Israeli forces storm Gaza aid ship, and beat people on board. Fatalities reported.

[claphamboy]

Just been on Irish radio that Israel is going to deport 48 of the captured activists and 'detain' 480 of them. 'Detain'? WTF?

BBC is reporting that a 'number' of activists are refusing to be deported, not sure how many out of that 480.

 

[tangentlama]

Just been on Irish radio that Israel is going to deport 48 of the captured activists and 'detain' 480 of them. 'Detain'? WTF?

Yes, those who did not agree to being deported are the majority and they are detained in prison

Some 700 activists, many Turks but including Israelis and Palestinians as well as Americans and many Europeans - among them politicians, a Jewish Holocaust survivor and Swedish author - were processed in and around Israel's port of Ashdod, where the six ships of the blockade-running convoy had been escorted.

The Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that 50 activists had been taken to Ben-Gurion Airport for voluntary repatriation. Around 629 had refused, and would be jailed while Israel weighed legal options.The other ships were towed to port over the course of the afternoon, with dozens of the activists detained for refusing to sign Israel's deportation orders. Only some 25 of the activists agreed to the order.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diploma...ome-700-activists-from-gaza-flotilla-1.293339

46 activists are hospitalised (mostly Turkish).
19 are dead. Apparently murdered by paintball guns. I presume that this will now result in all paintball guns being withdrawn as lethal weapons?

The IDF are trying to twist and obfuscate the situation further by saying they believe this 'is becoming a religious conflict':
http://www.haaretz.com/print-editio...lash-in-wake-of-gaza-flotilla-deaths-1.293413

 

[Citizen66]

Whilst I might be inclined to agree with you maritime law (according to an expert on radio 4's 'Today' this morning) suggests that the action could be considered legal only if the blockade of Gaza is legal - and that hinges on whether or not the military advantages of the blockade can be shown to outweigh direct harm to civilians caused by the blockade.

I can see where this will probably end up. Israel will in all likelihood have little difficulty in convincing the 'International community' that the blockade is necessary for any number of reasons. Therefore the action and it's consequences whilst regrettable was necessary.

They'll play the "axis of evil" card, just like the us and UK do.

 

[editor]

Facebook update from our friend's sister:

Still no news. But likely Ewa was on the Mavi Marmara. Detainees have had phones taken and are being denied legal & consular access. TV coverage here is shit. Dozens of Israeli spokespeople, but I've yet to see/hear anyone from the Free Gaza Movement giving their side.

 

[teqniq]

Hmmm not everyone is going to be convinced:-

The top foreign policy official of the UN on Monday asked Israel to end its "counterproductive" and "unacceptable" blockade on Gaza.

The UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Argentina's Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, further said in an emergency UN Security Council meeting that Monday's attack on a humanitarian aid flotilla off Gaza's coast would not have happened without the blockade.

The call to end the blockade was also made by the British and Brazilian ambassadors before the UN.

Fernandez-Taranco spoke at the meeting on behalf of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Echoing Ban's comments earlier from Uganda, Fernandez-Taranco called for a thorough investigation of events. He noted that the incident happened when all efforts should be focusing on confidence-building and on promoting talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

Brazil's Ambassador to the UN, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, asked for an "immediate" end of the blockade, and described the attack on the aid flotilla as "deplorable". She further requested an "independent" probe of the events.

From the Hindustan times via Juan Cole

 

[editor]

Some first had reports coming through:

Mihalis Grigoropoulos told reporters at Athens airport, “They (Israelis) came down from helicopters and threw ropes from inflatable boats, climbing aboard. There was teargas and live ammunition.

“I was steering the ship, we saw them capture another ship in front of us, which was the Turkish passenger vessel with more than 500 people on board and heard shots fired.

“We did not resist at all, we couldn’t even if we had wanted to. What could we have done against the commandos who climbed aboard? The only thing some people tried was to delay them from getting to the bridge, forming a human shield. They were fired upon with plastic bullets and were stunned with electric devices.

“There was great mistreatment after our arrest. We were essentially hostages, like animals on the ground.

“They wouldn’t let us use the bathroom, wouldn’t give us food or water and they took video of us despite international conventions banning this.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7141618.ece

 

[Citizen66]

I suppose it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that mossad could have infiltrated the peace activists with agent provocateurs although that doesnt fit with all the body bags. Painting the peace activists as thugs does seem to be the main argument from the pro-zionists though.

