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32°38′28″N 33°34′02″E / 32.64113°N 33.56727°E / 32.64113; 33.56727 Template:Fix bunching

Gaza flotilla raid
Map of the respective routes of the Gaza-bound flotilla (green) and of the Israeli Navy (orange).
Location	International waters of the Mediterranean Sea
Coordinates	32.64113 N 33.56727 E
Date	31 May 2010 (2010-05-31) 4:30 a.m. (UTC+3)
Deaths	8 Turkish passengers and 1 Turkish-American passenger
Injured	Several dozen passengers and at least seven IDF commandos.

Template:Fix bunching

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The Gaza flotilla raid, code named Operation Sea Breeze by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), was the boarding and seizure of six ships from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in May 2010. The flotilla, organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), was attempting to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid and building supplies to the Gaza strip. The six ships gathered near Cyprus, and departed on 30 May 2010 carrying 663 people from 37 countries. Israeli commandos seized the ships in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea after the flotilla refused Israel's demand to have the cargos inspected at the Ashdod port and items permitted by Israel delivered by land.

Activists aboard the flotilla's largest ship, the MV Mavi Marmara, clashed with Israeli Shayetet 13 special forces as they abseiled onto the deck of the vessel. Several activists on board said that the IDF had opened fire on the ship before boarding. The commandos said they were attacked with knives, slingshots, and metal pipes, and then switched from non-lethal weapons to live rounds after several activists seized two pistols from the commandos and fired at them. Other passengers said that the activists had acted in self defense, disarming the soldiers and throwing their weapons into the sea. Nine Turkish IHH activists were killed by the Israeli commandos, dozens were wounded, and hundreds were arrested. At least seven of the commandos were also wounded—two seriously. Israeli officials stated that IHH activists on the MV Mavi Marmara were determined to instigate violence, and released videos of participating IHH activists declaring their desire to be martyrs; the IHH rejected the accusation.

The raid prompted widespread international reactions, including condemnation from supranational bodies and NGOs, as well as demonstrations and riots around the world. The United Nations Security Council condemned "those acts resulting in civilian deaths," demanded an impartial investigation of the raid, and called for the immediate release of civilians held by Israel. Israel responded that it would release 620 of the 682 arrested people and deport them back to their countries. The incident further complicated the already deteriorating relations between Turkey and Israel. On 14 June, in an attack declared as revenge for the raid, Palestinian Fatah gunmen ambushed and shot Israeli police officers in their squad car, killing one and wounding three.

The supplies seized by the Israelis were unloaded at the Ashdod port and inspected by Israeli authorities: those items approved by Israel were sent toward Gaza by land. Hamas refused to allow this shipment into Gaza unless Israel released all individuals detained from the flotilla and agreed to allow the flotilla organizers to deliver the supplies directly into Gaza, including construction materials, without Israeli inspections. MV Rachel Corrie, a ship originally intended to be part of the flotilla continued its attempt to deliver materials to Gaza; it was also seized in international waters by the Israelis.

Background

The Gaza Strip has land borders with Israel and Egypt, and a sea border on the Mediterranean. Egypt and Israel largely keep their borders with the territory sealed. After the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel tightened the blockade of the Gaza Strip, maintaining that the blockade is necessary to limit Palestinian rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip on its cities and to prevent Hamas from obtaining other weapons. It argued that following the takeover of Gaza by Hamas and the intensification of Qassam rocket attacks, it is not legally responsible for Gaza and not obliged to help what it considers a hostile territory beyond whatever is necessary to avoid a humanitarian crisis. Speaking in 2006, Dov Weisglass, an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was quoted by political sources to have said that, "The idea is to put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger." Weisglass has denied this report. Later in January 2009, after its Operation Cast Lead, Israel declared a formal naval blockade of Gaza. The land and sea restrictions, with the control of Gaza's airspace by Israel, resulted in a complete blockade of Gaza.

As of April 2010, movement of Palestinians via Rafah and Erez crossings controlled by the Egyptian and the Israeli authorities, respectively, remained largely restricted and limited to medical and other humanitarian cases. Israeli human rights organization Gisha, the Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, obtained an Israeli government document which says "A country has the right to decide that it chooses not to engage in economic relations or to give economic assistance to the other party to the conflict, or that it wishes to operate using 'economic warfare' ".

Israel allows limited humanitarian supplies from aid organizations into the Gaza Strip. According to an Amnesty International report; some of the blocked items include petrol, construction material, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, pasta, clothing, toys, hygiene products, generators, glass, and medical supplies. Numerous reports and statements by the United Nations and independent NGOs stated that the blocking of various supplies by Israel was creating a humanitarian crisis in the region. According to the activists, this was a collective punishment of the civilian population in Gaza and thus illegal under international law, a view echoed by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Organisation

Cargo of the flotilla

The ships were to carry what the organizers identified as 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid, with a value of $20 million, including food, wheelchairs, books, toys, and medicine. The building materials such as cement which made up 4/5 of the cargo's gross weight are banned by Israel as part of the blockade. Israel prevents cement and other building materials from reaching Gaza, arguing that although they have legitimate uses, they might also be used for military purposes. Organizers said that building materials were necessary to rebuild the homes and infrastructure of Gaza that were seriously damaged in the 2008–2009 Gaza war.

Free Gaza Movement

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla, comprised of eight ships, was organized to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip. This was the tenth time that the Free Gaza Movement had tried to ship aid to Gaza. Five aid shipments had been allowed through prior to the Gaza War of 2008–09, but all shipments following the war were blocked by Israeli forces. This flotilla, the largest sent by far, was supported with one large passenger ship and two cargo ships by an Islamic aid group from Turkey, the IHH (İnsani Yardım Vakfı) (Template:Lang-en).

IHH

IHH is a Turkish NGO established in 1992 and officially registered in Istanbul in 1995. It provides humanitarian relief in areas of war, earthquake, hunger, and conflict. The IHH has held Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 2004. The IHH was declared a banned organisation in Israel, along with 35 other charities, in July 2008: Defense Minister Ehud Barak claimed that the charities were supporting Hamas. However, the IHH is not considered a terrorist organisation in the United States.

