See how we attacked them as soon as they landed on deck!" / Barak: No humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and Israel will defend itself / UNSC ignores Muslim violence around the world, holds urgent meeting on flotilla
Video: 'Beating the hell out of Israeli commandos'
Lest anyone believe that the 'peace activists' had peaceful intentions, this video is entitled "Beating the hell out of Israeli commandos' and the person who posted it writes, "See how we attacked them as soon as they landed on deck! Look closely, we decked one of them with a crowbar!"
Let's go to the videotape. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8zVD6C3C1k
Anyone still doubt these useful idiots were looking for a confrontation to create 'martyrs'?
| From Ha'aretz, a picture of one of the "peace protesters" and "humanitarian aid activists" on board one of the boats.  |
| From the IDF: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo |
Barak: No humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and Israel will defend itself
May 31, 2010 http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/05/barak-no-humanitarian-crisis-in-gaza-and-israel-will-defend-itself.html
Starving in Gaza
Bravo. Jihad Flotilla Update: "Mideast: Flotilla; Barak, No Humanitarian Crisis In Gaza," from ANSAmed, May 31 (thanks to Insubria):
(ANSAmed) - JERUSALEM, MAY 31 - There was no humanitarian crisis and nobody is dying with hunger in the Gaza Strip, where the real problem is the fact that control of the territory is in the hands of a terrorist organisation (Hamas), said Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak today. He made his remarks in a press conference, hastily organised after the high number of victims that fell when a flotilla of pro-Palestinian activists was boarded by the Israeli navy off the coast of Gaza. The reason for the isolation of Gaza, he continued, is to keep weapons and terrorists from entering this area. Israel, Barak added, is determined to defend its sovereignty. (ANSAmed).
Turkey requests emergency UN session, calls Israel's acts "piracy", demands Israel take the blame for the Turkey-sponsored provocation.
The North Koreans must be laughing their asses off.
The North Koreans must be laughing their asses off.
Meanwhile, a Turkish Islamic charity at the center of Gaza flotilla is accused of ties to Islamic terrorists:(JPost) At the request of Turkey, the United Nations Security Council will be holding an emergency session on Monday evening to discuss today's incident in which members of an international aid flotilla en-route to Gaza were killed.
Turkey holds a temporary rotating seat on the Security Council.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc called Israel's actions "piracy" and said Turkey is withdrawing its ambassador on Monday as well as canceling three joint military drills and calling on the UN Security Council to convene in an emergency session regarding Israel.
"I strongly condemn the use of force by Israeli military forces on an aid convoy composed of 32 countries, including Turkey," Arinc said. "This attack must not remain unanswered." He also said a Turkish youth soccer team currently in Israel would be brought home.
Turkish police blocked dozens of stone-throwing protesters who tried to storm the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul after the IDF flotilla raid was reported.
CNN-Turk and NTV showed dozens of angry protesters scuffling with Turkish police guarding the consulate in downtown Istanbul.
"Damn Israel," the protesters shouted.
Protesters later staged a more peaceful demonstration outside the consulate, holding up Palestinian flags and listening to readings from the Koran.
Activists also started to gather outside the Israeli ambassador's residence in the Turkish capital.
More...
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - The Turkish Islamic charity that organized the relief flotilla boarded in a deadly Israeli raid has been both praised for sending aid around the world and accused of supporting radical Islamic groups including Hamas. [...]
Some 400 of the 600 passengers on board the main ship carrying the activists were from Turkey, mostly members of IHH. Most of those killed were Turkish, officials said.
Israeli officials have said the charity is merely a front and that the group is has links to al-Qaida and Hamas.
Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said in a press conference on Monday that: "the armada of hate and violence in support of Hamas terror organization was a premeditated and outrageous provocation.
"The organizers are well-known for their ties with global jihad, al-Qaida and Hamas. They have a history of arms smuggling and deadly terror.
More...
The San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea says in paragraph 67:
67. Merchant vessels flying the flag of neutral States may not be attacked unless they:There is abundant evidence from both sides that there was prior warning, that the ships refused to stop, and that they resisted the visit and being searched. And the ships were very publicly breaching a blockade.
(a) are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture.
From the MFA (via email):
1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been smuggled into Gaza via the sea.
2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea.
3. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral States.
4. The naval manuals of several western countries, including the US and England recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement of give due notice of the existence of the blockade.
5. In this vein, it should be noted that Israel publicized the existence of the blockade and the precise coordinates of such by means of the accepted international professional maritime channels. Israel also provided appropriate notification to the affected governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla. Moreover, in real time, the ships participating in the protest flotilla were warned repeatedly that a maritime blockade is in effect.
6. Here, it should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and appropriate notification has been granted, as above.
7. Under international maritime law, when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats can enter the blockaded area. That includes both civilian and enemy vessels.
8. A State may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law. The US Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its port with the intention of evading the blockade.
9. Here we should note that the protesters indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral statements. Moreover, the route of these vessels indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade in violation of international law.
10. Given the protesters explicit intention to violate the naval blockade, Israel exercised its right under international law to enforce the blockade. It should be noted that prior to undertaking enforcement measures, explicit warnings were relayed directly to the captains of the vessels, expressing Israel's intent to exercise its right to enforce the blockade.
11. Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order to enforce the blockade. Given the large number of vessels participating in the flotilla, an operational decision was made to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from the area of the blockade.
12. Israeli personnel attempting to enforce the blockade were met with violence by the protesters and acted in self defense to fend off such attacks.
Posts
