Reports: Israeli ships attack aid flotilla

Latest Al Jazeera report

"Israel has stated that their soldiers were confronted by people with sharp instruments"

..... these excuses get worse by the minute....

[edit on 31-5-2010 by Myrddin Wyllt]

PLO aid.

Yeah. sure.

Nobel Laureate? Big deal. Another progressive likely. Holocaust survivor? Turncoat.

I'm giving Israel the benefit of doubt here. Chunk enough missiles into my back yard and I'm gonna shoot first ask questions later too!

I smell set up myself.

Originally posted by onequestion
According to the passenger list provided earlier in the thread... a large majority of the passenger were peace activists, parliament and who knows who else.

My question is, why would people of this caliber have weapons?

Living in this part of the world I would always have a weapon on me.... even to just go buy a pack of cigarette....

Kind of crazy I just stumbled on the live feed right when it was heating up a few hours ago. I had no idea what I was watching was going to turn into such a huge event. But I'm completely with Shark Feeder and the others who were watching it in the Live thread. We know what we watched.

reply to post by order in chaos


Israel only cares about international law when they can use it against their enemies. For some reason they themselves feel no need to abide international law.

Gentlemen, I thank the majority of you for remaining on topic this evening as things have developed. Unfortunately, it is midnight here and I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow and must thusly retire for some rest.

I sincerely hope to awake tomorrow to find myself in some sort of bizzarro world, where countries have actually grown leaders that are willing to take a harsh response to this atrocity from as many angles as possible.

I do not want, however, to wake up and find out that Israel has enacted the samson option on the majority of the continent.

Let us sleep tonight remembering those who have died today in the cause of freedom and justice, and hope that their deaths can be used to dismantle this facist state without further bloodshed. Let us pray that they have died not in vain, but to spark the necessary fire.

Goodnight.

Originally posted by intrepid

Originally posted by ElectricUniverse
Riight...so some Canadians and the rest of the people who are against Israel are the ones who know the facts....

What does my nationality have to do with anything American? THEY WATCHED THE WHOLE THING GO DOWN!!!

I would like to thank you for showing the board what a wise person I actually am:

Originally posted by intrepid

Originally posted by Shark_Feeder
Luckily we do have footage of the attack as it occurred...in court I believe this might referred to as a "slam dunk case".

Hence Israel's attempts at confiscation and destruction of evidence.

Video manipulation. Another tape will come out that's similar but it will exonerate the commandos. They'll say it's the original and the only ones that know for sure are the CT that saw it live. And we're nuts anyways. The populations(especially in the States) will believe what they want and it's business as usual. As far as the propaganda goes.

Man, my paranoia is really acting up tonight.

now now....i liked the touch that you did with 'american'......i could picture you spitting it out of your mouth like a curse word

now...my question is this.

IF israel did break international law...then what will happen? forgive my ignorance on this subject.

will they be sanctioned?

fined?

Are the international laws the rules made to be broken...will anything happen to israel at all from this?

Originally posted by mr-lizard
www.11alive.com...

ISRAEL DENIES ATTACKS

"HAIFA, Israel (AP) -- The Israeli military is denying reports
that its warships attacked a flotilla carrying aid and
pro-Palestinian activists toward blockaded Gaza. "

The story in your link has changed.
It now says that they admit at least 10 are dead.

- Lee

www.ynetnews.com...

Israel Police on highest state of alert across country.

"Israel Police and Prison Service raise state of alert following complication of naval raid on flotilla to Gaza. Police to block roads, prevent entrance to Temple Mount"

Do the IDF give any kind of information why they boarded the vessel in international waters? IMHO they acted more like pirates and shouldn't be surprised when the captain and passengers defend themselves.

Press TV

Israeli army spokeswoman

"6 Israeli soldiers injured, soldiers also came under live fire by passengers and were also attacked with sharp instruments"

"10 confirmed deaths on board, no number of casualties"

"There is no need for this flotilla as there is no human crisis in Palestine"

"This has happened to stop the illegal importation of activists into Israel"



What the hell are Israel up to?

Originally posted by TheOracle
This is outrageous. I can't believe how decent human beings would fire and kill peace activists. I expected them to arrest them but never shoot to kill!
This is unacceptable and I hope the international community does something about it and not just words this time.

First off you are assuming the Special Forces that attacked these boats are decent human beings.
And secondly the popular opinion suggests these so called Peace activists had a board with a nail.
That in itself is a WMD to some.
I really think nothing will come of this other than Israel will invade Gaza again to defend themselves and have another 1-100 kill ratio.

reply to post by odd1out

THEN FINALLY, THE EARTH SHALL KNOW PEACE, AMEN... NO, really.