People on board the flotilla

There were in total 663 participants from 37 nations on board the flotilla. Notable people aboard the flotilla included Israeli-Arab member of Knesset Haneen Zoubi, leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel Raed Salah, Swedish novelist Henning Mankell, and a number of parliamentarians from European and Arab national legislatures and the European Parliament.

Ships in flotilla

Flag	Name	Organisation	Port	Passengers	Crew	Cargo
USA	Challenger 1	Free Gaza Movement
USA	Challenger 2	Free Gaza Movement
Greece	MS Free Mediterranean	Ship to Gaza	Piraeus
Greece	Sfendoni	Greek Ship to Gaza, European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza	Piraeus
Comoros	MV Mavi Marmara	IHH	Antalya	581 (around 400 Turkish)
Turkey	Gazze	IHH	Antalya	5	13	2,104 tons of cement, 600 tons of construction steel, and 50 tons of tiles
Kiribati	Defne Y	IHH	Antalya	27	23	150 tons of iron, 98 power units, 50 precast homes, 16 units of children's playground equipment, food, shoes, medicine, wheelchairs, clothing items, notebooks and textbooks
Cambodia	MV Rachel Corrie	Free Gaza Movement	Dundalk	11	8	550 tons of cement, 20 tons of paper, 100 tons of high-end medical equipment, fabric and thread

Challenger 2 and MV Rachel Corrie were behind the rest of the flotilla due to mechanical problems, possibly due to an Israeli sabotage. Challenger 2 aborted, but the MV Rachel Corrie continued its journey.

Events during the preliminary stages

The incoming fleet was known to Israel government, military intelligence and press. Israel declared that the flotilla was "about to break international law"; with one of the flotilla's organizers, Greta Berlin, saying "e have the right to sail from international waters into the waters of Gaza".

An Israeli spokesman announced that the convoy would not be permitted to reach Gaza but would be redirected by force to the port of Ashdod, where "large tents and other facilities had been set up at the port to receive the activists, so that either Israel or humanitarian agencies could deliver them to Gaza overland." Israeli officials also said that all non-banned cargo would be transferred to Gaza after undergoing a security inspection, which would mean not allowing some of the activist's supplies, such as concrete and cement through. Foreigners would be deported or, if they did not willingly agree to be deported, detained.

The flotilla organisers rejected Israel's offer, saying that Israelis would not let the reconstruction aid into Gaza, and further "This mission is not about delivering humanitarian supplies, it's about breaking Israel's siege on 1.5 million Palestinians... We want to raise international awareness about the prison-like closure of Gaza and pressure the international community to review its sanctions policy and end its support for continued Israeli occupation."

Some supporters of the flotilla announced on 28 May: "A violent response from Israel will breathe new life into the Palestine solidarity movement, drawing attention to the blockade." Some of the activists who would later die during the MV Mavi Marmara clash spoke in terms that suggested they put religious duty before their lives. On 29 May, Aljazeera broadcast footage of some activists on the MV Mavi Marmara participating in a chant invoking battle against Jews.

Six of the eight ships in the flotilla set out on 30 May 2010 from international waters off the coast of Cyprus; the remaining two were delayed by mechanical problems and did not join the rest of the flotilla. During a briefing to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee of the Knesset, Israel's legislature, Israeli colonel Itzik Turgeman hinted that the Israeli Defense Forces had sabotaged the engines of five ships belonging to the flotilla, saying that "they took care of them."

The government of Cyprus refused to cooperate with the Free Gaza Movement, or allow activists to sail from its harbors, with the Cyprus Police stating that "anything related to the trip to Gaza is not permitted," and as a result remaining MPs and activists embarked instead from Famagusta in Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus. Cypriot and Greek MPs and activists refused to embark via ports in Northern Cyprus. Having been delayed by two days, the flotilla aimed to reach Gaza on the afternoon of 31 May.

Boarding

The flotilla had planned to break through the Gaza blockade, ignoring Israel's proposal for the activists to dock in Ashdod port and transfer the permitted items in the cargo through there. After the flotilla activists ignored orders to change course, Israeli soldiers from the Shayetet 13 unit boarded the ships at around 04:00 IST with sidearms and paintball guns while in international waters about 80 miles (130 km) out to sea.

Initial contact

The Israeli Navy made initial contact with the flotilla at 11 p.m. (2000 UTC) on 30 May, about 120 miles (190 km) northwest of Gaza, 80 miles (130 km) off the coast of southern Lebanon, in international waters, ordering the ships to follow them to port or otherwise be boarded.

According to Israel radio the following message was sent by the Israeli navy to the captain of the Mavi Marmara: "You are approaching an area of hostilities, which is under a naval blockade. Gaza coastal area and Gaza Harbour are closed to maritime traffic. The Israeli government supports delivery of humanitarian supplies to the civilian population in Gaza Strip and invites you to enter Ashdod port. Delivery of supplies will be in accordance with the authorities' regulations and through the formal land crossing to Gaza and under your observation, after which you can return to your home ports." The reply was: "Negative, negative. Our destination is Gaza." Shortly after, two Israeli naval vessels flanked the flotilla on either side, but at a distance, and an Israeli aircraft flew overhead. Among the Israeli vessels participating was the Sa'ar 5-class corvette INS Lahav.

The IDF released an audio recording purporting to be of a radio exchange between the Israeli Navy and the flotilla. After Israeli warnings that the ships are approaching a blockade, voices responded "Go back to Auschwitz!" and "Don't forget 9/11". The captain of the Challenger I, and activists such as Huwaida Arraf, who was on the bridge of the Challenger I, have disputed the authenticity of the recording and Israel has conceded that it is impossible to trace who made the comments, or from which ship, because they were made on an open channel. An Israeli journalist who was on board an IDF ship confirmed the IDF accounts.

Mavi Marmara boarding

The boarding of the Mavi Marmara resulted in violent clashes between activists and Israeli soldiers. Each side claims that the other started the violence, and the parties disagree on who acted in self-defense against illegitimate actions of the other side.

