Questions and Answers on the mission of “Gaza Freedom Flotilla”

Questions and Answers on the mission of “Gaza Freedom Flotilla”

Is the flotilla carrying anything other than humanitarian aid cargo?

Yes. The ships are carrying humanitarian aid only. The flotilla will deliver things like medical aid, food, clothing items, prefabricated homes, children’s playgrounds, stationery items, iron bars, cement. There is not even a razor, knife or jackknife onboard.

Is the flotilla going to violate Israeli territorial waters?

Absolutely NO. The flotilla will not even pass close by the Israeli waters. The ships will sail through international water right into Gaza without violating any country’s territorial waters. Gaza is a Palestinian territory, does not belong to Israel. Israel is an occupier in Gaza. The blockade imposed on Gaza since 2006 is completely illegal, it is nothing but oppressive and totalitarian. UN Security Council Resolution 1860 stated that the embargo is illegal and a violation of human rights and has to be removed immediately. We do not need Israel’s approval in order to arrive in Gaza through international waters, since Israel does not have any right in international waters and Gaza waters according to international laws.

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(Reuters) -Ten dead after Israel boards Gaza-bound ships: military

Ten dead after Israel boards Gaza-bound ships: military

Palestinians ride aboard boats in a preparation for the arrival of a convoy of ships to Gaza's Seaport, May 30, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli commandos intercepted Gaza-bound aid ships Monday and at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists on board were killed in bloodshed that plunged Israel into a diplomatic crisis.

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last records from Gazza aid fleets on Aljazeera

last records from Gazza aid fleets

Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet - Aljezeera.net

Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet - Aljezeera.net

Israel attacks Gaza aid fleet - (Aljezeera.net)


Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country's siege on Gaza.

Up to 16 people were killed and dozens injured when troops stormed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, the Israeli Army Radio said.

The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Gaza coast.

Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.

Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, on board the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops had used live ammunition during the operation.

The Israeli Army Radio said soldiers opened fire "after confronting those on board carrying sharp objects".

Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the ships.

Israeli military also reports that four soldiers were injured and taken to hospital.

They also said the ships were now being towed to the Israeli town of Haifa, instead of Ashdod to avoid waiting journalists.

Earlier, the Israeli navy had contacted the captain of the Mavi Marmara, asking him to identify himself and say where the ship was headed.

Shortly after, two Israeli naval vessels had flanked the flotilla on either side, but at a distance.

Organisers of the flotilla carrying 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid then diverted their ships and slowed down to avoid a confrontation during the night.

They also issued all passengers life jackets and asked them to remain below deck.

Al Jazeera’s Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Jerusalem, said the Israeli action was surprising.

"All the images being shown from the activists on board those ships show clearly that they were civilians and peaceful in nature, with medical supplies on board. So it will surprise many in the international community to learn what could have possibly led to this type of confrontation," he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli police have been put on a heightened state of alert across the country to prevent any civil disturbances.

Protests

Condemnation has been quick to pour in after the Israeli action.

Thousands of Turkish protesters tried to storm the Israeli consulate in Istanbul soon after the news of the operation broke. The protesters shouted "Damn Israel" as police blocked them.

Turkey is also reported to have summoned the Israeli ambassador to lodge a protest.

"(The interception on the convoy) is unacceptable ... Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behaviour," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ismail Haniya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, has also dubbed the Israeli action as "barbaric".

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, including a Nobel laureate and several European legislators, were with the flotilla, aiming to reach Gaza in defiance of an Israeli embargo.

But Israel had said it would not allow the flotilla to reach the Gaza Strip and vowed to stop the six ships from reaching the coastal Palestinian territory.

The flotilla had set sail from a port in Cyprus on Sunday and aimed to reach Gaza by Monday morning.

Israel said the boats were embarking on "an act of provocation" against the Israeli military, rather than providing aid, and that it had issued warrants to prohibit their entrance to Gaza.

It asserted that the flotilla would be breaking international law by landing in Gaza, a claim the organisers rejected.

IHH's website (www.ihh.gov.tr) is under attack

IHH's website (www.ihh.gov.tr) is under attack. Israil must be so frigtened, they dont know where they should attack. now throw one more stone to that ruthless ppl. Share this videos as much as ppl as you can. Create new blogs! Let the world know what happening and let the world that Gazza fleets are not alone, Palestine is not alone! Throw one more stone now!

BBC 30 may

Israel's PR response to Turkey's flotilla at Gaza - Alljazera

30 may 2010 fox news

DN! Aid Flotilla Approaching Gaza; Israel Vows to Block Ships Ekleyen: İHH İNSANİ YARDIM VAKFI - IHH HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOUNDATION

Gazza fleets at dawn

Yildirim: We are going to leave in due course

Yildirim: We are going to leave in due course

Bulent Yildirim, President of IHH, held a press conference onboard Mavi Marmara ship, anchored near Cyprus waiting for the rest of the flotilla to arrive.

Yildirim said “We are going to set sail towards Gaza in due course of time. There is no need to rush, we are waiting for the right time. Perhaps, in the meantime, Israel gets to think reasonably.”

Also commenting on Israel’s statements threatening to attack the ships, Yildirim went on to say “The youngest passenger onboard these ships is only one year old. There are people in their 80s onboard as well. If Israel wants to run the risk of attacking these ships, they may do so. In case of an attack, we are going to carry out nonviolent resistance. We do not even have a jackknife here, but we will not let the Israeli soldiers onboard this ship.”

Stating that the Israeli government could not manage this crisis properly, Yildirim went on to say “If Israel was a democratic state, it would allow this flotilla and let the humanity win. It would not intercept. However, they took this campaign as an insult to their honor because it is a military state. Israeli ministers followed a horrible way of reasoning. Normally, this flotilla would not have received this much publicity. I cannot figure out their reason to get involved with us this much. Normally, we are the ones supposed to show aggression. However, Israel acts more aggressively. Each and every day a new statement comes out from their side. Israel does not treat us as an NGO.”

Bulent Yildirim also mentioned of the support coming from all over the world to the aid flotilla, including Muslim countries, France, Belgium, Chile, Brazil, Turkey and the EU. He said that he hopes for a continuous increase of this support.

Yildirim once again stated that they are determined to reach their destination and they will not turn back. He also mentioned that in case of an interception, protests against Israel will be held in a lot of countries including Turkey. Yildirim said “I do not think that Israel will run that risk and face such reactions.”

Yildirim, in response to the question of “when do you plan to sail to Gaza”, said “We are going to set sail towards Gaza in due course of time. There is no need to rush, we are waiting for the right time. We prefer keeping the answer to this question to ourselves at the moment, I am sure that Israel is eager to know the answer as well.