No kidding. I see one more whining, screaming 'You dont like *insert religion here* post, I'm gonna blow a fuse. It's patently obvious God, Allah, and whoever else doesn't give a flying frump about what goes on down here, so why do we have to listen to the bickering of their various followers?

Originally posted by enteri
reply to post by mr-lizard

 

It's pretty funny they got the guts to try and deny the whole thing when videos of it have leaked worldwide already.

This reminds me of the Eddie Murphy stand-up joke from "Raw" where the guy is literally caught cheating on his wife. His repeated response to her?

"Wasn't me".

Eventually his wife said...

"Maybe it wasn't you."

- Lee

Originally posted by felonius
PLO aid.

Yeah. sure.

Nobel Laureate? Big deal. Another progressive likely. Holocaust survivor? Turncoat.

I'm giving Israel the benefit of doubt here. Chunk enough missiles into my back yard and I'm gonna shoot first ask questions later too!

I smell set up myself.

Except for the small fact that this had nothing to do with "missiles into backyards". This was an International Humanitarian Mission with no military means or agenda....attacked in International Waters.


Nice try of shifting the focus and pulling out your UBER RED HERRING FALLACY.

So far you people have been only believing what the HAMAS and other Arab sources claim. Let's see what the Israelis are saying.

Gaza Flotilla Operation [UPDATED 10:05AM IL]
(Sunday, May 30th, 2010)
6:23AM IL: According to reports quoting Hamas and Turkish NTV media sources, there are dead and wounded on the Gaza flotilla vessels as the Israel Navy commandeered the vessels. There is no confirmation of the reports from any Israeli source. There are also no reports that any live gunfire was used, adding confusion to the Arab media reports of ‘dead and wounded’, possibly part of the ongoing attempt to portray Israel as the aggressor.

The report says that commando forces landed on at least one of the vessels, lowered from a chopper, throwing stun grenades while the passengers on the boat shouted “we are unarmed”. Earlier, the vessels ignored navy instructions, backtracking with the intention of changing course.

On Sunday night, six navy vessels left the Haifa Port area heading to the three Gaza flotilla vessels. A warning message was sent by the navy to the Turkish vessel, leading the others. An estimated 600 people are on board the vessels, which were admittedly taken by surprise, not expecting a standoff with the navy so far out at sea. The navy declared the area a ‘closed military zone’, instructing the vessels to turn around and leave the area.


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In a media statement released on Sunday night, the IDF explained the commando force left Haifa heading for the vessels to turn them around and avoid “a provocative incident in Gazan waters”.

Agencies confirm that the navy made contact with officials on the lead ship on Sunday night, with naval officials seeking to ascertain who is onboard that vessel and their intentions. They report they were instructed to wear lifejackets.

Participants in the self-proclaimed humanitarian operation add that Israel was intermittently blocking satellite telephone broadcasts from the vessels. The al-Jazeera Arab satellite network reports that one of the vessels separated, taking a different route than the others to avoid the navy blockade.

YWN-ISRAEL will continue providing coverage on the flotilla standoff.

6:54AM IL: Hamas affiliated TV reports three dead on one of the flotilla vessels. Turkish NTV reports the Israel Navy is in control of the flotilla vessels, which were stopped at sea to prevent their arrival in Gazan waters.

7:00AM IL: According to Turkish media reports, hundreds of anti-Israel protestors took to the streets during the night at the Israeli Embassy in Ankara as well as outside of the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul in support of the passengers on board the Gaza flotilla vessels.

7:05AM IL: Israeli sources are now reporting the Israel Navy is in control of all three of the flotilla vessels and the boats are en route to the Port of Ashdod. There is no Israeli mention of dead or wounded at this time.

7:13AM IL: According to a report from a credible Israeli source, naval commandos who boarded the vessels came under attack, leading to the injured and possibly fatalities, which were reported earlier by the Turkish media.

7:18AM IL: Various reports – seven people admitted to Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, one listed in serious condition. Al-Jazeera reports as many as 50 injured. Other media reports indicated as many as 7 dead. Once again, there is no Israeli confirmation of any fatalities at this time.

7:24AM IL: According to Haaretz quoting AP, protestors in Turkey are trying to storm the Israeli consulate. Arab MKs are calling on the international community to condemn “Israeli aggression” against humanitarian relief workers. They are demanding the Israeli Arab community take to the streets in protest.

7:32AM IL: Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel’s ambassador to file a protest over Israel’s decision to launch a military operation against the vessels.

7:37AM IL: It appears the naval commando mission began at about 4am, with elite forces boarding the vessels from rafts and lowered from a chopper hovering overhead. Shots were heard as commandos sprayed teargas. The vessels are under Israel Navy control according to all reports at this time, en route to the Port of Ashdod. A number of people have been transported to the emergency room of Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center. There are reports from numerous sources of two fatalities.

