Gaza militants crossed the border into Israel and exchanged fire with troops, the Israeli military said. Two militants were killed, it said.

Russia and the European Union have also jointly called for an impartial inquiry into the Israeli operation and for crossings into Gaza to be opened.
'Self-defence' Israel's UN envoy said troops acted in self-defence, charges the campaigners deny.

"This flotilla was anything but a humanitarian mission," Israel's deputy UN ambassador Daniel Carmon said.

He said the activists had used "knives, clubs and other weapons" to attack the soldiers who boarded the lead boat, the Mavi Marmara.

Captain Aria Shaliker of the Israel Defense Forces, who was part of Monday's operation, says the commandos began the raids armed with paint ball guns.

"I was, myself, on one of the boats, the Israeli boats, approaching the flotilla," he told the BBC's World Today programme.

************************************************** ***************************************

Continue reading the main story (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10201165.stm#skip_feature_02)

"The Security Council deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries resulting from the use of force during the Israeli military operation in international waters against the convoy sailing to Gaza"

UN Security Council statement

UN text on Israel convoy raid (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10201202.stm) Send us your comments (http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/haveyoursay/2010/05/was_israel_right_to_board_the.html)

************************************************** ***************************************

"It is true that the Israeli commander unit... came on board with paint ball weapons... in order to disperse [people] if there was violence. They were ready for a violent... demonstration on board the flotilla, especially on the big boat, the Marmara. No-one really expected that there would be such a violent outcome of what happened.

"First, you know, the soldiers tried to disperse, but in the end when they were shot at, you know when there was shooting... from the other side, there's no other way than turning from paint ball to live ammunition."
The campaigners say the soldiers opened fire without any provocation.
Of the 679 surviving activists, who were brought to the Israeli port of Ashdod, only 50 agreed to be voluntarily deported and more than 30 are being treated in hospital for their injuries, reports the BBC's Wyre Davies in Jerusalem.

That means that almost 600 people, from several countries, are still being held in detention centres across Israel and being questioned by the authorities.

Israel has imposed an information blackout, making it difficult to gather first-hand accounts from the campaigners.

The ships were carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid in an attempt to break Israel's three-year blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Israel says it will deliver the ships' aid cargo to Gaza by land.

Nato ambassadors are due to hold emergency talks in Brussels at Turkey's request to discuss the raid.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he regretted any loss of life, but gave full backing to the action of the Israeli troops.

Mr Netanyahu cut short a visit to Canada to deal with the growing crisis and cancelled a scheduled meeting in Washington with US President Barack Obama on Tuesday. He is due back in Israel on Tuesday.

Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip after Hamas seized power there in 2007.

Israel says it allows about 15,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid into Gaza every week, but the UN says this is less than a quarter of what is needed.
Do you know anyone on board the flotilla? Are you affected by the issues raised in this story?

Send your pictures and videos to [email protected] or text them to 61124 (UK) or 0044 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here (http://bbcnewsupload.streamuk.com/).
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[eyedrop]

Are there any other travesties happening around the world under the cover of the international spotlight is occupied with Israel?

Any escalations in Afghanistan, with Iran or anywhere else?

In addition to this I would like to mention that the Israeli debacle has done it's share to dampen the media coverage of all the numerous large strikes that has blossomed up lately due to the increased intensity of the class struggle.

[Atlee]

Has anyone seen the new flag?

http://www.socialistpartyofflorida.net/IDF%20Pirate%20flag.png

[Atlee]

A huge haul!
!NEWSFLASH!
* ISRAEL HAS SEIZED OVER TEN KITCHEN KNIVES FROM THE CANTEEN ON THE SHIP!*

Notice how they even included an ornamental Arab knife thats about as blunt as my arse. Also they included an instrument used for sharpening knives....as if this photo wasn't already ridiculous enough!

So in Gaza you cannot use anything more than a plastic butter knife or a spork to eat with? Sounds like they are making chicken salad from chick $8it. :mad:

[Rusty Shackleford]

In addition to this I would like to mention that the Israeli debacle has done it's share to dampen the media coverage of all the numerous large strikes strikes.