The operation started in the early morning at 4:30. Speedboats and three Black Hawk helicopters, each with a team of 15 soldiers equipped with paint ball guns and pistols as sidearms, approached the flotilla.

Journalists' accounts

Ron Ben-Yishai, a veteran war correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth was aboard the Victory, an Israeli missile ship. He said the army planned to land a team on the top deck and rush the bridge and take control. He reported that that the assessment was that the passengers would show "light resistance and possibly minor violence". He said the soldiers were told to confront protesters verbally, use crowd control tactics and use firearms only to save their own lives. The commandos were not able to rush the bridge as planned and another helicopter was sent with a second troop. At first, the soldiers attempted to stop the violence with stun grenades; however, after a soldier was reported injured, the troops then asked for permission to use their firearms, which they received.

Al Jazeera journalist Jamal Elshayyal, aboard the Mavi Marmara, said "the first shots that were fired were either some sort of sound grenades...there was tear gas that was fired, as well as rubber-coated steel bullets...the live fire came roughly five minutes after that." He continued that "one of the passengers who was on the side of the deck holding a water hose, trying to hose off, if you will, the advancing Israeli Navy, was shot in his arm..." He stated, "There is no doubt from what I saw that live ammunition was fired before any Israeli soldier was on deck." and that two persons were shot and killed before the soldiers had started boarding. According to Elshayyal, three persons also died while passengers including a Knesset member, tried in vain to make the soldiers help the wounded.

Elshayyal stated that passengers took apart some of the railing bars of the ship when they saw the Israeli ship approaching from a distance and that he saw "a number of Israeli soldiers being beaten with them" as soon as they tried to come aboard. He said he "heard accounts of three, in fact, Israeli soldiers being taken captive during the battle, and those accounts that once they had been taken captive, the intensity of the fighting increased, so the organizers of the ship ordered that these soldiers be released lest the passengers be inflicted more harm."

Al Jazeera cameraman Andre Abu Khalil, also aboard the ship, concurred that the initial wave of Israeli soldiers were overpowered but that there were four captured rather than three, who were "brought to the lowest deck (with) fracture wounds" and only after that live ammunition was used.

One of the journalists broadcasting live from Mavi Marmara during the raid reported that two soldiers had been captured, and were being safely held and treated for their wounds.

Israeli accounts

According to the IDF, Israeli commandos prepared to encounter political activists seeking to hold a protest, were armed with paintball guns and handguns as sidearms. The soldiers had orders to peacefully convince the activists to give up, and if not successful, use non-lethal force to commandeer the ship. The commandos were instructed to use the sidearms in an emergency, when their lives were at risk.

The IDF reported that the commandos were immediately attacked after descending from helicopters onto the deck of the ship. Soldiers were beaten badly, including stabbings, and one was thrown to a lower deck 30 feet (9.1 m) below. Two Israeli commandos had their guns wrested away. An Israeli commando said that there was live fire at some point against them from below deck. Some of the commandos suffered gunshot wounds. According to Major Avital Leibovich of the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the activists attacked the soldiers with knives, slingshots, spikes, and clubs, and with pistols that were seized from Israeli commandos. The Israeli Navy said they recovered 9mm shell casings of a kind not used by the Israeli commandos, suggesting that the activists had other weapons not seized from the IDF. They were reportedly thrown overboard prior to the Israeli commandos taking complete control of the ship. Israeli commandos also boarded the ship from boats. As the boats approached, activists fired water hoses and threw a box of plates and a stun grenade at them, and beat the hands of soldiers as they climbed on board.

Stun grenades and tear gas were used in an attempt to disperse activists. After this proved ineffective, the commandos requested and received permission to use live ammunition. The commandos then shot activists in the legs, which forced them to disperse. The commandos then advanced towards the bridge while firing at attacking activists. They reached the bridge and took over the ship after 30 minutes.

The IDF released 20 videos of the incident. One video shows how the first commandos to abseil down to the deck were attacked by a mob, and includes a soldier being thrown 30 feet (9.1 m) overboard as well as another being thrown to the lower deck. Other videos show at least one incident in which a stun grenade and fire bomb was thrown at the soldiers, as well activists beating one of the soldiers and trying to kidnap him. Another video, edited from the ship's surveillance footage, is described by the IDF as showing activists preparing for a clash hours before the Israeli Navy made contact with the ship. Another video allegedly shows the first four commandos to abseil onto the deck being attacked by activists with bars, axes and knives. The fourth commando saw his team leader on the deck, with a Turkish activist holding the pistol he had grabbed from him and pointing it to his head. He jumped from the rope and managed to shoot the gun wielding activist, 20 seconds after the first soldier landed on the deck.

According to a preliminary navy investigation, some passengers attempted to take hostage three unconscious commandos by dragging them into one of the passenger halls below. They were held in passenger halls for several minutes until they regained consciousness and managed to join the other soldiers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, echoing other Israeli accounts, said that the events represent a clear case of self-defense of the IDF soldiers.

The Israeli Supreme Court, which rejected several local legal suits against the flotilla raid, wrote in its verdict that "the soldiers were forced to respond in order to defend their lives."

The Jerusalem Post has attributed a statement to the Shayetet 13 boarding team's commander that the commandos fired warning shots and dropped stun grenades prior to roping down to the ship.

Activists' and flotilla organizers' accounts

According to the captain of the Mavi Marmara, Mehmut Tuval, some activists aboard the ship "were preparing to use violence against the Israeli soldiers." He noticed that some activists were cutting chains and steel off of the ship using rotary saws (which were not part of the ship's equipment) roughly two hours before the IDF came aboard. He asked his chief officer to collect weapons the activists were planning on using and dispose of them into the sea.