7:40AM IL: A gag order has been imposed on details of the naval operation, including the number of dead and wounded. Israel Radio reports there are wounded among the Israel Shayetet commando force. MDA and Israel Police move to high alert nationwide amid ongoing calls for protests by Arab MKs.

7:45AM IL: Israel Prison Authority forces heading to the Port of Ashdod to take prisoners into custody. Beersheva Prison has been prepared for this eventuality. Israel Police are being deployed to “problematic areas” as unrests are expected with increasing reports of as many as 12 dead in the joint Israel Navy and air force operation on the Gaza flotilla vessels.

7:47AM IL: Ships are being directed to the Port of Haifa, not Ashdod as planned earlier in an apparent move to avoid the waiting international media at Ashdod. Reports speak of 10-14 dead. This number has not been confirmed by any Israeli sources at this time.

7:55AM IL: Experts in Israel report one must realize this was a Turkish effort intended at compromising Israel’s standing in the international community, explaining commando forces landing on the “humanitarian vessels” were attacked with pipes and other blunt objects. “If their intentions were truly humanitarian, a solution could easily have been reached by accepting Israel’s offer to deliver the humanitarian cargo to Gaza, but this was not at all the real mission”, one analyst told Israel Radio.

7:56AM IL: Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon moves to alert status. Protests gaining momentum in Turkey and Lebanon, calling for “Death to Israel”.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry has established a situation room to monitor the events.

8:05AM IL: Turkey’s NTV reporting 2 dead and over 50 injuries as commandos stormed the flotilla vessels. There were earlier reports that the ships were being redirected to the Port of Haifa, but it appears they will be arriving at the Port of Ashdod as planned, under a media blackout, where waiting Yassam anti-riot Israel Police troops will take charge of the prisoners on board the three vessels.

There are mounting calls for protests heard in Israeli Arab communities, and there are unconfirmed reports that among the dead on the vessels is Sheikh Rayed Salach, the head of the northern branch of the Israel Islamic Association. Arab MKs are releasing condemnatory messages against Israel, calling on the international community to condemns Israel’s “barbaric” assault against unarmed humanitarian volunteers onboard the vessels.

Israel Police and Magen David Adom remain on heightened alert status and Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon remain on alert to receive wounded from the joint naval air force operation.

8:07AM IL: Three of the injured arrived at Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv, with one listed as serious and the others moderate-to-light.

8:09AM IL: According to NTV and al-Jazeera reports, there are 14 or 15 dead among the left-wing activists. Commando forces came under a barrage of attacks on one vessel, with the humanitarians using pipes, knives and blunt objects. Once again, these reports are based on foreign unconfirmed reports as the information in Israel is limited, based on various agencies and under a media blackout. Commandos apparently used teargas and when the assaults did not subside, they were compelled to use live ammunition.

There are confirmed reports of two injured naval commandos, who are not in any life-threatening situation Baruch Hashem. The injured have been transported to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and Tel Hashomer Hospital in Tel Aviv.

Israeli Arabs are doing their utmost to incite, calling on the international community to condemn Israel’s brutality and “barbaric actions”, as anti-Israel protests are reported outside the Israeli Embassy and Consulate in Turkey and in Lebanon.

There are conflicting reports as to what port the detainees will be taken to, Haifa or Ashdod.

Once again, real-time reports from numerous local and foreign sources demand changing facts as the picture begins to unfold and the fog and media blackout surrounding the complex mission begin becoming wane.
8:17AM IL: Speaking from Qatar, Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) told Israel Radio “no one cares to report or remember that we left Gaza, withdraw our forces and ended any presence, yet the world will portray Israel as it wishes. We are not training our forces for such actions, against civilians, but at the end of the day, we must protect our home, our residents and our children, and while the deaths are most unfortunate, we must protect ourselves”.

8:21AM IL: Defense Minister Ehud Barak is conferring with senior advisors at this time. CNN reporting from Turkey shows hundreds of protestors trying to break into the Israeli Consulate.

8:33AM IL: MK (Kadima) Nachman Shai, the famed IDF spokesman during the First Gulf War, told Israel Radio that “time is of the essence and with each hour that passes without a definitive high-level Israeli statement, we begin to lose the public relations battle…at present, we are still in control and we must maintain this…this is not a job for the IDF spokesman, but for the government, the Foreign Minister, a high-level official source”.

Shai calls on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to return home and address this critical issue as Turkey and other seek to manipulate the international media against Israel.
...

www.theyeshivaworld.com...

It is now being reported that 24 are dead #flotilla [via @Remroum]

This doesn't make sense, more investigation into the passenger list needs to happen.

We can jump to conclusions all we want but if the passenger list is true, from what we have heard, then more then likely there was no attack.