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
An Australian journalist and photographer onboard aid boats headed for the Gaza Strip have not been heard from since at least 10 people were reportedly killed during a clash with Israeli commandos.
A Fairfax spokesman says journalist Paul McGeough and photographer Kate Geraghty last made contact around noon (AEST) today while onboard the MV Samoud.
Israel's defence force says at least 10 people were killed when commandos stormed a convoy of six ships carrying aid to Gaza.
It was led by a Turkish vessel with 600 people on board and set sail for Gaza from international waters off Cyprus on Sunday in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of the territory.
Commandos boarded the ships in international waters overnight, backed up by warships and helicopters.
Mr McGeough and Ms Geraghty joined the flotilla in Crete about a week ago, the Fairfax spokesman said.
He says the pair are on assignment covering the flotilla and have been moving from boat to boat - but were last known to be on the MV Samoud.
Both have satellite phones but Mr McGeough reported his GPS was not working, blaming the malfunction on Israeli attempts to jam communications.
Mr McGeough's last audio transmission revealed Israeli forces were using the cloak of darkness to approach the aid vessels.
"At 4.20[am, local time] we realised all communications on the boat were jammed," he reported.
"4.22[am] - we see two zodiacs moving in, pressing through. Two more zodiacs. Now there are five of them astern of us.
"There's white wakes on black water. Search lights on one of the cargo ships and from the Turkish ferry are picking up the zodiacs now."
It is understood Israeli forces boarded the Mavi Marmara and opened fire after passengers attacked them with axes and knives.
Israeli army radio reported 10 to 14 people were killed in the clash but it is not known if any Israeli commandos were among the dead.
Four Israeli commandos have been wounded, apparently by gunfire.
The Israel Defence Force says one of its weapons was stolen and used against its soldiers.
An Israeli religious medical service, ZAKA, said seven people had been admitted to hospital in Haifa, Israel's main naval base, one of them in a serious condition.
Turkey says it has "strongly protested" against Israel's military action.
Most of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza rely on aid, blaming Israel for imposing restrictions on the amount and type of goods it allows into the territory.
The United Nations and Western powers have urged Israel to ease its restrictions to prevent a humanitarian crisis. They have been urging Israel to let in concrete and steel to allow for post-war reconstruction.
Israel denies there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying food, medicine and medical equipment are allowed in regularly.
It says the restrictions are necessary to prevent weapons and materials that could be used to make them from reaching Hamas.
The European Union has called for an inquiry into the deaths aboard the Gaza aid ships.
In a statement, the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed her regret for the loss of life and the violence.
She also called for the immediate and unconditional opening of the crossing into Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid.
Hamas has urged Arabs and Muslims to "rise up" in front of Israeli embassies around the world in protest against the raids.
SBS world news australia had this as their lead story.
they preempted the actual story by saying one story that dominates the news tonight. they had an excellent report and spoke to mark negev, a spokeman for the israeli govt as well as arik bachar, foreign editor for ma' ariv in tel aviv.
negev said the israelis did evrything they could and the AID flotilla declined to hand over the aid to the israelis so they could transfer it to gaza. cant imagine why not. :roll:
deputy foreign minister danny ayalon said the flotilla was an outrageous provocation.
the coverage lasted at least 8 minutes
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
An Australian journalist and photographer onboard aid boats headed for the Gaza Strip have not been heard from since at least 10 people were reportedly killed during a clash with Israeli commandos.
A Fairfax spokesman says journalist Paul McGeough and photographer Kate Geraghty last made contact around noon (AEST) today while onboard the MV Samoud.
Israel's defence force says at least 10 people were killed when commandos stormed a convoy of six ships carrying aid to Gaza.
It was led by a Turkish vessel with 600 people on board and set sail for Gaza from international waters off Cyprus on Sunday in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of the territory.
Commandos boarded the ships in international waters overnight, backed up by warships and helicopters.
Mr McGeough and Ms Geraghty joined the flotilla in Crete about a week ago, the Fairfax spokesman said.
