Iranian aid flotilla cancelled, won't sail to Gaza

Iranian aid flotilla cancelled, won't sail to Gaza

www.haaretz.com

One of the organizers of an Iranian aid flotilla that was to said to Gaza in efforts to break Israel's naval blockade on the territory, announced Thursday that the event has been cancelled due to "Israeli threats."

(visit the link for the full news article)

Yep!!! What is new about this? I knew they werent going to make it to Gaza-DUH. Who on here really thought they would? Iran backed down. Lebanon also stated today that their ships wont go either and even Nasrallah of Hezbollah said the ship wouldnt go.

Why? These folks are getting the message that Israel is on a hair trigger right now and that war would break out over this. Its NOT worth it.

www.haaretz.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

If the Iranians really cared about helping the people of Gaza, they would cooperate with the Israelis and get the supplies on those boats into the hands of the people of Gaza.

It might also have to do with the armada of American and Israeli ships moving ingot the Persian gulf...

Is there any confirmation of the story from more reliable sources ?

Originally posted by HunkaHunka
It might also have to do with the armada of American and Israeli ships moving ingot the Persian gulf...

It has everything to do with just that.

Report: U.S., Israeli warships cross Suez Canal toward Red Sea

According to eyewitnesses, the U.S. battleships were the largest to have crossed the Canal in many years, Al-Quds reported

Link




Then there is this piece of information hidden well away

US, Israel Warships in Suez May Be Prelude to Faceoff with Iran

Another battle on the high seas may involve one, and possibly two, Lebanese vessels that are aimed at challenging Israel’s sovereignty over the Gaza coastal waters. Hizbullah, gearing up for a reaction to a possible clash between the Israeli Navy (pictured) and the Lebanese boats, has deployed rocket units near Lebanese ports, according to unofficial military sources.

Link

dont you simply enjoy reading the "according to unofficial military sources"

So what happened to the ship that was said to have sailed last week? I know it only had 4 tonnes of aid, but had sailed... hmmmm

I really do wonder what they are playing at (both sides) and what the next step really will be..

Originally posted by princeofpeace

Why? These folks are getting the message that Israel is on a hair trigger right now and that war would break out over this. Its NOT worth it.

Better call the RSPCA to deal with the mad dog because taking threats from the facists is not going to solve anything.

Picture uncle sam walking down the street wth a bit bull on a long lead.

Originally posted by Expat888
Is there any confirmation of the story from more reliable sources ?

Yes :
CNN - Iran will not send aid ship to Gaza
Jerusalem Post - Iranian aid ship cancels Gaza voyage
Israel National News - Iranian Flotilla Cancelled

Seriously. Would you go sailing around with what's going on over there? Questioning or doubting their intentions is fine. but seriously? Would you? Look at a map or two. It would be suicide. But hey...congrats on falling into the propaganda trap.

Thanks for this. I'll post it at the end of my BreakingNews topic on their intentions to go to Gaza.

[edit on 25-6-2010 by ~Lucidity]

What a shame...

Just when I thought the people of Gaza may finally get the supplies they need just to survive...

I hope the people with everything from food to internet access are happy..

Originally posted by princeofpeace


Yep!!! What is new about this? I knew they werent going to make it to Gaza-DUH. Who on here really thought they would? Iran backed down. Lebanon also stated today that their ships wont go either and even Nasrallah of Hezbollah said the ship wouldnt go.

Why? These folks are getting the message that Israel is on a hair trigger right now and that war would break out over this. Its NOT worth it.

www.haaretz.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Well it is good Iran didn't send their ships, I don't want Israel to nuke Iran for sending humanitarian aids to Palestine.

As if they didn't already murder humanitarians before.

And as if they allow an independent investigation.

I've mentioned before in other threads on this subject that Iran's goal was not to deliver aid to Gaza, and wasn't even about breaking the blockade.

I believe Iran had two reasons for even sending the ship(s) with "aid":

1.They knew Israel was having a tough time with all the negative publicity involving the Turkish flotillas, and it was a great chance at some extra publicity.