That and the oil leak in the gulf. which looks like it might be going on for 2 more months.

[Ligeia]

Here's a link to a press conference with Inge Höger, Annette Groth and Norman Peach (LINKE-members that were passengers on the flotilla) : Link
(http://www.n24.de/news/newsitem_6095332.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)Some bits and pieces as a summary:
-they were first at the Challenger 1 but it suddenly had technical problems(just like Challenger 2) so they entered the Mavi Marmara
-they assume that the technical problem probably were due to sabotage
-they were only allowed to return to Germany because they are delegates, other German passengers weren't allowed and had to stay in prison and nobody knows what will happen to them
-they suspect the killings were planned
-they think it must have been like 16-19 dead people
-they seem to have frisked them and taken some of their things away since two of them said something along those lines "I've only returned with my clothes on"
-at ca. 4:30 zodiacs(rubber boats) started to encircle their ships for 10 minutes, then they could hear heavy detonations (obviously fragmentation- and gas- grenades, teargas...not sure if other gases had also been used)
-then came the helicopters with the descending soldiers
-Norman was in the room that they used as sick bay: first came 3 Israeli soldiers which weren't wounded heavily, then after some time of shootings many people entered (two-digit numbers of people), all heavily injured
-he made some photos but they took his camera (the Isreali government probably took all visual material and you won't see any of this)
-all in all they didn't expect such brutality

And here's another link to an interview with Inge Höger: Link (http://origin.wdr.de/themen/politik/international/israel/interview.jhtml)
Which states that:
-all had to gather at the upper Deck
-their hands were tied with cable strips
-men had to kneel, women could sit on benches...for hours
-they were not allowed to move
-they took all their belongings (except their passports)
-soldiers were pointing with their guns on them
-there were probably some directed head-shots
-only the ship's doctors treated the injured (if they could get to them at all)
-many injured just lay around for a long time without treatment
-at last the Israeli Army tried to take them with the helicopters but it took a long time and they were treated badly (the injured)
-some defended themselves with sticks but the violence definitely originated in the Israeli army

I've heard BBC is interviewing them,too...but haven't read or seen the interview. I guess there'll be many more accounts on this by those who were allowed to return in the next days.

[freepalestine]

PFLP condemns the murderous crimes of the Israeli pirates and salutes the heroes of the Freedom Flotilla



The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine condemns the latest Israeli massacre on the high seas, in international waters, the brutal assault on the international Freedom Flotilla to Gaza on May 31, 2010. The Israeli state terror pirates, said the Front, attacked the humanitarian aid and international solidarity ships with firearms and commandos; the Front said that this is the latest crime against humanity committed by the occupation state, illustrating its blatant disregard for international law.


The Front saluted all of the members of the Freedom Flotilla, particularly the martyrs and wounded, saying that these are martyrs of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, and of the struggle of people everywhere for liberation, justice and freedom, and will be immortal in our struggle, and that the Flotilla's prisoners are with the prisoners of our Palestinian Arab nation, prisoners of freedom in the hands of a terror occupation state.


It called upon the Palstinian movement in Palestine and in exile and all progressive forces around the world to continue and escalate their actions at Israeli embassies and consulates around the world, including emulating the example of the Turkish people in occupying the Israeli embassy in Anakara, and demanded an immediate end to any so-called indirect or direct negotiations with the murderous regime.


The Front demanded that all Arab nations end their relations with the occupation state and cut off diplomatic ties, demanding serious international action at an official level to bring the criminal leaders of the occupation state to justice in international courts and severely punish them for their crimes. Furthermore, the Front said that the United States government and all silent and complicit governments bear responsibility for this latest crime as well as all of the ongoing crimes of this occupation state against the Palestinian Arab people.