He says the pair are on assignment covering the flotilla and have been moving from boat to boat - but were last known to be on the MV Samoud.
Both have satellite phones but Mr McGeough reported his GPS was not working, blaming the malfunction on Israeli attempts to jam communications.
Mr McGeough's last audio transmission revealed Israeli forces were using the cloak of darkness to approach the aid vessels.
"At 4.20[am, local time] we realised all communications on the boat were jammed," he reported.
"4.22[am] - we see two zodiacs moving in, pressing through. Two more zodiacs. Now there are five of them astern of us.
"There's white wakes on black water. Search lights on one of the cargo ships and from the Turkish ferry are picking up the zodiacs now."
It is understood Israeli forces boarded the Mavi Marmara and opened fire after passengers attacked them with axes and knives.
Israeli army radio reported 10 to 14 people were killed in the clash but it is not known if any Israeli commandos were among the dead.
Four Israeli commandos have been wounded, apparently by gunfire.
The Israel Defence Force says one of its weapons was stolen and used against its soldiers.
An Israeli religious medical service, ZAKA, said seven people had been admitted to hospital in Haifa, Israel's main naval base, one of them in a serious condition.
Turkey says it has "strongly protested" against Israel's military action.
Most of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza rely on aid, blaming Israel for imposing restrictions on the amount and type of goods it allows into the territory.
The United Nations and Western powers have urged Israel to ease its restrictions to prevent a humanitarian crisis. They have been urging Israel to let in concrete and steel to allow for post-war reconstruction.
Israel denies there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying food, medicine and medical equipment are allowed in regularly.
It says the restrictions are necessary to prevent weapons and materials that could be used to make them from reaching Hamas.
The European Union has called for an inquiry into the deaths aboard the Gaza aid ships.
In a statement, the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed her regret for the loss of life and the violence.
She also called for the immediate and unconditional opening of the crossing into Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid.
Hamas has urged Arabs and Muslims to "rise up" in front of Israeli embassies around the world in protest against the raids.
thanks steve. good to see paul mcgeough on the flotilla. i read him and enjoy doing so.
weve got 1 last prime time news show and its the ABC which is the government station.
Post edited by catefrances on
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
ABC australia started their telecast with this. 5 minutes the story ran for.
it was said spain, greece and turkey have called in the israeli ambassadors for a chat. syria has called for an emergency meeting of the security council.
ben knight middle east correspondent for the ABC was at ashdod and said there is no news about paul mcgeough or kate geraghty
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
amazingly channel 9 one of the commercial channels that couldnt be bothered covering this story in their main bulletin just had it on one of their newsbreak adverts. which shows me the level of importance they place on it.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
I have gotten more information on this from the message pit today than I have from the TV. Now I think this forum is pretty great, but there's something hugely depressing about that. Like - WTF CNN.
Thanks to everybody who's posting, it's especially interesting to read posts from people all over the world.
and to think people think cnn and msnbc are left wing media outlets ...
Welll yeah, I mean I do actually...to say that msnbc isn't would be quite a stretch.
So what exactly happened here anyway. I mean there is clearly some video showing that there was some instigiations going on .... from the flotilla. Turks set them up, Turkey is run by Islamists these days...its not far fetched.
Paint balls vs knives and pipes? Who's doing what? Who's at fault? Isolation of Israel is really the goal, that appears to be true. Not that I am taking sides, because I don't have all the facts, but i get nervous when EVERYONE comes against Israel so quickly. Its not like they have lots of friends these days. But I am open to the truth regardless of who is found at fault. I am sure I will get pounded for even suggesting that Israel was caught up in a trap, but needed to be said.
HOB 10.05.2005, E Rutherford 06.03.2006, The Gorge 07.22.2006, Lolla 08.05.2007, West Palm 06.11.2008, Tampa 06.12.2008, Columbia 06.16.2008, EV Memphis 06.20.2009, New Orleans 05.01.2010, Kansas City 05.03.2010
and to think people think cnn and msnbc are left wing media outlets ...
Welll yeah, I mean I do actually...to say that msnbc isn't would be quite a stretch.