2.They wanted to know where Egypt stands in all this, since Egypt co-sponsors the blockade with Israel. By announcing they were sending "aid" and even offering naval escort, they were wanting to see how far Egypt would go in its agreement with Israel. This wouldn't have ever ended up in a naval confrontation no matter what, since they would have ported in Rafah.

Iran basically wanted to get an idea of what they would be up against in the event Israel strikes--you know, battle strategy and what not. I believe Iran got their answer simply by ANNOUNCING they were sending "aid" without actually having to take it there. Egypt will support Israel if it comes to conflict--not necessarily military support, but certainly Egypt will not allow Iran use of any of their land or water borders in a conflict with Israel. Since, as I understand it, Egypt controls the Suez canal, Iran will not be able to effectively strike Israel preemptively unless they decide to use nukes.

Honestly, I think Iran was deciding whether they should strike Israel first or whether they should let Israel strike first, then retaliate. I think now that Iran will either wait for an attack from Israel or launch nukes. I would say the chances of Iran launching nukes at Israel right now are very slim.

Originally posted by hotpinkurinalmint
If the Iranians really cared about helping the people of Gaza, they would cooperate with the Israelis and get the supplies on those boats into the hands of the people of Gaza.

If the isrealis cared a damn they wouldn't be such inhumane freaks.

Originally posted by harryhaller
If the isrealis cared a damn they wouldn't be such inhumane freaks.

If the people of Gaza gave a damn, they wouldn't let Hezbollah shoot rockets into Israel.

reply to post by JIMC5499


Or let Israeli tanks come in and squash their people.

Or let Israeli rockets launch attacks against schools and UN buildings.

Maybe their aid flotilla was cancelled due to the NEW policy that Israel easing the blockade of Gaza for CIVILIAN GOODS!?

Israel says it will ease Gaza blockade

Construction materials OK'd after deadly flotilla raid

JERUSALEM - Israel agreed Thursday to ease its three-year-old land blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, hoping to quell international outrage over its deadly raid on a flotilla bound for the Palestinian territory.
---
An Israeli military official told The Associated Press all foods would be allowed in to the impoverished territory, effective immediately. Authorities had previously allowed a short and constantly changing list of foods in, but the list has been growing incrementally in recent months.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

Israel to ease Gaza blockade

Thursday 17 June 2010 13.48 BST


• Human rights groups say measures do not go far enough
• Construction materials among products to be allowed in


Israel will ease much of its land blockade of the Gaza Strip, it was revealed today.

The Israeli government is hoping to silence growing international criticism following the assault on a flotilla of aid ships bound for Gaza in which nine activists were killed.

A statement from the office of the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said Israeli leaders decided today to expand the number of products Israel will allow into Gaza, including construction materials. The naval blockade will remain.

"It was agreed to liberalise the system by which civilian goods enter Gaza [and] expand the inflow of materials for civilian projects that are under international supervision," the statement, which did not specify any product list, read.

The new arrangements, decided upon in a series of meetings between the Middle East Quartet envoy, Tony Blair, and Netanyahu, are expected to cover three areas:

• A list of prohibited goods not allowed into Gaza, replacing the current system of a list of approved goods

• Agreement to allow construction materials for UN-sponsored projects

• Israel to consider allowing EU monitors to be stationed at crossings between Israel and Gaza

An Israeli military official told the Associated Press that all foods would be freely let in to Gaza with immediate effect. Israel has previously allowed a narrow and constantly changing list of authorised food items.

Outside Israel, the announcement received a cautious welcome – although human rights groups said it did not go far enough. Hamas dismissed it as "window dressing."

"What is needed is a complete lifting of the blockade," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. "Goods and people must be free to enter and leave. Gaza especially needs construction materials, which must be allowed to come in without restrictions."

The EU said the Israeli announcement was "a step in the right direction", but the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, said officials wanted to see how it was carried out, adding: "The detail is what matters."

She said Israel must "make sure that many, many more goods can get in to Gaza to enable people to reconstruct their homes, to build schools, to place infrastructure, and also enable people to get on with ordinary lives".