The Front pledged to hold fast to the examples of these activists, the latest martyrs of the great struggle of people for liberation and return and for justice in the face of an occupier and invader. They shall live on, the PFLP pledged, in the determination and resistance of the Palestinian people to see justice and freedom and end the crimes of the terror state.

http://pflp.ps/english/?q=pflp-condemns-murderous-crimes-israeli-pirates-and

[Atlee]

An update: Israel military attacks Gaza with airstrike. Three dead.

[eyedrop]

An update: Israel military attacks Gaza with airstrike. Three dead.
Continues to attack would be more right, remember that they bombed Gaza on Saturday.

[Red Commissar]

It is getting really redundant. Apologists are still crying about how the people on the Marmara were being "violent" and somehow warranted this violent response.

Seriously, if we had the roles here switched and had some other token "evil" country do this, like Iran, people would be reacting very differently. Hell, by their reasoning all these take downs of protests in the evil "communist" countries, something they hold sacred as an example of violence against protesters, are legitimized.

[Rusty Shackleford]

Bay Area Emergency Protests
of Israeli Massacre of Gaza Aid Convoy

Tues. June 1, 4:30pm
Israeli Consulate, 456 Montgomery St. (at California St.), SF

Future Actions:
Fri. June 4, 12noon
Interfaith Action
San Francisco City Hall

Sat. June 5, 11am
Mass Mobilization
San Francisco Civic Center
http://gfx1.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr01/ltr/i_safe.gif
A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition
Act Now to Stop War & End Racism
http://www.ANSWERcoalition.org (http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=RJBlrUSEG3MEsRkRvlWbyQ..) http://www.answersf.org (http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=eFSGDm-VP0klK9E5d1cLgw..)
[email protected] ([email protected])
2489 Mission St. Rm. 24
San Francisco: 415-821-6545



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT: Should there be a "The Palestinian Situation" Sub-forum or a general situation division of the forum?


(http://www.pephost.org/site/R?i=kDeU5NlCceCkppmAQsSaig..)

[Antifa94]

I am in school and the zionist propaganda is endless..it is being propagated and spewed.
It disgusts me...I have corrected teachers claiming that they were terrorists and that there was an arsenal on the boat.

[scarletghoul]

If they'd had weapons on the boat, those Israelis would be dead.

Too bad they didn't pack a few AKs :(

[piet11111]

What i would like to know now
- Are the Turks (or other country's) describing this as an act of war under NATO article 5 & 6 ?
- Is Egypt being pressured by its population to lift their part of the Gaza blockade ?

Anyone have info about this ?

[Barra]

Does anybody have any word on the Rachael Corrie ship? The Fascist Israeli ambassador to Ireland was on the local news there and he said the ship will not be allowed into Gaza and if warnings are ignored the ship will be boarded.

[Chambered Word]

Activists should be armed against piracy. If merchants can do it, why can't they?

[Antifa94]

Will there be a showdown between the next boat?

[piet11111]

Will there be a showdown between the next boat?

There is no way the next boat can afford not to push on if Israel attacks again then there is no way they can justify it under the watchful eyes of the world media.

Either they are let through and Israel loses or Israel attacks and get themselves into such a mess that they can not get out of for decades.

[Sasha]

What i would like to know now
- Are the Turks (or other country's) describing this as an act of war under NATO article 5 & 6 ?
- Is Egypt being pressured by its population to lift their part of the Gaza blockade ?

Anyone have info about this ?


egypt lifted their blokade today.


Does anybody have any word on the Rachael Corrie ship? The Fascist Israeli ambassador to Ireland was on the local news there and he said the ship will not be allowed into Gaza and if warnings are ignored the ship will be boarded.

the rachel corrie is expected to arive wednesday at the earliest, an irish nobel price winner is among those on the boat.

[Steve_j]

The United States (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/usa) has blocked demands at the UN security council for an international inquiry into Israel (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/israel)'s assault on the Turkish ship carrying aid to Gaza (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gaza) that left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead.
A compromise statement instead calls for an impartial investigation which Washington indicated could be carried out by Israel.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jun/01/israel-investigation-attack-gaza-flotilla-us

Yeah, fuck the wider community, lets let the acused investigate their own crimes. This is seriously ridiculous.