 

[dylans]

News of demonstrations in Israel

31.5.10 - More than 2000 people, old and young, gathered opposite the Ministry of Defense in Tel-Aviv in a spontaneous demonstration of anger and protest, after soldiers of the “most elite units” of the IDF were sent to attack the Peace Flotilla that was on its way to Gaza. The number of killed and injured from among the peace activists on the boats proved that the aim of the action was to frighten and deter anyone who would undertake to break the blockade in future

http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/events/1275385769

Statement by Gush Shalom denouncing the Israeli attack

This is a day of disgrace to the State of Israel, a day of anxiety in which we discover that our future was entrusted to a bunch of trigger-happy people without any responsibility. This day is a day of disgrace and madness and stupidity without limit, the day the Israeli government took care to blacken the name of the country in the world, adding convincing evidence of aggressiveness and brutality to Israel's already bad international image, discouraging and distancing the few remaining friends.

http://redressnewsblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/israels-gush-shalom-denounces-israels.html

 

[sihhi]

I suppose it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that mossad could have infiltrated the peace activists with agent provocateurs although that doesnt fit with all the body bags. Painting the peace activists as thugs does seem to be the main argument from the pro-zionists though.

They are terrorists according to pro-Zionist Melanie Phillips:

So let’s get this right. Israel kills Islamic terrorists who are trying to lynch its soldiers by clubbing them to death, stabbing them with massive knives and firebombing them – and according to Sir Jeremy Greenstock, this shows that Israel must now start talking to Hamas, an Islamic terrorist organisation which is committed to the destruction of Israel and the genocide of the Jews.

 

[tangentlama]

On board Gaza's Freedom Flotilla: This video from Al Jazeera shows the nature and intent of those travelling to Gaza to bring much needed assistance

This video from Al Jazeera shows the Israeli line and the Turkish response. The flotilla is accused of supporting Hamas terror, of being violent and intending violence from the outset. The flotilla is also accused of being armed with intent to provoke violence. Turkey says there were no weapons on board at all and that Israel is lying about the presence of arms on the Turkish ship.

 

[goldenecitrone]

The blockade is in defiance of UNSC 1860 though, so presumably it is not legal.

Defying the UN? I think it could be time for regime change in Israel.

 

[tangentlama]

They are terrorists according to pro-Zionist Melanie Phillips:

She's lying. She is the most hardline right-wing commentator on Israel in Britain.

She regularly makes character assassinations on Jews who speak out against Israeli policies, especially towards Palestinian people. She calls all the Jewish peace groups 'Jews for Genocide'.

Melanie Phillips supports Likud. She is also a virulent homophobe.

Her stock response to any group who cries out in horror at Israel's military and government policies, whether Jewish or not, is to call them anti-semites.

She really does not deserve the attention she gets.

 

[tangentlama]

On board Gaza's Freedom Flotilla: This video from Al Jazeera shows the nature and intent of those travelling to Gaza to bring much needed assistance

This video from Al Jazeera shows the Israeli line and the Turkish response. The flotilla is accused of supporting Hamas terror, of being violent and intending violence from the outset. The flotilla is also accused of being armed with intent to provoke violence. Turkey says there were no weapons on board at all and that Israel is lying about the presence of arms on the Turkish ship.

Both of these videos are important. Very important. The peaceful intent of the flotilla is very clear.

 

[Maidmarian]

Defying the UN? I think it could be time for regime change in Israel.

How likely is that though ?

 

[agricola]

Regev on News 24 again, openly pissing on the idea of an independent inquiry, with which - he claims - "Israel has had bad problems with in the past".

 

[Diamond]

If you want to gain an insight into the level of paranoia that seems to dictate the attitude of the Israeli press, and presumably Israeli society, it's worth taking a few minutes to peruse the opinion and editorial columns of Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post.

There's an extreme siege mentality there.

 

[dylans]

Israelis celebrating the attack in front of Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6a3_1275348204

Footage of flotilla activists disembarking at Ashdod port


Twitter reports 2000+ demonstrating in Tel Aviv against Israeli attacks and several thousand celebrating the attacks outside the Turkish embassy. Footage of both is coming.

 

[tangentlama]

Regev on News 24 again, openly pissing on the idea of an independent inquiry, with which - he claims - "Israel has had bad problems with in the past".

He is repeating old propagandas. He claims that Palestinians want Israel wiped off the map. This is despite several recognitions from all sides, including the Hamas, of Israel on condition that it end its illegal occupation.

Something else is buried in all this. On 13th April 2010, Israeli Military gave orders to expel - forcibly transfer - hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank.

Military Order No. 1650, which came into force in the West Bank on 13 April (2010), broadens the definition of the term "infiltrator" to include anyone present in the West Bank without a permit issued by the Israeli authorities.