So what exactly happened here anyway. I mean there is clearly some video showing that there was some instigiations going on .... from the flotilla. Turks set them up, Turkey is run by Islamists these days...its not far fetched.
Paint balls vs knives and pipes? Who's doing what? Who's at fault? Isolation of Israel is really the goal, that appears to be true. Not that I am taking sides, because I don't have all the facts, but i get nervous when EVERYONE comes against Israel so quickly. Its not like they have lots of friends these days. But I am open to the truth regardless of who is found at fault. I am sure I will get pounded for even suggesting that Israel was caught up in a trap, but needed to be said.
We won't know until Israel releases the aid workers. At the moment it's just the one-sided Israeli propaganda machine working at full stretch. But even with this spin machine working overtime I think pretty much everyone with a brain can see that they are full of shit and lying through their teeth.
Israeli publicity machine cranks into gear over raid on Mavi Marmara
Activists on board flotilla remain silent following Israeli commando assault on convoy
* Harriet Sherwood in Ashdod
* guardian.co.uk, Monday 31 May 2010
From Jonah's Hill, a lookout point 50m above the Israeli port of Ashdod, the view out to sea on Monday was one of implausible nautical tranquillity.
A handful of bathers dipped into the waves breaking onto the wide sandy beach in the baking sunshine; cargo boats unloaded onto the dock beneath towering cranes.
But out there – somewhere, beyond view – was the Mavi Marmara, the scene in the early hours of today of unexpected carnage which ended in the death of at least nine, possibly more, pro-Palestinian activists.
Jonah's Hill itself was heaving. Shirtless Israeli men draped in their national flag waved placards declaring "Well done IDF" in both Hebrew and English, chanting, singing and applauding their support for the military operation.
Thick cables snaked across the ground from thrumming generators, delivering power to dozens of international TV crews, broadcasting across the globe against the backdrop of the shimmering Mediterranean.
Amid the crowd, a sophisticated public relations operation was underway. Spinners and spokesmen from the Israeli military and government departments politely answered questions and offered their own narrative of the day's events. A barrage of emails and text message alerts firing into inboxes provided a background of electronic muzak.
Shahar Arieli, deputy spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs, wearing a smart tie despite the heat, said two of the flotilla's boats had been brought into port.
All activists would be offered the chance of immediate deportation at Israel's expense "with their passports", he said. "We want them to leave as soon as possible," he added.
Those who declined would – "as long as they weren't involved in attacks on our troops" – be processed through Israel's justice system.
His patient courtesy was not matched by all those gathered on the hill. Chaim Cohen, a 52-year-old economic consultant from Givatayim, was dripping with both sweat and bile. "We have come to support our soldiers. It is obvious it [the Mavi Marmara] is a terrorist ship. We saw it on TV – they took out knives and put them in the stomachs of the IDF."
There was nothing to challenge the Israeli version of events. Repeated attempts to reach the cell and satellite phones of activists on board the flotilla were rebuffed; it was unclear whether their phones had been confiscated, jammed or if they were simply out of range.
By late afternoon on Monday, activists with lesser injuries were being brought to hospitals in coastal towns and cities from the smaller passenger ships. At the Barzilai medical centre in Ashkelon, just north of the Gaza Strip, a Greek man in a neck brace told reporters: "They hit me." Who? "Pirates," he answered.
A dazed man with a striking black eye was unloaded from an ambulance. There had been "some brutality" on board, he said, but the activists were non-violent. "We are all Palestinian now," he said as the doors of the ER closed behind him.'
His patient courtesy was not matched by all those gathered on the hill. Chaim Cohen, a 52-year-old economic consultant from Givatayim, was dripping with both sweat and bile. "We have come to support our soldiers. It is obvious it [the Mavi Marmara] is a terrorist ship. We saw it on TV – they took out knives and put them in the stomachs of the IDF."
Sweat and bile, wow ... dripping bile would normally mean a visit to the hospital!