The wife of the Mavi Marmara's chief engineer, Nilüfer Ören, stated that IDF began tracking them after 90 miles (140 km), there were 40 ships surrounding the convoy and the announcement was made while the commandos were boarding from helicopters at 04:45 am. She also said that sound bombs and smoke bombs were used. Therefore activists and crew members used gas masks. Arafat Shoukri, of the Free Gaza Movement (FGM), one the co-organizers of the flotilla convoy, said those on board one ship had called them by telephone to say that Israeli helicopters had arrived. He said that from that moment on, he had witnessed shootings, and afterward people on board shouted 'We are raising the white flag, stop shooting at us'. He called Israeli accounts of activists having pistols and other weapons "cheap propaganda".

According to Mavi Marmara activists and personnel, Israel initially opened fire with warning shots but when the ship didn't stop the attack began. Activists said that sound and smoke bombs were used and then IDF commandos surrounded the ship and boarded from helicopters and from the sea. In contrast with the Israeli account, activists say that Israelis did fire on the boat before boarding.

Robert Mackey of The New York Times suggested that the passengers on the ship may have mistaken the flash grenades and paintball guns for deadly weapons, which enraged them. Espen Goffen, a 38-year-old activist from Norway who sailed aboard the Mavi Marmara, said the Israeli commandos "started off with some kind of paintball bullets with glass in them that left terrible soft tissue wounds. And then rubber bullets. And then live ammunition afterward." According to Kevin Neish, an activist from Canada aboard Mavi Marmara, "soldiers began firing from helicopters above the ship as the raid began."

Activists on board said the resistance was not organized; rather the Israeli helicopters, ships and gunfire "created the atmosphere that people wanted to defend themselves.". On the other hand, activist Espen Goffeng stated that "he defense of the boat was quite well organized".

Bülent Yıldırım, president of the Humanitarian Aid Foundation (İHH), reported that photographer Cevdet Kılıçlar was shot in the head by a soldier one meter away. British activist Kevin Ovenden confirmed that a man was shot by soldiers after pointing his camera towards them. Forensic investigation found that Kılıçlar was shot in the head at close range.

Norman Paech, a former member of the German parliament Left Party who was aboard the Marmara said he only saw three activists resisting. "They had no knives, no axes, only sticks that they used to defend themselves," he told reporters. But he said he could "not rule out" that others used weapons somewhere else on the boat.

His suggestion was partially corroborated by Mohamed Beltagy, an Egyptian member of parliament who had also been on the ship. Beltagy stated on the Egyptian television program "10 at Night" that the flotilla participants overcame three Israeli commandos and snatched their weapons from them. His admission of employing force against IDF soldiers was accepted as truthful in Egypt, as evidenced by the heavy criticism of him in the Egyptian media, not for exaggerating or lying, but for granting Israel a "public relations gift."

Writer Edda Manga said five of the activists died directly while the rest died because they were denied medical treatment. Egyptian MP Hazem Farouq, British activist Sarah Colborne, Turkish activist Nilüfer Ören, Al-Jazeera cameraman Issam Zaatar, and Turkish author Sinan Albayrak were also among those who confirmed in their statements that the Israeli soldiers did not allow the critically wounded to receive immediate medical assistance.

Flotilla proponents and Turkish charity group leaders said that since the ships were on international waters, "even if we had used guns", abandoning the non-violence principle would still be legal as self-defense from Israeli "kidnapping" and "piracy". Prof. Mattias Gardell who was on-board stated that the soldiers came on-board with sharp loaded weapons with laser sights and at least four persons were killed execution style.

Due to a communications blackout after the attack, it was initially difficult to get accounts from activists on board. The activists began making statements to the press after they were released and deported. Activist Huwaida Arraf reported that once onboard the Challenger 1, Israeli troops seized all communication equipment, cameras and memory cards from activists.

IHH president Bülent Yıldırım stated that "passengers on the ship showed civil resistance, the press was there, and that the İHH (had) called on the passengers not to allow Israeli soldiers in".

Haneen Zoubi, a Palestinian Arab citizen of Israel who currently serves as a member of the Knesset, said that IDF soldiers refused to offer medical aid to several wounded activists at her request, who died shortly after. She also said that soldiers opened fire before abseiling onto the deck. With her fluent Hebrew she acted as translator between IDF soldiers and the activists, also relaying requests for medical aid, water and the chance to pray.

Kenneth Nichols O'Keefe, a US army veteran, claimed that he and several others took a pistol and assault rifle off of 3 IDF commandos so that they could not be used against them; with him personally emptying the magazine and chamber of one pistol, confirming that they contained live ammunition due to his experience as a US Marine. He also claimed to have been beaten, and is shown with a bloodied face and clothes in a video taken by the Anatolia news agency. He had his legally issued Palestinian passport seized by Israeli authorities without being returned. He witnessed 5 of the deaths.

Other boardings

Numerous passengers aboard Challenger 1, Sfendoni, and Free Mediterrenean stated that the soldiers used tasers, plastic bullets, stun grenades, and beat up the passengers. A report in El Pais said that several people from other ships had also been wounded. Free Gaza organizer Huwaida Arraf, who herself was on the Challenger 1, said that some activists on the other five ships were beaten so severely they were hospitalized. Israeli minister Avigdor Lieberman disputed this and said, on the other five ships, "the people got off without a scratch."

Sfendoni

Retired diplomat Edward Peck, who was on board the Sfendoni, said that the commandos were well-trained, and behaved reasonably well. The soldiers scuffled with a few activists trying to bar their access to the wheelhouse, but there were no major injuries, Peck said. Paul Larudee, a 64-year-old former linguistics professor from El Cerrito, California onboard the Sfendoni, was beaten and tased according to his family who said that Israeli consular officials informed them that Larudee, a pacifist, was beaten after refusing to follow the orders of troops.

Free Mediterranean

Swedish author Henning Mankell reports that Israeli troops abseiled onto the Free Mediterranean about an hour after the raid on the Mavi Marmara. Michalis Grigoropoulos, who was at the wheel of the ship according to British newspaper The Guardian, said that the Israeli commandos used electric shocks on those who tried to form a human ring on the bridge, and also used tear gas and live ammunition. In an eyewitness account, a reporter for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote that Israeli soldiers approached unarmed civilians with guns drawn and shot a 65 year old person with an electroshock weapon from a distance of ten centimeters. Mankell said soldiers shot "an older man in the crew, he was perhaps a little slow" with an electric gun, and another man with rubber bullets.