Those considered "infiltrators" can be deported to other states or forcibly transferred to the Gaza Strip, and face criminal charges.

In a letter to Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday, Amnesty International said that it feared this broad definition could facilitate the expansion of the Israeli authorities' current practice of expelling individuals from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip

"This new military order is scandalous in the light of the Israeli authorities' long-standing practice of expelling individuals from the West Bank," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa programme.

"Since 2003 Israel has forcibly relocated Palestinians living in the West Bank to the Gaza Strip on the basis that their addresses were registered in Gaza."

On 28 October 2009, Israeli forces in the West Bank detained Berlanty Azzam, a 21-year-old Palestinian student, who was weeks away from graduating from Bethlehem University. She was handcuffed, blindfolded and forcibly transferred to Gaza.

On 9 December 2009, the Israeli High Court of Justice decided not to allow Berlanty to return to Bethlehem University to complete her studies.

Israel's argument centred on the Gaza address registered on her identity card and its claim that the permit she acquired to travel to the West Bank from Gaza in 2005 was insufficient.

"We are also concerned that the broadened category of ‘infiltrator’ may also be applied to individuals who entered the West Bank many years ago and have filed applications with the Israeli authorities for family unification," said Philip Luther.

"To our knowledge, thousands of such applications remain outstanding."

Since June 2007, the Gaza Strip has been under a tight Israeli blockade which restricts the entry of basic goods, including food, fuel, educational and medical items, and construction materials.

The forcible transfer of Palestinians from the West Bank to Gaza, as well as the deportation of Palestinians to other states, is a violation of Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which states: "Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive.”
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-...ase-expulsions-west-bank-palestinians-2010-04

My belief is that IDF will be stepping up the transfer of Palestinians whilst the world is focused on the flotilla.

 

[DexterTCN]

The blockade is in defiance of UNSC 1860 though, so presumably it is not legal.

The BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10203333.stm is saying

A maritime blockade is a legal device under international law. It has to have a reason (Israel's is that Hamas would import arms), it has to be formally declared (it was) and it has to be enforced (it is).

Seems to be a blatant lie by the beeb.

 

[agricola]

If you want to gain an insight into the level of paranoia that seems to dictate the attitude of the Israeli press, and presumably Israeli society, it's worth taking a few minutes to peruse the opinion and editorial columns of Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post.

There's an extreme siege mentality there.

Indeed. I especially like this stringent criticism in the Post. They should learn to fib better!

 

[tangentlama]

This is how it goes - the Israeli Military will now happily allow the flotilla news to dominate the world-discourse.

The other news - the more important news about the IDF stepping up illegal transfer of Palestinian citizens from the West Bank to Gaza or to other countries, will not receive the same kind of prominence in the news, unless the news deskss realise what a clever game Israel plays here.

Next time Regev is being interviewed by the BBC, they should ask him about this Military Order No. 1650 to forcibly and illegally transfer non-Jewish citizens of the West Bank, and watch his response. I have no idea how many have been transferred since April 2010.

Annul order allowing expulsions of Arabs, groups urge Barak
By Amira Hass
Ten Israeli human rights organizations sent a letter to Defense Minister Ehud Barak yesterday, asking him to rescind two military orders permitting the immediate expulsion from the West Bank of thousands of Palestinians and others defined as "infiltrators" from the West Bank.

The orders are supposed to take effect on Wednesday
http://www.haaretz.com/print-editio...-bank-palestinians-is-a-step-too-far-1.284085

 

[8ball]

Israelis celebrating the attack in front of Turkish embassy in Tel Aviv.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6a3_1275348204

They really just don't want any friends at all in the Muslim world, do they?

 

[quimcunx]

Why not someone email BBC News 24 and Channel 4 etc and ask them to ask Regev about it?

 

[editor]

From Craig Murray:

A word on the legal position, which is very plain. To attack a foreign flagged vessel in international waters is illegal. It is not piracy, as the Israeli vessels carried a military commission. It is rather an act of illegal warfare.

Because the incident took place on the high seas does not mean however that international law is the only applicable law. The Law of the Sea is quite plain that, when an incident takes place
on a ship on the high seas (outside anybody's territorial waters) the applicable law is that of the flag state of the ship on which the incident occurred. In legal terms, the Turkish ship was Turkish territory.

There are therefore two clear legal possibilities.

Possibility one is that the Israeli commandos were acting on behalf of the government of Israel in killing the activists on the ships. In that case Israel is in a position of war with Turkey, and the act falls under international jurisdiction as a war crime.