[Rusty Shackleford]

egypt lifted their blokade today.



the rachel corrie is expected to arive wednesday at the earliest, an irish nobel price winner is among those on the boat.

Egypt lifted the blockade!?

wonderful news. are they postponing or canceling the underground wall too?

also, do you have a source?

[Sasha]

Egypt lifted the blockade!?

wonderful news. are they postponing or canceling the underground wall too?

also, do you have a source?


shitty google translation: http://translate.google.com/translate?js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=1&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nu.nl%2Fbuitenland%2F2259767%2F weer-schip-met-hulp-weg-gaza.html&sl=nl&tl=en

[~Spectre]

Anymore protests scheduled for NYC?

[Sarah Palin]

What are you expecting by posting that? Of course Israel attacked, that's what they do. Sending an aid flotilla is not going to do anything. Israel needs to be severely and harshly reprimanded by all countries including the US. But that won't happen because we (the US) seem to be locked in a circle jerk with Israel. So where do we go from here? I guess we could either protest Israel or sit around and complain about how they suck

[Communist]

Anymore protests scheduled for NYC?

5 PM today is one, see Upcoming Events thread here (http://www.revleft.com/vb/nyc-protest-israeli-t136288/index.html).

.

[Monkey Riding Dragon]

Sorry folks, I can't resist taking the easy road on this one and just providing the commentary from my latest blog entry (http://www.revleft.com/vb/blog.php?b=1017), which is directly on the subject:


A worthwhile article on the subject that I thought worth sharing can be read here. (http://www.revcom.us/a/203/Israeli-massacre-aid-boats-en.html) The article is factual and to-the-point. There has been a deafening silence coming out of the White House on the subject, so I thought I'd highlight a few points about not just this particular act, but what it is intended to enforce:


At the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009, Israel launched a one-sided massacre of Gaza, delivering weeks of collective punishment to the people of Gaza, destroying schools and shelling hospitals, killing some 1400 Palestinians, and locking down the 1.5 million people of Gaza in what is called the world’s largest outdoor prison. Efforts to break the siege of Gaza, including the Gaza Freedom March a year after the massacre, have been blocked by Israel and Egypt, with the full backing of the U.S. government.

...

And the massacre on the Mavi Marmara is a crime to enforce an ongoing great crime. Amnesty International’s current Annual Human Rights Report states that Israeli’s siege on Gaza has “deepened the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Mass unemployment, extreme poverty, food insecurity and food price rises caused by shortages left four out of five Gazans dependent on humanitarian aid. The scope of the blockade and statements made by Israeli officials about its purpose showed that it was being imposed as a form of collective punishment of Gazans, a flagrant violation of international law.”2 According to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) report,3 there has been an increase in malnourishment, now at over 10 percent of children in Gaza, because of a chronic lack of protein, iron, and essential vitamins. Israel's 2008-2009 invasion damaged 15 of 27 hospitals in Gaza and damaged or destroyed 43 of its 110 primary health care facilities, none of which have been repaired or rebuilt because of the construction materials ban. Some 15-20 percent of essential medicines are commonly out of stock. And Israel's sadistic lockdown means that the people in Gaza are not allowed to leave and are totally cut off from family and friends outside.

Defending the massacre on the Mavi Marmara, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak declared that “there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

And yes, this was a conscious act of criminality. The UN Charter on the Law of the Sea says only if a vessel is suspected to be transporting weapons, or weapons of mass destruction, can it be boarded in international waters. Otherwise the permission of the ship's flag carrying nation must be sought. This attack/massacre is part of enforcing Israel's systematic colonization of the occupied Palestinian territories, and Gaza in particular, which has been made into the world's largest concentration camp. Israel is still holding about 600 of the flotilla passengers.

