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

[Maurice Picarda]

The terrorist State of Israel,
Strikes again.

There isn't a time, there isn't a place, and even if there was, which there isn't, this wouldn't be it.

 

[cesare]

The terrorist State of Israel,
Strikes again.

This is raw footage from on board one of the ships.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/may/31/israel-troops-gaza-ships

"... despite the white flag being raised, the Israeli army is continuing to fire live munition ..." (Al- Jazeera)

 

[the button]

Posted for info: -

Israeli forces kill 20 unarmed civilians on board Gaza aid flotilla

EMERGENCY PROTESTS TODAY:
11am OUTSIDE THE FOREIGN OFFICE, WHITEHALL
2 - 4pm DOWNING STREET
Monday 31 May

MANCHESTER - 5PM OUTSIDE BBC HQ (Oxford Road)

20 unarmed civilians on board the international humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza have been killed by Israeli naval forces.

Israeli commandos descending from helicopters stormed the six-boat flotilla in the early hours of Monday (31) morning, while it was in international waters, about 90 miles (150km) from Gaza, where Israel has no jurisdiction.

The death toll rose steadily from around 2am. Dozens more have been injured.

European and Turkish parliamentarians, and citizens from countries including the USA, Malaysia and across Europe were on board the flotilla, attempting to break the siege.

Betty Hunter, General Secretary of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: 'Israel's actions today amount to piracy. What kind of country murders unarmed civilians in order to stop humanitarian supplies reaching a starving population? The British government failed to defend its citizens on board the flotilla, but now its silence must end, and it must condemn Israel in the strongest terms. Its moral and political obligations lie with those who peacefully attempt to deliver aid, not with a country which repeatedly violates international law, and has now murdered innocent and unarmed carriers of aid.'

Sarah Colborne, PSC's director of campaigns and operations, was on board the Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara. We have not heard from her today.

Please call and email the Foreign Office to demand it end its silence and condemns Israel's actions

http://www.palestinecampaign.org/

 

[krtek a houby]

'Unfortunately, there was a small crowd of lads there on the march who were making some very unpleasant remarks about Jews but they were a minority of protesters and we quickly moved on from them.'


Why didn't you confront them?, if they had been far right boneheads, etc, they would have been swarmed over, this double standards is what is fuelling groups like the EDL.

I was there with my missus and there were about 8 or 9 of them; I'm not into physical confrontation, tbh.

 

[danny la rouge]

Unfortunately, there was a small crowd of lads there on the march who were making some very unpleasant remarks about Jews but they were a minority of protesters and we quickly moved on from them.

Idiots like this need to be put straight.

 

[krtek a houby]

Idiots like this need to be put straight.

Yes, danny - they do but I was on the march for peaceful reasons - not to get the shit kicked out of me by hate merchants.

 

[Sesquipedalian]

There isn't a time, there isn't a place, and even if there was, which there isn't, this wouldn't be it.

Unsuprised that you,
Are not on a ban.
For this ;
http://www.urban75.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=325889

EDITOR.
so any trolling, wind ups, unprovoked personal attacks, showboating or general pissing about here will result in an immediate temp ban with no quibbling.

FM.
Please also note that, as per the FAQ, it is not appropriate to post threads asking "why was X banned?" or "can X be unbanned?" here.

CRISPY.
yeah it's annoying, no it's not against the rules, yeah it's a call out .

 

[danny la rouge]

Yes, danny - they do but I was on the march for peaceful reasons - not to get the shit kicked out of me by hate merchants.

I wasn't suggesting you do it. But collectively we have a responsibility to do it.

 

[bingiman]

People like you manned the furnaces, or worse still, saw the smoke and asked no questions. Israel is not a fascist stae, it is a democracy, something that is a bit thin on the ground in that part of the world.

Care to explain live fire from an ' unarmed ' convoy?

Doesn't it sadden you that repression of the Jews continues to this day? Rising levels of anti-Semitism across Europe, especially in the Eastern part. People attacked, cemeteries and synagogues defiled. Do you not realise that attitudes such as yours fuels this?

What a dick you are. I can't even been bothered with you.

Me, man the furnances. I would be outraged but as you are a total joke it wouldn't be worth my time.

If you can't recognise fascism when you see it I am not going to explain it to you.

Are you paid to write this drivel?

