May 31, 2010

Humanitarian Convoy Attacked Barbarically In International Waters By Israel: 19 killed

Photograph: Reuters TV.


An entire nation defies the world.


The convoy of ships, named the "Freedom Flotilla", represented by 700 people from 50 nations, including the UK, Ireland, Algeria, Greece, and Turkey, was brutally attacked by Israeli forces in international waters. 19 deaths have been confirmed. Israel says they acted out of "self-defense," but the ships were on a humanitarian mission, and peaceful in nature.

Raw Story: UN chief calls for investigation of Gaza aid flotilla raid

KAMPALA — UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday he was "shocked" by a deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and demanded a full investigation.

"I am shocked by reports of killings and injuries of people on boats carrying supplies for Gaza," the UN chief said at a press conference following the opening in Uganda of a key conference on the International Criminal Court.

Continued. . .

Al Jazeera: Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet

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.

Continued. . .

Guardian: Israeli commandos kill activists on flotilla bound for Gaza

At least 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed and dozens injured in a battle at sea with Israeli naval commandos today, sparking an international diplomatic crisis and the prospect of angry demonstrations across Israel, the Palestinian territories, Turkey and beyond.

Dozens of activists injured during the storming of a Gaza aid flotilla were ferried to hospitals in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Ashkelon. The Israeli military said at least five of its personnel were also injured, at least one seriously.

The incident engulfed Israel in a war of words with its ally Turkey, with whom relations were already stained following the Israelis three-week military assault on the Gaza Strip in 2008-9. Today's deaths and injuries were condemned by the UN, EU and other countries.

Continued. . .