Challenger 1

The Challenger 1 accelerated its course in an attempt to allow journalists onboard to broadcast their photos of the ongoing raid. Huwaida Arraf, an American activist who was on the Challenger 1 reported that Israeli soldiers attacked those who tried to block them from taking over the vessel with kicks, tasers, and concussion grenades. She said that the Israelis smashed her face against the ground and stepped on it; later they cuffed her and put a bag over her head. First mate Shane Dillon reported that Israeli troops used stun guns and paintball guns to subdue activists on board, broke the nose of a Belgian woman among them, and beat another passenger. Australian photojournalist Kate Geraghty was attacked and tasered by Israeli troops aboard the Challenger 1, while attempting to photograph the raid.

Post-boarding

Investigation for on-board weapons

A statement released by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel said that violence against the soldiers was pre-planned, and that "light weaponry" was found on the ships, including pistols that would have been seized from IDF commandos. Israel stated that the naval forces "found weapons prepared in advance and used against our forces." IDF photos displayed daggers, kitchen and pocket knives, metal and wooden poles, flares, wrenches and slingshots with marble projectiles said to have been used against the soldiers. The activists were said to have also lobbed stun grenades at IDF soldiers, and the IDF furnished video reflecting this. The IDF later reported that its searches of the ship uncovered a cache of bulletproof vests, night-vision goggles, and gas masks.

An activist said that it would have been impossible to have firearms on board because "all the boats were carefully inspected by the government before they left the port of departure." Turkish officials supported the activists' denials, stating that every passenger that had left Turkey had been searched with X-ray machines and metal detectors before boarding. Senior officials in the Customs Undersecretariat called the Israeli statements tantamount to "complete nonsense". A close-up picture of the same IDF setup of kitchen and other knives (compare pictures) the Jerusalem Post a leading Israeli newspaper presented as array of weapons: "The array of equipment found on board the ships that made up the Gaza aid flotilla was as divergent as the flotilla’s stated aims." A senior military Norwegian officer Palle Ydstebø said that the pictures show no military weapons and many common items found on any boat, but that some of the items are effective battlefield weapons, including types of weapons used in the intifada, and indicate that some activists may have premeditated violence.

On 4 June Walla! reported that a senior, but anonymous, IDF officer, interviewed to Kol Israel radio, said that activists threw weapons and firearms into the sea, and that rifle sights and bullet casings that do not match IDF firearms were found on the ship. Bülent Yıldırım, the head of the IHH which participated in the organization of the flotilla, said activists had rushed some of the soldiers and snatched their weapons, but had thrown them overboard without using them. The Israeli ambassador to Spain, Raphael Schutz, said that Israel had "never said that this flotilla was transporting arms for the Hamas terrorists."

Fate of participants

Following the boardings, Israeli naval forces towed the flotilla's vessels to Ashdod, from where the activists were to be deported. Israel said humanitarian aid confiscated from the ships would be transferred to Gaza, but that it would not transfer banned items such as cement.

At least 32 activists who had been aboard the ships were arrested and incarcerated by the Israel Prisons Service, after they refused to sign deportation orders, including two who were wounded but refused hospital treatment. According to several passengers including Swedish author Henning Mankell, Israel confiscated all their belongings such as money, credit cards, mobile phones, laptops, cameras, and their personal belongings including clothes. They were only allowed to keep papers. Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin described the arrests as "kidnapping" and questioned the logic of bringing the detainees to Israel only to deport them there, instead of giving them "unconditional release".

As of 1 June, Israel was detaining 480 activists captured in the raid at a prison in Ashdod. Reacting to intensifying international criticism of the raid, Israeli officials announced that all 680 activists held would be released, including two dozen Israel had threatened earlier to prosecute charging they had assaulted its troops.

On 1 June, witnesses to the Israeli raid on the flotilla returned to Greece and Turkey, where they provided the first eyewitness accounts. One of them, a Turkish mother whose one-year-old child was on board with her, had agreed to extradition from Israel after she was warned that the prison was "too harsh" for her baby. In the prison – another activist described – they were not allowed to contact lawyers, nor were they allowed to "go to the toilet, eat or drink water" and were videotaped throughout.

As of 1 June 2010, Israel planned to deport all of the foreign detained flotilla passengers within 48 hours of their arrival into Israel. Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi was released on June 1. She has however been subjected to threats within the Knesset such as "o to Gaza, traitor" before being verbally abused and pushed out of the chamber. She has since received multiple death threats by phone and mail and is now under armed protection after nearly 500 people signed up to a Facebook page calling for her execution. She has since replied that "I am not scared," and that "his is inherent here, it is not something that started yesterday. It is just harder and harsher now."

Four other Arab Israelis remained detained: Muhammed Zeidan, Chairman of the High Follow-up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel; Sheikh Raed Salah, Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel (northern branch); Sheikh Hamad Abu Daabes, the Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel (southern branch); and Lubna Masarwa of the Free Gaza Movement and Al Quds University. On June 3, the Ashkelon Magistrates' Court accepted an appeal for their release with bail, and the conditions that they remain under house arrest until June 8, and do not leave the country for 45 days.

There have been accusations of the use of violence against detained activists while in Israeli conducted interrogations. One activist said that "uring their interrogation, many of them were badly beaten in front of us," and that "here was great mistreatment after our arrest." Mattias Gardell also said there was sleep deprivation and that he was beaten several times. They have also said that the treatment they received was different depending on their skin colour, ethnicity and if they had a Muslim sounding name.

Yalcin Buyuk said that 48 others suffered gunshot wounds. He, Ismail Patel and Sarah Colman have also said that six activists are not accounted for, suggesting that the number of casualties may rise. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Prime Minister of Turkey, said that there were not any people missing from the convoy.