P.S Emergency Demo at Downing St 2pm - don't know if this has been posted before.

 

[krtek a houby]

I wasn't suggesting you do it. But collectively we have a responsibility to do it.

No quibbles there. On the plus side, later when I popped into a store, 2 girls (one said she was Palestinian) behind the counter saw my badges and said the marches were a good thing because they were about alerting the world to hatred and injustice.

It did un-nerve me, all the same, the vocal few...

 

[stethoscope]

Ffs,
don't derail,
Sesquipedalian

 

[Sesquipedalian]

"... despite the white flag being raised, the Israeli army is continuing to fire live munition ..." (Al- Jazeera)

Yep,sickening.

 

[One_Stop_Shop]

Why didn't you confront them?, if they had been far right boneheads, etc, they would have been swarmed over, this double standards is what is fuelling groups like the EDL.

For fucks sake can't you leave your wanking fantasies over the EDL to one thread. Actually people did confront people on those demos about any anti-semitism but it should be said that it was a tiny minority doing that kind of thing.

 

[danny la rouge]

P.S Emergency Demo at Downing St 2pm - don't know if this has been posted before.

Too far for me to travel, but all the best.

 

[Squatticus]

What a dick you are. I can't even been bothered with you.

Me, man the furnances. I would be outraged but as you are a total joke it wouldn't be worth my time.

If you can't recognise fascism when you see it I am not going to explain it to you.

Are you paid to write this drivel?

P.S Emergency Demo at Downing St 2pm - don't know if this has been posted before.

Agreed.

 

[krtek a houby]

For fucks sake can't you leave your wanking fantasies over the EDL to one thread. Actually people did confront people on those demos about any anti-semitism but it should be said that it was a tiny minority doing that kind of thing.

Indeed; I don't want to blow it all out of proportion - just felt it should be mentioned. The vast majority of protesters were angry but they wanted to be heard for the right reasons - these few were just stirring.

 

[likesfish]

I wonder what really happened it would'nt be beyond the realms of possibility for some idiot to have smuggled a gun on board
its a fucking cruise ship would take weeks to search properly
brass up the first boarding party the resulting mayhem = a glorious victory to the palenstian people

or equally some idf commando accidently fired his gun and all hell brake loose

The IDF have a robust attitude to protestors but I doubt there was policy to board guns blazing. They'd more likey if that was the plan send the first boat ocean floor job done.
Or some twat thought violently attacking a commando with a stick or metal pipe was going to work

 

[treelover]

well unlike OSS i have confronted them, on my own at times, and been surrounded by howling mobs for my troubles,

One stop, i will post where I like, when I like, fuck off back to MATB

 

[One_Stop_Shop]

well unlike OSS i have confronted them, on my own at times, and been surrounded by howling mobs for my troubles,

One stop, i will post where I like, when I like, fuck off back to MATB

you've seriously got me mixed up with someone else, I have no idea what you are talking about.

As for confronting them, read my post again:

Actually people did confront people on those demos about any anti-semitism but it should be said that it was a tiny minority doing that kind of thing.

Those people would include me.

 

[One_Stop_Shop]

Indeed; I don't want to blow it all out of proportion - just felt it should be mentioned. The vast majority of protesters were angry but they wanted to be heard for the right reasons - these few were just stirring.

Agree.

 

[danny la rouge]

http://www.indymediascotland.org/node/19583

This morning Israeli Defense Forces boarded boats carrying prohibited humanitarian aid to Gaza and killed at least 10 people on board. Protests have been called for this evening in Scotland. Israeli Arabs have called for a general strike there on Tuesday, while in Turkey the Israeli embassy has been the target of fierce protests.

Edinburgh
- Assemble 5pm at the Foot of the Mound, Princes Street

Glasgow
- Assemble 5pm at George Square

Dundee
- Assemble 5pm at City Square

Aberdeen
- Assemble 5pm at St Nicholas Square

Moffat
- Assemble 5pm at 2 Holm Street

Inverness
- Assemble 5pm at the Townhouse

Banff
- Assemble 5pm at Low Street, Council Buildings

 

[One_Stop_Shop]

The IDF have a robust attitude to protestors but I doubt there was policy to board guns blazing. They'd more likey if that was the plan send the first boat ocean floor job done.

