Two Killed, 30 Wounded After Army Attacks Freedom Flotilla

Monday May 31, 2010 06:46 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Turkish sources reported that the Israeli Navy boarded Freedom Flotilla Ships and opened fire at the peace activists killing two and wounding at least thirty others. The navy and the Israeli Air Force violently attacked the ships and opened fire at the peace activists in international waters.

Senior Turkish officials held an urgent meeting to decide on the country’s stance on the Israeli attack, especially since it seems like the killed and some of the wounded are Turkish.

Al Jazeera reported that Israeli paratroopers and Navy personnel attacked the ships and opened fire in different directions at the passengers.

The Al Jazeera managed to broadcast live images of the wounded activists after being attacked by the Israeli soldiers.

The Free Gaza Movement said on its twitter page that "At about 4:30 am, Israeli commandos dropped from helicopter onto deck of Turkish ship, immediately opened fire on unarmed civilians."

Israel is still threatening a larger offensive against the humanitarian ships and the activists on board.

The Freedom Flotilla was supposed to reach Gaza Monday morning.

The Israeli army is trying to take the ships to the Ashdod Port to confiscate them and arrest the activists.

Monday May 31, 2010 06:28 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

All communications with the Freedom Flotilla, carrying hundreds of peace activists and hundreds of tons of humanities supplies to the Gaza Strip, were lost as Israel scrambled all communications and warned the activists to turn back. Injuries were reported after the Navy violently attacked the ships.

Al Jazeera reporter said that the captain of one of the ships was seriously wounded after the navy violently attacked the ship, and even refused to allow him to receive medical treatment.

The army used rounds of live ammunition and gas bombs against the peace activists.
He added that the navy opened fire at the ships, attacked them from the sea and the air, and that all activists are now detained in their own ships.

Israel scrambled all communications in preparation to carry a full attack against the ships.

Al Jazeera said that the navy attacked the ship in international territorial waters and that the army wants to conclude this massive attack before scrambling of communication.

It added there are reports of injuries, including serious injuries and likely two deaths, but could not confirm due to Israel’s media blackout and scrambling of communications.

Three Israeli navy ships left Haifa after 9 at night on Sunday and approached the Freedom Flotilla, the Free Gaza movement reported.

The navy said it would fire missiles at the ships should they continue sailing towards Gaza.

Monday May 31, 2010 03:19 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Al Jazeera reporter, on board one of the ships of the Freedom Flotilla, stated that an Israeli navy boat approached the ship and demanded the captain to identify himself and his boat. Human Rights activists said they are determined to sail to Gaza and deliver the humanitarian supplies.

The reporter said that Israel threatened to intercept the ship before it reaches the Gaza coast and to arrest everyone onboard. The Navy approached the Turkish ship since it was the first to approach the coast.

The ships are expected to reach the Gaza shore on Monday approximately at 10 A.M, unless intercepted and attacked by Israel.

The ships carry some 650 peace activists from several countries in addition to 10.000 tons of humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza.

Abbas Nasser of Al Jazeera said that the organizers of the Freedom Flotilla held a meeting and agreed to stop at a certain point before reaching the Palestinian territorial waters in order to decide on their next step.

Nasser added that the activists expect all scenarios, and agreed not to sign any document should Israel decide to arrest them.

They agreed that should they get kidnapped by the Israeli Navy, they will only indentify themselves and their nationalities. They also agreed that they would wait to be contacted by their embassies or by human rights groups.

Speaking from the Ashdod Port, Al Jazeera reporter, Walid Al Omary, said that Israel insists on intercepting the ships and arresting all activists who refuse to head back.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Defense Minister, Ehud Barak, said that they appointed a special navy unit to be in charge of the operation, and deployed Navy boats and helicopters along the Gaza coast and the coast in Ashdod.

In a direct violation to the International Law, Israel declared Gaza as a closed military zone and intends to arrest the activists and place them in a make-shift prison in Ashdod before deporting them to their countries after forcing them to sign documents stating that they will not return to the region.

A senior Navy official stated that the Israeli Navy have a mission to implement, and that this mission is to prevent the ships from reaching the Gaza Strip.

Independent Palestinian Legislator, head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege on Gaza, Jamal El Khodary, stated that the ships are expected to gather 30 nautical miles in territorial waters near the Gaza Strip on Monday at dawn before sailing together towards Gaza.

El Khodary added that more ships will be sailing to Gaza even if Israel manages to stop the current flotilla.

He said that efforts are being conducted to send more ships to Gaza even if Israel manages to stop the Freedom Flotilla.

Turkish Prime Minister, Receb Tayyip Erdogan, demanded Israel not to intercept the Flotillas and to allow the ships to reach Gaza.