It's worth pointing all this out in particular connection to all the warmongering going on in connection to Iran and its nuclear program at present. We might also do well to remember this (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10191339.stm) in that connection. If Washington is indeed serious, and not cynical, about achieving a nuke-free world and a nuke-free Middle East within that, one might expect them to try pressing that Middle Eastern country with the largest known nuclear stockpile...right? Oh wait, they're on our side! No wonder we have to be rather inconsistent. What this shows is that America's idea of de-nuclearization really just means disarming those would resist U.S. (or pro-U.S.) colonization.That just sums up my thoughts on the matter. I am in NYC at present and will be in attendance of both the response events described here (http://www.worldcantwait.net/index.php/home-mainmenu-289/6407-gaza-freedom-flotilla-attacked-unarmed-peace-activists-killed) taking place in my area.

[~Spectre]

Off to NYC. Wonderful to see people aren't letting this story fade away so far.

[bricolage]

If they'd had weapons on the boat, those Israelis would be dead.

Doubtful. I'm willing to bet the IDF can beat some activists in a gun fight.


Too bad they didn't pack a few AKs :(

I don't think that would have been very helpful at all. I'm not going to get into a abstract legitimacy of armed rebellion argument here but all I'm saying is some activists on a boat are not in the same position as, for example, Hamas. It's strategically different.

[empiredestoryer]

without any douth the usa is behind this attack as they really run israel and they even said the same thing on the racist website stormfront today 01/06/2010

[Antifa94]

*Drops atomic bomb on Gaza* But..buh but... we were justified!!!!!!!!!!11

[Antifa94]

without any douth the usa is behind this attack as they really run israel and they even said the same thing on the racist website stormfront today 01/06/2010

the problem is, DEAR, that stormfront's criticism of israel comes from anti-semitism, not a leftism/a humane criticism.
It's like david duke writing how zionism is supremacist(i.e. bad) when he is the head of a white supremacist movement...
and the neo nazis are only siding with arabs in order to eradicate the jews, their number one enemy. they hate muslim foreigners equally as much.... even if the NPD pretends not to, it is well known in other european countries.

[comradeRed:)]

death toll is at 10. FUCK ISRAEL!!! NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT DOWN!! FREEDOM FOR PALESTINE!!!!!!!!!!

[The Vegan Marxist]

death toll is at 10. FUCK ISRAEL!!! NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT DOWN!! FREEDOM FOR PALESTINE!!!!!!!!!!

Actually, it's close to around 20: http://www.revleft.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1762042&postcount=177

[gorillafuck]

The lowest number I heard was 10 and the highest I heard was 26, I thunk.

[bloodbeard]

Let's see if the IDF keep their word and dares to "use more force next time" with the Rachael Corrie ship. The Rachael Corrie has the full support of the Irish govt. The irish prime minster warned Israel that it will face "the most serious consequences" in the event that any harm comes to the irish citizens on board.

[NaxalbariZindabad]

One thing I was wondering was "what kind of bullshit legal justification can Israel use to detain hundreds of civilians it kidnapped in international waters"?

Well apparently they're accusing people with "entering Israel illegally" :blink: :


Peck returned with only the clothes on his back and the hat on his head, and his take on being ‘deported’ from Israel is bit humorous, given the difficulties he experienced, telling ABC NEWS that the Israelis told him, “You’ve broken Israeli law, I said ‘which one?’ They said you have entered the country illegally. I said I’m sorry. But if I’m brought into the country under armed escort that is not entering the country illegally. Forcibly. We’ll they don’t agree with that. I was deported so I suppose that goes on my record. “http://blogs.abcnews.com/theworldnewser/2010/06/exclusive-american-onboard-attacked-flotilla-describes-chaos.html

[Barry Lyndon]

Note the total silence of whichdoctor.

[bloodbeard]

Sarah Palin on the Flotilla : "We need to let the Israelis know that we're with them" Don't you just love that *****? :lol: Every time she opens her mouth absolute filth comes out.

[Red Commissar]

Sarah Palin on the Flotilla : "We need to let the Israelis know that we're with them" Don't you just love that *****? :lol: Every time she opens her mouth absolute filth comes out.

Well, that isn't surprising. She among with many other Americans were making "prayer shields" and what not when Israel slammed into Lebanon and later into Gaza.