Or some twat thought violently attacking a commando with a stick or metal pipe was going to work

Why not, they've gone in all guns blazing loads of times. If they'd sent the first boat to the ocean floor it would be much harder to make up a load of PR crap about people on the boats attacking them first. Don't think anyone would believe they had anti-ship weapons on board.

I wouldn't be surprised if the IDF planted a gun on board, that's for sure.

 

[teqniq]

One would hope that perhaps this time they've gone too far... perhaps???

 

[Open Sauce]

Sick fuckers, the boat was trying to bring in much needed supplies.

According to the UN Israel only permits 1/4 of the good required to enter. How can the US back a country that is doing its best to starve a people?

It is not just the UK, it is our government

 

[Bernie Gunther]

I wonder what really happened it would'nt be beyond the realms of possibility for some idiot to have smuggled a gun on board
its a fucking cruise ship would take weeks to search properly
brass up the first boarding party the resulting mayhem = a glorious victory to the palenstian people

or equally some idf commando accidently fired his gun and all hell brake loose

The IDF have a robust attitude to protestors but I doubt there was policy to board guns blazing. They'd more likey if that was the plan send the first boat ocean floor job done.
Or some twat thought violently attacking a commando with a stick or metal pipe was going to work

For what it's worth some eye witness reports are saying that the commandos landed and just started firing at people nearby. Israeli sources are saying that they were attacked with improvised weapons and that at least one lost his weapon that way, presumably necessitating the subsequent massacre in their minds.

I just tried to read up on piracy and maritime interdiction law and the right or otherwise of people on civilian ships in international waters to resist boarding by state forces but what I can find isn't terribly clear on this case. It's clear enough if non-state people are boarding you with the intent of nicking stuff, but not clear when it's a state for other reasons.

From Grauniad:

More than 10 people have been killed after Israeli naval commandos boarded six aid ships in a convoy heading towards the Gaza Strip.

The fleet was carrying aid to the area, which is under a naval blockade. Israeli troops were attacked with guns, knives and clubs when they boarded the ships after having given repeated warnings, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"During the interception of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs," the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"Additionally one of the weapons used was grabbed from an IDF soldier. The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose."

The Free Gaza movement, which is behind the flotilla, is reporting a very different version of events.

"Under darkness of night, Israeli commandoes dropped from a helicopter onto the Turkish passenger ship, Mavi Marmara, and began to shoot the moment their feet hit the deck," the movement said on its website.

"They fired directly into the crowd of civilians asleep. According to the live video from the ship, two have been killed, and 31 injured. Al Jazeera has just confirmed the numbers.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2010/may/31/israel-troops-gaza-ships

 

[dessiato]

Seems like an act of piracy to me.

If any soldiers were hurt during this, (which I doubt) fuck them.

Please don't edit my post to read so totally differently!

This incident could have been avoided by the so-called humanitarians going to the places that where offered as safe passage. The woman interviewed claiming to represent them said that 'humanitarian aid was not (their) priority here'. I cannot help but believe that this incident was deliberately provoked by the so-called humanitarians.

I do not believe that people had to be attacked, by either side, nor do I believe that this incident had to happen. All that needed to happen was that the flotilla sailed to the safe passage. This way people would not have been injured or killed.

I am also shocked by the blatant anti-Semitism on this thread. I thought U75 was better than this. Where is the balanced discussion that should be automatic on a site of this quality?

 

[Blagsta]

where's the anti-semitism?

 

[Bernie Gunther]

Still waiting to see any anti-semitism as opposed to criticism of Israeli policies and actions.

Of course, if you think the two things are the same then perhaps you'd better make your case for that.

 

[DotCommunist]

'so-called' 'so-called' 'so-called'

Why is even the 'so-called' UN sec Gen kicking off about this 'so-called' massacre eh?

 

[Open Sauce]

I see the usual suspects are back at the ' Jew baiting ' game.

You fucking racist prick.

You are trying to tar all Jews with the disgusting actions of Zionist. Are all Germans Nazis and all Pakistanis fundamentalist terrorist.

Hatemongering retard.

I see no anti-semitism here. There's certainly no suggestion that Jews as a whole are responsible for, or supportive of, the crimes of the Israeli state.

I see anti-semitism from Sas associating all Jews with the fascist behaviour of the state of Isreal