Nineteen Activists Killed In Israel’s Attack On Freedom Flotilla

Monday May 31, 2010 15:23 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Under strict media blackout imposed by the Israeli terrorist government on the number of casualties during the Israeli attack against the Freedom Flotilla, Israeli sources reported that 19 activists were killed in the attack and dozens were wounded.

Among the wounded were Shaikh Raed Salah head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, who suffered serious wounds, and head of the Lebanese delegation, Hani Suleiman, in addition to the Captain of the “Marmara” Turkish Ship, and a Turkish Legislator.

The attack started after the Israeli terrorist army violently boarded the Turkish ship and opened fire at the passengers before hundreds of soldiers attacked all ships at once and occupied them.

The ships were in International waters 20 miles away from Gaza waters. The Israeli terrorist government claimed that its soldiers were attacked with knives and batons, and that one of the activists managed to snatch the weapon of one of the soldiers. It also claimed fifteen soldiers were wounded.

The Greek captain of the 800 Ship suffered serious wounds and was moved to an Israeli hospital for treatment. Reports revealed that he is demanding to be moved to his country.

The Israeli terrorist army and police declared high alert in all Arab cities fearing massive protests against the attack and against the shooting of Shaikh Raed Salah.

The Israeli occupation terrorist government is also weighing the possibility of closing the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem in front of Muslim worshipers.

The Israeli occupation terrorist government is still not allowing the media to enter the make-shift prison in Ashdod where the activists are currently held, and towed the ships to its ports.

The number of casualties could be more than announced due to the ongoing Israeli media blackout.

Meanwhile, Qatar called on the Arab League to convene in order to discuss the Israeli terrorist attack against the nonviolent activists.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief, Catherine Ashton, demanded an investigation into the deadly Israeli attack and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.

She added that the EU rejects the Israeli siege on Gaza and added that this siege leads to escalation.

Turkey said that what happened cannot be repaired and will have a lasting impact on its relation with the terrorist state of Israel especially since the vast majority of the slain activists are Turkish.

Hundreds of residents gathered in front of the Turkish embassy on Ankara, chanted slogans against Israel, demanded the government to cut its ties with Israel and carry practical measures against it.

Several leftist groups, and human rights groups, in Greece called for protests in front of the Israeli embassy in the country.

Turkey, Jordan, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Jordan, and Sweden summoned the Israeli ambassadors. South African also denounced the Israeli attack.

Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported that Turkey had officially recalled its ambassador to Israel.

The Al-Jazeera TV reported that one of the ships is now in Isdood (which the Israel invaders call Ashdod after dispossessing its Palestinian owner in 1948), while other ships are still approaching, and added that dozens of fundamentalist Israelis gathered in the area cheering for the Israeli attack and even distributed sweets to “celebrate the attack and the killing of the activists”.

The Israeli terrorist government said it will not provide any information regarding the attack and the exact number of casualties until it brings all ships to the port and until its finalizes its statement.

Al-Jazeera TV said that the bodies of several activists were transferred to an Israeli hospital in Haifa, and that one of the slain activists was shot by a live round in his head.

It in first response the White House said it was “sorry for the casualties” who fell in the attack.

White House spokesperson, William Burton, said that “the U.S deeply regrets the casualties” and that it is still “trying to understand all surrounding circumstances”.

Israeli media: 16 killed in the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla

 [ 31/05/2010 - 06:04 AM ]

NAZARETH, (PIC)--

 Israeli occupation terrorist forces' (IOTF) attack on the ships of the Freedom Flotilla heading to Gaza killed 16 individuals on board and wounded at least 60 others, the Israeli TV quoted unofficial military sources as saying.

It said that the decision to attack the unarmed ships was taken by Ehud Barak, the war minister, in a military meeting.

Turkish media outlets had said earlier that two persons were killed in the start of the IOF attack while many others were wounded some of them in serious conditions, charging Israel with committing a "massacre".

IOF soldiers assaulted the ships at an early hour on Monday using live bullets causing this big number of casualties especially among the elderly people on board.

The Flotilla is carrying 750 foreign activists from 40 countries including lawmakers and official and notable figures in addition to 10,000 tons of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.

The media reports indicated that the IOF used gunboats and military choppers in the attack, landing dozens of soldiers on board the ships.

Media sources accompanying the Flotilla said that the IOF navy started to commandeer those ships to Ashdod port, after declaring that all on board were under arrest.

The European campaign to end the siege on Gaza, one of the organizers of the Flotilla, said that all contacts with the ships were severed, charging that the attack took place in international waters.

Shaikh Raed Salah seriously injured in the IOF assault on Freedom Flotilla

 [ 31/05/2010 - 07:53 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

Shaikh Raed Salah, the leader of the Islamic movement in the 1948 occupied Palestinian lands, was seriously injured in the Israeli occupation terrorist forces' (IOTF) assault on the Freedom Flotilla at dawn Monday, Hebrew media reported.

The Hebrew radio said that the IOF attack killed 16 solidarity activists and wounded about 60 others.

Shaikh Kamal Al-Khatib, the deputy leader of the Islamic movement, charged the IOA with attempting to assassinate Sheikh Salah, making use of the attack on the flotilla as an excuse.

The IOF used live bullets and teargas bombs in the attack on the ships carrying hundreds of solidarity activists and thousands of tons of medical aid and other relief material to the besieged people of Gaza.

15 killed and 30 wounded after Israeli Navy Attacks Freedom Flotilla

Monday May 31, 2010 12:30 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

In what activists are calling a "massacre on the high seas," Israeli commandos assaulted a ship sailing with the humanitarian Freedom Flotilla bound for Gaza. The Israeli commandos roped from a helicopter onto the ship and began shooting, reported Israeli news agencies, leaving 15 dead and at least 30 wounded.

Senior Turkish officials held an emergency meeting to decide Turkey's response to the Israeli attack. The Flotilla is partially led by a Turkish organization and initial reports have indicated that many of the casualties are Turkish.

Sheikh Raed Salah, head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was also among the wounded on board the Flotilla. Salah's injuries are serious, Al Jazeera reported.

Al Jazeera reported reported that Israeli paratroopers and Navy personnel attacked the ships, opening fire on the passengers.

The Qatari network managed to broadcast live images of the wounds activists sustained during the Israeli raid.

The Free Gaza Movement announced through Twitter 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, carrying thousands of tons of much-needed humanitarian aid, including medical supplies, school supplies and building materials.

The Israeli Army says that they will take the ships to the Ashdod port to confiscate the Flotilla's cargo and arrest the activists, but the activists on board believe that the Israli Navy is actually taking them to the Haifa port.

Israeli blamed Turkey for the attack and claimed that the Turkish humanitarian aid foundation (IHH) is connected to “terrorist” groups.

The army dropped paratroopers onto the ships and began firing on the activists while the humanitarian Flotilla was still in international waters.

The Israeli Army reported that one soldier was wounded during the attack against the ships, though it remains unclear whether or not he was wounded by friendly fire.

Turkish news networks reported that two ships were boarded. One was raided by the Israeli paratroopers, while the other was seized by the Navy and sailed to Ashdod.

Furthermore, the Ankara reporter of the Al Alam TV said that Turkish officials will hold an urgent meeting to discuss the ramifications of the Israeli attack against the nonviolent human rights activists.

Hundreds of people took to the street in Ankara to protest the attack. The protesters gathered in front of the Israeli consulate to demand that Turkey expel its Israeli ambassador from the country.