Oxfam welcomed the move, but described it as "a far cry from the full lifting of the blockade that is urgently needed".

"Only a full opening of all crossings to people and goods, including exports, can be the breakthrough that will enable Gazan civilians to restore their economy and escape the poverty the blockade has entrenched," a statement read.

"The international community must press for the blockade to be fully lifted, rather than only eased."

www.guardian.co.uk...

Israel to ease Gaza blockade

Israel has announced it will ease the land blockade on Gaza, which has severely restricted the movement of goods and people in and out of the territory for three years.

Israel's security cabinet has met over two days to discuss ways of easing the blockade to relieve the humanitarian situation in Gaza without jeopardising Israel's security.

Israel has agreed to broaden the list of goods allowed into Gaza to include all foods, toys and many household goods.

But the ban on building materials will remain, except for designated purposes such as for use by the United Nations.

A sea blockade on incoming ships will also not change, to prevent the flow of weapons or supplies for military infrastructure.

It is understood the changes were initiated in talks between Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Tony Blair, the Mideast Quartet Envoy.

UN Human Rights Council spokesman Richard Falk says the flotilla activists played a key part in the Israeli decision.

"The peace activists on the flotilla achieved what neither governments nor political leaders, nor the UN was able to do," he said.

"And it really does suggest a new kind of politics that is relevant to the Israel-Palestine conflict that may have further implications."

www.abc.net.au...

Israel easing blockade of Gaza 'except for military items'

June 20, 2010 -- Updated 2054 GMT (0454 HKT)

Jerusalem (CNN) -- Israel plans to ease its blockade of Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday following an Israeli Security Cabinet meeting, a step commended by major powers and brushed off by a Palestinian organization and government.
---
Tony Blair, envoy for the Middle East Quartet -- the U.S., Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- said in a statement Israel would publish a list of weapons and war items not permitted into Gaza rather than those permitted, and allow full access of civilian goods.

The Security Cabinet said last week it planned to revamp its policy, paving the way for a vote Sunday.

"This comes as a partial manner due to international pressure but does not meet the minimal needs of the people in Gaza to live in dignity," said Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee.
---
Israel's announcement comes three weeks after ships in Israel's naval blockade sparred with a flotilla of aid ships heading to Gaza. Nine Turkish activists were killed in the incident, which drew international criticism.

edition.cnn.com...

So it seems there are now baby steps taken in the right direction of letting all non-military goods into Gaza.

Finally the awful 3 year collective punishment will be lifted, and the children can have all kind of foods, toys, crayons & papers, school text books, music instruments to enter Gaza without any restriction - Items which were not allowed up til now because it was a as part of the vile Collective Punishment policy against the people of Gaza.

I think this was a smart move by Iran. I would be willing to bet that Israel would have planted weapons or war materials on the ship as an excuse to go to war. For anyone who says that Iran is wanting a war with the West or with Israel, this should lend evidence to suggest otherwise.

--airspoon

Originally posted by airspoon
I think this was a smart move by Iran. I would be willing to bet that Israel would have planted weapons or war materials on the ship as an excuse to go to war.
--airspoon

Bah!

It was simply Iran trying to get it's face in the media in an attempt to look good. First they say they would send some ships to help. [YAY! Iran, good guys] Then they say, no, we wont go becuase of big bad Israel war mongers. [YAY! Iran, Good Guys]

They simply jumped on the bandwagon of public opinion. Very shallow mentality. If they truly wanted to help why wont they or any other Islamic state take in Palestinians who want out?

reply to post by airspoon


I don't have a thing. Iran has taken part in virtually 0 aggressive/offensive attacks over the course of a few hundred years, or so I've read and remember. Other than the Iran-Iraq war which was pretty much a proxy war orchestrated by guess who.

Anywho, I really don't see them breaking with this tradition unless they're false-flagged into it.

reply to post by SLAYER69



I dunno, Slayer. It's a like a propaganda volleyball match. Wait for the return of serve.

[edit on 25-6-2010 by ~Lucidity]