Israeli troops storm Gaza flotilla killing 16 civilians
War in Context
… with attention to the unseen
Any word on the claim that some protesters were swinging knives and axes at Israeli troops? That claim has the smell of fish to it. But I would like to hear what some flotilla activists have to say about it, which may take awhile since they are being towed to Haifa.
The BBC finally covered this attack, and sounded pretty straightforward. Still haven’t seen anything on US news. Maybe tomorrow night on Keith Olbermann?
RE: “Any word on the claim that some protesters were swinging knives and axes at Israeli troops?” – Cody
FROM AL JAZEERA* : …Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal, on board the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops had used live ammunition during the operation.
The Israeli military said four soldiers had been wounded, two of them moderately, and claimed troops opened fire after “demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF Naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs”.
Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the ships…
* UPDATED ON: MONDAY, MAY 31, 2010 – 07:35 GMT
ENTIRE ARTICLE – http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/201053133047995359.html
RE: “Any word on the claim that some protesters were swinging knives and axes at Israeli troops?” – Cody
FROM ‘THE INDEPENDENT’: (Associated Press) Israeli commandos today stormed six ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists on an aid mission to the blockaded Gaza Strip, killing at least 10 people and wounding dozens more.
A reporter on one of the boats said the Israelis fired at the vessel before boarding it, but the Israelis claimed they only opened fire after being attacked by activists with sticks, knives and live fire….
….A Turkish website showed video of pandemonium on board one of the ships, with activists in orange life jackets running around as some tried to help an activist apparently unconscious on the deck. The site also showed video of an Israeli helicopter flying overhead and Israeli warships nearby.
Turkey’s NTV showed activists beating one Israeli soldier with sticks as he rappelled from a helicopter onto one of the boats.
The al-Jazeera satellite channel reported from the Turkish ship leading the flotilla that Israeli navy forces fired at the ship and boarded it, wounding the captain.
The Israeli military said troops only opened fire after encountering unexpected resistance from the activists. Activists attacked troops with knives and iron rods, and one activist wrested a serviceman’s weapon.
A total of four soldiers were wounded, including at least one hit by live fire, the army said. Two of the dead activists had fired at soldiers with pistols, the army said…
ENTIRE ARTICLE – http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/10-killed-on-gaza-aid-flotilla-1987627.html
seriously, the UN/EU, and other democratic countries to get tough on israel either by sanctions/boycotts, or other charges. I am seriously sick and tired of hearing about how blantantly israel breaks geneva code/internatinal law and yet still receives millions of dollars from the us. Speaking as a canadian, I am so ashamed of our PM Stephen Harper( who really is just an imbicile). While here in Ottawa, Israel’s Pm cut his trip short but only after having the open support of ‘canada'( mostly just conservatives) . Israel has commited international crimes and now is the time that the world can no longer accept Israel’s justifications for killings and censorship.