Posted by
Defend America on Monday, May 31, 2010 4:49:39 AM
Israel: At Least 10 Killed on Gaza Flotilla
Published May 30, 2010
| Associated Press
JERUSALEM -- Israeli commandos on Monday
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 after encountering unexpected resistance as the forces
boarded the vessels.
The operation in international waters off
the Gaza coast was a nightmare scenario for Israel that looked certain
to further damage its international standing, strain already tense
relations with Turkey and draw unwanted attention to Gaza's plight.
The two sides offered conflicting accounts of what happened.
A reporter on one of the boats said the
Israelis fired at the vessel before boarding it, and the Israelis said
they only opened fire after being attacked by activists with sticks,
knives and live fire.
Israeli security forces were on alert across the country.
The activists were headed to Gaza on a
mission meant to draw attention to a 3-year-old Israeli blockade of the
coastal territory. Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas militants
took power there.
"It's disgusting that they have come on
board and attacked civilians. We are civilians," said Greta Berlin, a
spokeswoman for the Free Gaza movement, which organized the flotilla.
Speaking from the east Mediterranean island
of Cyprus, she said she had lost contact with the flotilla at about
3:30 a.m. (0030 GMT).
Israel had declared it would not allow the
ships to reach Gaza and had offered to transfer the aid to Gaza from an
Israeli port. Israeli naval commandos raided the ships while they were
in international waters after ordering them to stop about 80 miles (130
kilometers) from Gaza's coast, according to a pro-Palestinian activist
in Greece involved in the aid mission.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/05/30/reports-israeli-ships-attack-aid-flotilla-dead/?test=latestnews