Fate of aid cargo

At the same briefing, they said that they found construction equipment, including concrete and metal rods, that is not allowed to enter Gaza. The IDF said that all of the equipment that was on board was examined and that none of it was in shortage in Gaza. Most of the cargo on board is not considered aid in the traditional sense and was not packed properly for transport. On 2 June 2010, some of the aid was loaded onto eight trucks and delivered to Gaza. According to Israeli and Palestinian sources, as of 2 June 2010 Hamas refused to allow the humanitarian aid into Gaza until Israeli authorities released all flotilla detainees and allowed building materials, which are thought to make up the majority, 8,000 of the 10,000 tons of the goods, to reach them. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said, "We are not seeking to fill our (bellies), we are looking to break the Israeli siege on Gaza."

Fate of aid ships

At midday of May 31, 2010 IDF towed ships of the aid convoy to the Israeli port of Ashdod. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen requested "the immediate release of the detained civilians and ships held by Israel."

Casualties

Flotilla participants

Deaths

Nine activists were shot and killed in the raid, including eight Turkish nationals and one American national of Turkish descent. The nine were all members of or volunteers for the IHH. The names and ages of the dead are: Cengiz Akyüz (42), Ali Heyder Bengi (39), İbrahim Bilgen (60), Furkan Doğan (19), Cevdet Kılıçlar (38), Cengiz Songür (47), Çetin Topçuoğlu (54), Fahri Yaldız, and Necdet Yıldırım (32). İbrahim Bilgen was a Turkish politician from the Felicity Party. Furkan Doğan was an American; his father said that he had not thought that he would be killed since he was an American. Doğan was shot five times from less that 45 cm, in the face, in the back of the head, twice in the leg and once in the back according to forensic reports.

Turkish autopsy results showed that all of the 9 people shot died of 9mm gunshot wounds, 5 of them from gunshot wounds to the head. The British newspaper The Guardian reported that the activists were shot 30 times in total, with many of them fired at close range, according to Yalcin Buyuk, vice-chairman of the Turkish council of forensic medicine which carried out the autopsies. Buyuk said that five of the victims were shot either in the back of the head or in the back. At least four victims were shot from both front and back. "From the analysis of the bullet distance on one of the bodies," Dr. Haluk Ince, the director of Istanbul's Medical Examination Institute, said, "the gun was fired between 2 and 14 centimeters' distance from the victim's head." Yalcin Buyuk said that 48 others suffered gunshot wounds and six activists were still missing.

Eight of the activists killed in the raid had a funeral in Istanbul on 3 June; the last funeral was held in Istanbul on 4 June.

Sarah Colborne, a British person who was on the flotilla and has returned home, has disputed Israel's figure of nine dead, and said more are missing.

US Ambassador to Turkey James Jeffrey called the father of Furkan Doğan, a US citizen who was killed during the Israeli raid. “There is no reason to not launch an inquiry. The ambassador said the US will help establish a commission to investigate the incident,” Doğan noted.

Injuries

The raid also left dozens wounded. As of 16:00 on 31 May, thirty-four activists were hospitalized, nine of them in serious condition. Among the wounded was American activist Paul Larudee, who was beaten and tased according to information provided to his family by the US Consul General and his lawyers. Seven activists remained under treatment in Israeli hospitals on 3 June.

There were reports of scuffles at Ben Gurion International Airport. Ó Luain was injured when a row broke out with Israeli authorities but it is understood he was not seriously hurt. According to the flotilla activist Fintan Lan Ken, an Irish-American passenger was beaten by security officials at Tel Aviv airport before boarding, and had to be hospitalised.

Israeli military

Israel reported that at least seven soldiers were injured in the clash—two seriously. Two of the soldiers sustained gunshot wounds, and one soldier sustained a serious head wound and lost consciousness after being tossed from an upper deck by the activists. Channel 2 (Israel) has aired footage of an Israeli Navy sailor being stabbed by one of the Free Gaza activists.

Aftermath

On 31 May Israeli P.M. Netanyahu asked US President Barack Obama to veto any UN Security Council condemnation of Israel, but the president refused. At the UN Security Council, the US did however block demands for an international inquiry into the raid (similar to Richard Goldstone's inquiry into the Gaza war) and the criticism of Israel for violating international law, as proposed by Turkey, the Palestinians, and Arab nations.

Egypt opened its Rafah Border Crossing with the Gaza Strip to allow humanitarian and medical aid to enter following international criticism of the raid and a call for the border to be opened by Hamas's leader Khaled Meshaal. It is not clear how long it will remain open. According to an Egyptian security source, construction materials such as concrete and steel are still required to be transported via Israel's border crossings.

On 2 June Israel decided to release over 600 of the detained activists.

The Israeli high court rejected the petition to overrule the decision of attorney-general Yehuda Weinstein, to halt the police investigation of this attack.

On 4 June, a Turkish state-run news agency announced that in the next two months a possible court case against Israel will begin, and that the official Turkish autopsy report will serve as an evidence against Israel there.

On June 5, the Israeli government's press division apologized for circulating a link to a video, titled "We Con the World", that mocked activists on board. The film was created by a current columnist for the Jerusalem Post. According to Caroline Glick, the Jerusalem Post columnist who initiated the creation of the satirical video, the video was produced for Latma.tv, an Israeli media satire Web site she edits. The website is an initiative of the Center for Security Policy, a staunchly conservative organization located in Washington.

Reactions

Strong international reactions were issued by national authorities, supranational bodies, non-governmental organizations, and religious leaders. Official responses varied from deep concern over the killings to strong condemnations of the Israeli action. The UN Security Council formally condemned "those acts which resulted in the loss of lives" and called for a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards. The UN Human Rights Council condemned Israel and decided to dispatch an independent international fact finding mission to investigate violations of international law. Unofficial responses included widespread civilian protests of the Israeli action, following reports of the deaths. There were also some rallies in support of Israel more generally. Turkish-Israeli relations have reached a low point after the incident, with Turkey pulling its Ambassador and vowing to review all ties with Israel. Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan accused Israel of "state terrorism," while distancing himself from anti-semitism. Several entertainers cancelled appearances in Israel.