Published yesterday (updated) 31/05/2010 02:27 Jerusalem - Ma'an -

A Swiss passenger on the Mavi Marmara, the lead vessel on the Freedom Flotilla sailing to Gaza, said Israeli warships had surrounded one of the cargo ships of the fleet as of 2:30am Monday morning.

Reporting from some 90 nautical from the Gaza City Port two and a half hours earlier, flotilla organizers described an Israeli vessel approaching the Mavi Marmara for unknown reasons.

The Freedom Flotilla of six ships had left Cyprus for Gaza by mid-afternoon, in spite of numerous technical and logistical issues, organizers said.

Israeli officials vowed to intercept the over-sea aid convoy 68 nautical miles off shore, "by force if necessary," and an anti-flotilla group also cast anchor to attempt a protest and convince the crews to return home.

“It’s the arrivals of the Israelis that make us feel unsafe,” a British woman identified as Alexandra told the live feed at 2:30am local time, "that's why we're wearing these," she added, pointing at an orange life jacket.

In a statement sent from the ship shortly after 11pm, an organizer said that despite the rapid approach of an Israeli vessel, "Calm and organisation overcome the fear that Israel is trying to instill."

The boats are loaded with hundreds of solidarity activists and thousands of tons of medical aid and construction equipment set to be delivered to Gaza.

If the boats are not intercepted, they are expected to weigh anchor at Gaza City's port on Monday afternoon, where local residents are set to gather and greet the flotilla in hundreds of boats, many carrying Gaza officials, reporters and civil society representatives.

Late, but determined

The ships were initially set to dock in Gaza Sunday morning, but were delayed by several technical and diplomatic incidents, sparking rumors that the boats would not continue their journey.

Three of the original nine boats - two passenger boats and the Challenger I - were said to have been damaged, with one organizer telling the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth that satellite phones stopped working due to outside interference.

The fleet's legal adviser, Audry Bomse told the Agence France-Presse that five ships set sail from Cyprus on Saturday around 2:00am GMT.

Organizers also said Cyprus had reneged on an agreement to allow the boats to leave from one port, reportedly asking them to leave from a port in Turkish occupied Cyprus.

The approach of the Israeli vessel some 22 nautical miles outside of what naval officials announced as the "do not pass" zone, was the latest in surprises for organizers.

The latest statement from the ship, however, said "Viva Palestina and all aboard are prepared."

URGENT ACTION ALERT:

PROTEST AND CONTACT THE GOVERNMENT NOW! 

Israeli warships have surrounded the Gaza flotilla, and are flying drones and a helicopter overhead. All on board the boats are wearing their lifejackets and are prepared.

They need your help.

1. PROTEST: MONDAY 31 MAY

Demand immediate government intervention against Israel blocking the flotilla's route to Gaza.

    Where: Outside Downing Street     When: 2pm, Monday 31 May (nearest tube: Westminster)

Protest called by PSC, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Friends of Al Aqsa

2. EMAIL THE FOREIGN OFFICE NOW - Send the template letter below to 

private.office@fco.gov.uk AINAGCorrespondence@fco.gov.uk haguew@parliament.uk

3. EMAIL NICK CLEGG - Send the template letter to 

cleggn@parliament.uk libdemleader@parliament.uk cleggn@hotmail.co.uk leader@libdems.org.uk

Dear Mr Hague,

You will be aware that an international flotilla of ships is, at this moment, attempting to deliver essential humanitarian aid to Gaza. The aid includes construction materials which would enable the people of Gaza to rebuild the homes destroyed by Israel in Operation Cast Lead last year.

There are nearly 700 people on board the boats, all of whom are ordinary civilians from around the world, including 40 British citizens. They have undertaken this mission out of concern for the people of Gaza, who are now entering their fourth year under siege, without access to basic necessities. They pose no threat to Israel, and are completely unarmed.

Despite this, the Israeli navy is attempting to block the flotilla from reaching Gaza, and Israeli warships surrounded the boats on Sunday (30th May) night, while drones and a helicopter have been flying overhead. This hostile action has taken place in international waters.

I urge you to act swiftly to protect the flotilla, which is breaking no international laws, and, in particular, the British citizens on board, and to ensure that Israel allows this vital aid to reach its destination.

Israel's occupation of Gaza is illegal under international law, and it has been accused in a UN report of committing war crimes in Gaza.

Your obligation must be towards a group of citizens peacefully attempting to deliver humanitarian aid, than to a country which repeatedly violates international treaties and resolutions. Those on board the boats face a serious threat - I call on you to end the UK government's silence over Israel's aggressive actions against the flotilla, and intervene now to demand its safe passage to Gaza.

Yours sincerely