HOB 10.05.2005, E Rutherford 06.03.2006, The Gorge 07.22.2006, Lolla 08.05.2007, West Palm 06.11.2008, Tampa 06.12.2008, Columbia 06.16.2008, EV Memphis 06.20.2009, New Orleans 05.01.2010, Kansas City 05.03.2010
Comments
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.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010 ... tion=world
Aussies onboard during deadly convoy raid
By Middle East correspondent Ben Knight, wires
Updated 37 minutes ago
An Australian journalist and photographer onboard aid boats headed for the Gaza Strip have not been heard from since at least 10 people were reportedly killed during a clash with Israeli commandos.
A Fairfax spokesman says journalist Paul McGeough and photographer Kate Geraghty last made contact around noon (AEST) today while onboard the MV Samoud.
Israel's defence force says at least 10 people were killed when commandos stormed a convoy of six ships carrying aid to Gaza.
It was led by a Turkish vessel with 600 people on board and set sail for Gaza from international waters off Cyprus on Sunday in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of the territory.
Commandos boarded the ships in international waters overnight, backed up by warships and helicopters.
Mr McGeough and Ms Geraghty joined the flotilla in Crete about a week ago, the Fairfax spokesman said.
He says the pair are on assignment covering the flotilla and have been moving from boat to boat - but were last known to be on the MV Samoud.
Both have satellite phones but Mr McGeough reported his GPS was not working, blaming the malfunction on Israeli attempts to jam communications.
Mr McGeough's last audio transmission revealed Israeli forces were using the cloak of darkness to approach the aid vessels.
"At 4.20[am, local time] we realised all communications on the boat were jammed," he reported.
"4.22[am] - we see two zodiacs moving in, pressing through. Two more zodiacs. Now there are five of them astern of us.
"There's white wakes on black water. Search lights on one of the cargo ships and from the Turkish ferry are picking up the zodiacs now."
It is understood Israeli forces boarded the Mavi Marmara and opened fire after passengers attacked them with axes and knives.
Israeli army radio reported 10 to 14 people were killed in the clash but it is not known if any Israeli commandos were among the dead.
Four Israeli commandos have been wounded, apparently by gunfire.
The Israel Defence Force says one of its weapons was stolen and used against its soldiers.
An Israeli religious medical service, ZAKA, said seven people had been admitted to hospital in Haifa, Israel's main naval base, one of them in a serious condition.
Turkey says it has "strongly protested" against Israel's military action.
Most of the 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza rely on aid, blaming Israel for imposing restrictions on the amount and type of goods it allows into the territory.
The United Nations and Western powers have urged Israel to ease its restrictions to prevent a humanitarian crisis. They have been urging Israel to let in concrete and steel to allow for post-war reconstruction.
Israel denies there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying food, medicine and medical equipment are allowed in regularly.
It says the restrictions are necessary to prevent weapons and materials that could be used to make them from reaching Hamas.
The European Union has called for an inquiry into the deaths aboard the Gaza aid ships.
In a statement, the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton expressed her regret for the loss of life and the violence.
She also called for the immediate and unconditional opening of the crossing into Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid.
Hamas has urged Arabs and Muslims to "rise up" in front of Israeli embassies around the world in protest against the raids.
they preempted the actual story by saying one story that dominates the news tonight. they had an excellent report and spoke to mark negev, a spokeman for the israeli govt as well as arik bachar, foreign editor for ma' ariv in tel aviv.
negev said the israelis did evrything they could and the AID flotilla declined to hand over the aid to the israelis so they could transfer it to gaza. cant imagine why not. :roll:
deputy foreign minister danny ayalon said the flotilla was an outrageous provocation.
the coverage lasted at least 8 minutes
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
thanks steve. good to see paul mcgeough on the flotilla. i read him and enjoy doing so.
weve got 1 last prime time news show and its the ABC which is the government station.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiLNUYLZ ... r_embedded
it was said spain, greece and turkey have called in the israeli ambassadors for a chat. syria has called for an emergency meeting of the security council.
ben knight middle east correspondent for the ABC was at ashdod and said there is no news about paul mcgeough or kate geraghty
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB-Mk4bFz-U
The EU, through its representative Catherine Ashton, demands that Gaza's borders must be opened immediately.