Investigations

Israeli investigation

Israeli deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon told CNN that MV Mavi Marmara carried 600 peace activists and 75 mercenaries with links to al-Qaeda and other terror organizations. "They were well equipped and ambushed our soldiers. We found the money on their bodies, $10,000 apiece" he said. The Israeli government has said it would accept limited international role in the investigation of the raid, although it still rejects an independent international inquiry, and claimed that the country is able to conduct a credible review on its own. Internal Israel police investigation was halted by Israel attorney-general Yehuda Weinstein. A group of top Israeli Navy reserves officers have issued a letter backing the call for an independent investigation.

A commission of inquiry was approved by the Cabinet of Israel on 14 June. It will have three Israeli members and two foreign observers: the foreign observers will take aprt in hearings and discussions, but not vote on the final conclusions. Israel announced the committee would include former Israeli Supreme Court justice Jacob Turkel, professor of international law at Bar Ilan University Shabtai Rosen, retired major-general in the Israeli army Amos Horev, former first minister of Northern Ireland who recently joined the "Friends of Israel" initiative David Trimble, and former head of the Canadian military's judiciary Ken Watkin. Trimble and Watkin would not able "to vote in relation to the proceedings and conclusions of the commission" and could also be denied access to documents or information if it was "almost certain to cause substantial harm to national security or to the state's foreign relations."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on June 5 that the IDF raid of the Mavi Marmara should be investigated by a New Zealand-led committee, with Israeli and Turkish deputies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hoped the Israeli-led process would put an end to efforts in the United Nations to set up an international inquiry, which many Israelis fear would be biased. In Israel and around the world, some said the committee lacked sufficient credibility and investigative powers. White House backed Israeli internal inquiry into Gaza flotilla deaths and said that the Israeli inquiry meets the standard of "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation". U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague, speaking in Luxembourg, stressed the need for "a truly independent inquiry and a thorough investigation that the international community can respect." "We have no trust at all that Israel, a country that has carried out such an attack on a civilian convoy in international waters, will conduct an impartial investigation," AFP quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu as saying. Dan Meridor responsible for Israeli intelligence services, told Turkish newspaper that there "will be international elements in the commission which is going to be formed".Cite error: The <ref> tag has too many names (see the help page).

Other investigations

The Turkish state prosecutor's office has opened an investigation. Possible charges, against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, would include murder, injury, attacking Turkish citizens, and piracy. A spokesman for the U.S. State Department said "We will look into the circumstances of the death of an American citizen, as we would do anywhere in the world at all times," noting that the FBI could get involved, "working with the host government," "if we think a crime has been committed".

The Israeli Intelligence and Terrorism Information Centre published the results of their own investigation of the events and concluded based on laptop files and passenger testimony that a group of 40 "militant" activists boarded before the rest of the passengers, were not searched as they boarded, and that IHH President Bulent Yildirim had briefed this group with a mission of keeping Israelis from taking control of the ship.

The Foreign Press Association, which represents hundreds of journalists in Israel and the Palestinian territories, has complained that Israel is validating its own account by selectively using the seized video and equipment from reporters on board. FPA also criticized Israel's use of captured material without permission. Journalist Paul McGeough told his consul-general "we were robbed of any electronic equipment that we had" and that "Fairfax will fight this .. I could be back in Israel within two weeks to contest this." Israeli public radio reported that authorities had banned the media from providing any information about the dead and wounded, and who was taken to hospital in Israel. The censorship order was later lifted.

Legal assessments

Many legal assessments regarding the raid were published subsequent to the event. International law experts (and non-lawyers) differed over the legality of the Israeli action.

Some experts offered analysis supporting the legality of the action. Harvard Law School Professor Alan Dershowitz, Chicago Law School Professor Eric Posner, and Johns Hopkins international law Professor Ruth Wedgwood, said that the naval blockade and the boarding in international waters were in accord with long-standing international law, and comparable to other blockades in unrelated historical conflicts. Dershowitz and Posner also defend the specific use of force as legal.

Other experts offered analysis questioning the legality of the action. For instance, the National Lawyers Guild International Committee found Israel's actions "manifestly excessive" to the conditions of a lawful blockade; Richard Falk, a former professor emeritus of international law at Princeton University said that the “ships that were situated in the high seas where freedom of navigation exists, according to the law of the seas”; Anthony D'Amato, a professor of international law at Northwestern University School of Law, said that the blockade was illegal because Gaza is an occupied territory. Both sides generally agreed that Israel was required to respond with only a proportional use of force in the face of violent resistance; whether the force used was proportional is disputed.

See also

• Lifeline 3, a 2009 overland aid convoy to Gaza through Egypt
• SS Exodus, a ship carrying Jewish emigrants to Mandate Palestine, seized by the Royal Navy with four deaths among the passengers.
• Karine A Affair, where a Palestinian freighter was seized by Israeli forces, later found to be carrying weapons.
• Francop Affair, where a cargo ship carrying hundreds of tons of weapons allegedly bound from Iran to Hezbollah was seized by Israeli forces.
• Attacks on humanitarian workers
• San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, used by Israel to justify the boarding.
• Fourth Geneva Convention, which defines humanitarian protections for civilians in a war zone, and outlaws the practice of total war.
• Ramallah lynching, to which one of the participating Israeli marines compared the violence encountered upon boarding the Mavi Marmara.