Possibility two is that, if the killings were not authorised Israeli military action, they were acts of murder under Turkish jurisdiction. If Israel does not consider itself in a position of war with Turkey, then it must hand over the commandos involved for trial in Turkey under Turkish law.

In brief, if Israel and Turkey are not at war, then it is Turkish law which is applicable to what happened on the ship. It is for Turkey, not Israel, to carry out any inquiry or investigation into events and to initiate any prosecutions. Israel is obliged to hand over indicted personnel for prosecution.

http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2010/05/the_legal_posit.html

 

[agricola]

The BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/10203333.stm is saying
Seems to be a blatant lie by the beeb.

A blockade is a legal device in international law - the question is whether this blockade is legal, given that there are a lot of reasons (the occupied status of the Gaza strip and the UN resolutions requiring Israel to leave, and the lack of an armed conflict to give two) why it probably isnt.

 

[TitanSound]

I must say Isreal are rather provoking a lot of shit in the international community at the moment. What with this and the whole Dubai assassination affair. It just makes me worry what will happen next

 

[tangentlama]

Why not someone email BBC News 24 and Channel 4 etc and ask them to ask Regev about it?

I had not known enough prominence to be given to the now 'legal' (in Israel) expulsion of Palestinians, but it fits with the aims of the Likud-Yisrael Beitanu coalition to transfer Palestinians out of not only Israel but also Palestine.

Regev should be asked about this, yes. I would love to see him try to explain it away.

IDF bid to expel West Bank Palestinians is a step too far
Unprecedented order liable to give world clear-cut proof Israel's aim is mass deportation of Palestinians.

Haaretz Editorial
Tags: Israel news Palestinians West Bank
A new military order will take effect this week, enabling the army to deport tens of thousands of Palestinians from the West Bank and prosecute them on infiltration charges, which carry long prison terms. The order, uncovered by Amira Hass in Haaretz yesterday, bears the signature of Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni in his previous capacity as commander of the Israel Defense Forces in Judea and Samaria.

The order's vague language will allow army officers to exploit it arbitrarily to carry out mass expulsions, in accordance with military orders which were issued under unclear circumstances. The first candidates for expulsion will be people whose ID cards bear addresses in the Gaza Strip, including children born in the West Bank and Palestinians living in the West Bank who have lost their residency status for various reasons.


This would be a grave and dangerous move, unprecedented during the Israeli occupation. For years, Israel has used a heavy hand against the Palestinian population registry, trampling basic human rights such as the freedom to move one's residence within the occupied territories. Many Palestinians' lives have thus been made very difficult because they have been cut off from their previous places of residence without being able to return or legally register their new addresses.

The right of all Palestinians to choose where to live in the West Bank or Gaza marks a very low threshold for defining their human rights. Israel, which justifiably prevents Palestinians from returning to where they lived before 1948 and does not offer them fair compensation for their property (while enabling Jews to recover property from the same period, as has happened in Sheikh Jarrah), cannot expel Palestinians from the occupied territories on the basis of dubious bureaucratic claims.

Implementing this new military order is not only likely to spark a new conflagration in the territories, it is liable to give the world clear-cut proof that Israel's aim is a mass deportation of Palestinians from the West Bank. While all Jews can settle wherever they wish, in Israel or in the territories, Israel is trying to deprive the Palestinians of even the minimal right to choose where to live in the West Bank or Gaza. The prime minister and defense minister should immediately shelve this military order before the IDF feels free to begin carrying out expulsions.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-editio...-bank-palestinians-is-a-step-too-far-1.284085

 

[Open Sauce]

Given your opinion of Israel, would you have said that murdering passengers was totally outside of the realm of possibility?

Fuck off with your trolling, as someone said earlier, post count bullshit coming from you. You are repeating the same line again and again from utter ignorance.

If you have nothing new or relevant to add STFU. This is not about testosterone it is about some attention seeking wanker trying to troll a thread about a serious subject for LOLs. Fuck off is what you deserve and what you are playing for.

 

[Doctor Carrot]

Why not someone email BBC News 24 and Channel 4 etc and ask them to ask Regev about it?

I'm on it. I don't hold out much hope for news 24 but I think channel 4 might be more likely to ask.

 

[dylans]

Demonstrators and counter demonstrators face off in Jerusalem

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177051

There is opposition but they are under intense pressure. Imagine the UK at the height of the Falklands hysteria x 1000.

There are reports of 2000 demonstrating in Tel Aviv against the attack as I type. Opposition is pretty fringe though and there is no doubt there is widespread support for this action.