The American media will simply follow the Israeli line and claim that the IDF acted in self-defense. Expect nothing else. The U.S media is a joke.
Thanks to everybody who's posting, it's especially interesting to read posts from people all over the world.
Welll yeah, I mean I do actually...to say that msnbc isn't would be quite a stretch.
So what exactly happened here anyway. I mean there is clearly some video showing that there was some instigiations going on .... from the flotilla. Turks set them up, Turkey is run by Islamists these days...its not far fetched.
Paint balls vs knives and pipes? Who's doing what? Who's at fault? Isolation of Israel is really the goal, that appears to be true. Not that I am taking sides, because I don't have all the facts, but i get nervous when EVERYONE comes against Israel so quickly. Its not like they have lots of friends these days. But I am open to the truth regardless of who is found at fault. I am sure I will get pounded for even suggesting that Israel was caught up in a trap, but needed to be said.
Hopefully you're mildly masochistic like I am.
We won't know until Israel releases the aid workers. At the moment it's just the one-sided Israeli propaganda machine working at full stretch. But even with this spin machine working overtime I think pretty much everyone with a brain can see that they are full of shit and lying through their teeth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/ma ... vi-assault
Israeli publicity machine cranks into gear over raid on Mavi Marmara
Activists on board flotilla remain silent following Israeli commando assault on convoy
* Harriet Sherwood in Ashdod
* guardian.co.uk, Monday 31 May 2010
From Jonah's Hill, a lookout point 50m above the Israeli port of Ashdod, the view out to sea on Monday was one of implausible nautical tranquillity.
A handful of bathers dipped into the waves breaking onto the wide sandy beach in the baking sunshine; cargo boats unloaded onto the dock beneath towering cranes.
But out there – somewhere, beyond view – was the Mavi Marmara, the scene in the early hours of today of unexpected carnage which ended in the death of at least nine, possibly more, pro-Palestinian activists.
Jonah's Hill itself was heaving. Shirtless Israeli men draped in their national flag waved placards declaring "Well done IDF" in both Hebrew and English, chanting, singing and applauding their support for the military operation.
Thick cables snaked across the ground from thrumming generators, delivering power to dozens of international TV crews, broadcasting across the globe against the backdrop of the shimmering Mediterranean.
Amid the crowd, a sophisticated public relations operation was underway. Spinners and spokesmen from the Israeli military and government departments politely answered questions and offered their own narrative of the day's events. A barrage of emails and text message alerts firing into inboxes provided a background of electronic muzak.
Shahar Arieli, deputy spokesman for the ministry of foreign affairs, wearing a smart tie despite the heat, said two of the flotilla's boats had been brought into port.
All activists would be offered the chance of immediate deportation at Israel's expense "with their passports", he said. "We want them to leave as soon as possible," he added.
Those who declined would – "as long as they weren't involved in attacks on our troops" – be processed through Israel's justice system.
His patient courtesy was not matched by all those gathered on the hill. Chaim Cohen, a 52-year-old economic consultant from Givatayim, was dripping with both sweat and bile. "We have come to support our soldiers. It is obvious it [the Mavi Marmara] is a terrorist ship. We saw it on TV – they took out knives and put them in the stomachs of the IDF."
There was nothing to challenge the Israeli version of events. Repeated attempts to reach the cell and satellite phones of activists on board the flotilla were rebuffed; it was unclear whether their phones had been confiscated, jammed or if they were simply out of range.
By late afternoon on Monday, activists with lesser injuries were being brought to hospitals in coastal towns and cities from the smaller passenger ships. At the Barzilai medical centre in Ashkelon, just north of the Gaza Strip, a Greek man in a neck brace told reporters: "They hit me." Who? "Pirates," he answered.
A dazed man with a striking black eye was unloaded from an ambulance. There had been "some brutality" on board, he said, but the activists were non-violent. "We are all Palestinian now," he said as the doors of the ER closed behind him.'
Sweat and bile, wow ... dripping bile would normally mean a visit to the hospital!