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128. Bitte Hammargren. "SvD: "Det var rena avrättningar"" (in Template:Sv icon). Svd.se. Retrieved June 4, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
129. "Last communication with captain transcript". Ntvmsnbc.com. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
130. "Aussie photographer Kate Geraghty 'Tasered during flotilla raid'". Herald Sun. June 2, 2010. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
131. "Activists' eyewitness accounts detail Israeli raid on Gaza aid ship". Hürriyet. June 3, 2010.
132. ^ Rachel Shabi in Jerusalem. "Gaza flotilla activist faces death threats | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
133. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeUhwELoKWo&feature=popular
134. ^ [http://www.freegaza.org/en/testimonies-from-israeli-jail/1221-in-their-own-words-survivor-testimonies-from-flotilla-31-may-2010 In their own words: Survivor testimonies from Flotilla 31 May 2010]
135. 'We'll be Back - With Bigger Flotillas' (IPS, June 8, 2010)
136. CNN Eyewitnesses recount Israel flotilla raid; By the CNN Wire Staff; June 1, 2010 – Updated 1611 GMT
137. ^ "Accounts, videos of flotilla assault continue to conflict". The Washington Post. ISSN 0740-5421. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
138. "Αποκλειστικά στο tvxs ντοκουμέντο από την επίθεση στη Σφενδόνη (Video document of the raid at Sfendoni ship)". tvxs.gr. Retrieved June 6, 2010. Direct link to the video. (Greek)
139. ^ Parks, Richard (June 2, 2010). "El Cerrito Man Beaten, Jailed in Israel, Wife Says". The Bay Citizen. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
140. ^ Berton, Justin (June 2, 2010). "4 local pro-Palestine activists reported safe". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
141. ^ Connolly, Kate (June 3, 2010). "Henning Mankell on Gaza flotilla attack: 'I think they went out to murder'". The Guardian. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
142. ^ Needham, Kirsty (June 3, 2010). "I was 'Tasered' by Israelis, says Herald photographer". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved June 2, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
143. Eyewitnesses recount Israel flotilla raid, CNN.
144. "Photos of the Mavi Marmara's Equipment and Weapons, 1 June 2010 « Israel Defense Force Spokesperson". Idfspokesperson.com. June 1, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
145. Report and videos, Ynet (Hebrew), 31 May 2010
146. "Photos of the Mavi Marmara's Equipment and Weapons, 1 June 2010". IDF Spokesperson's Unit. June 1, 2010. Retrieved May 30, 2010.
147. JPost.com staff (06/02/2010). "'Activists threw stun grenades': New IDF footage shows attacks before soldiers boarded 'Mavi Marmara'". Jerusalem Post. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
148. Yaakov Katz (June 1, 2010). "IDF: Global Jihad on flotilla". The Jerusalem Post.
149. "LIVE: Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla". BBC. May 31, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
150. Emre Soncan, Muzaffer Salcioğlu, Cihan Yenilmez (May 31, 2010). "Customs officials deny Israeli claims weapons were onboard". Today's Zaman.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
151. ^ Ron Friedman (06/03/2010). "Wheelchairs as well as weapons found on board aid ships". JPost.com. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
152. Geir Arne Kippernes (June 1, 2010). "-Dette er ikke militært utstyr (That is not military equipment)" (in Template:No icon). Verdens Gang. Retrieved June 2, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
153. Report: Soldiers were kidnapped and released at the battle over Marmara, Walla!, 4.6.2010. Last retrived on 12:53 IST. Relevant parts in Hebrew: קצין בחיל אמר הבוקר ל"קול ישראל", כי ישנן עדויות לכך, שנוסעי הספינה "מרמרה" השליכו כלי נשק לים וכי על הספינה נמצאו כוונת של רובה ותרמילי כדורים, שאינם תואמים כלי נשק של צה"ל and "חיל הים שב ומדגיש כי בפעולה לא נהרגו פעילי שלום וכי כל ההרוגים היו מחבלים. היתה כאן קבוצה של שכירי חרב שהתקיפה כדי להרוג והלוחמים עשו את מה שהיו צריכים לעשות".
154. Amos Harel, Israel Navy: 3 commandos nearly taken hostage in Gaza flotilla raid, Haaretz, 4.6.2010.
     "The soldiers reported that the activists had fired on them during the confrontation and that at least two commandos suffered gunshot wounds. After the incident, 9 mm bullet casings were found – a kind not used by the naval commandos."
155. Lilach Shoval, "מצאנו על הספינה תרמילים מנשק זר", Israel Hayom, 4.6.2010. (Hebrew)
156. "Activists 'threw Israeli guns into sea'". Irish Times. June 3, 2010. Retrieved June 6, 2010. With material from Reuters.
157. "Raphael Schutz: «El Ejército pecó de ingenuo al creer que encontraría pacifistas»", El Periódico de Catalunya, June 4, 2010. Template:Es icon
158. "Deaths as Israeli forces storm Gaza aid ship". BBC News. May 31, 2010.
159. Kyzer, Liel (May 31, 2010). "Israel detains dozens of Gaza flotilla activists upon arrival in Ashdod". Haaretz Daily. Retrieved May 31, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
160. "'Wallander' author tells of ordeal on Gaza convoy". The Independent. June 4, 2010.
161. "Martin: Irish citizens 'kidnapped' in international waters". Irish Examiner. Thomas Crosbie Holdings. May 31, 2010. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
162. Tue Jun 1, 1:01 am ET. "AFP – Israel holds 480 activists, expelling 48: report". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
163. Barak, Ravid (June 2, 2010). "Israel to deport all activists seized on Gaza flotilla". Haaretz. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
164. Adalah, "Magistrates' Court Orders Release of Detained Delegation of Arab Leaders from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla with Restrictive Conditions," press release, June 3, 2010.
165. "Gaza flotilla raid: 'We heard gunfire – then our ship turned into lake of blood' | World news". The Guardian. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
166. ^ "TV4: Gardell: Jag har sorg för de som mördades". Tv4play.se. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
167. "Aftonbladet: Gardell: Jag blev slagen flera gånger". Aftonbladet.se. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
168. "DN: Dror Feiler: Duger IHH åt FN duger det åt oss" (in Template:Sv icon). Dn.se. May 31, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
169. ^ Peter Jackson. "All Gaza flotilla Britons accounted for – William Hague". BBC News. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
170. "Turkish Premier Erdogan says no missing people from aid convoy". Trend. June 4, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
171. Friedman, Ron. "'Equipment not in shortage in Gaza'". Jpost.com. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
172. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137997
173. "Israel transfers seized aid to Gaza". Smh.com.au. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
174. Amnon Meranda (June 2, 2010). "Hamas blocking delivery of aid". Ynetnews. Retrieved June 2, 2010.
175. Israel ready to board Gaza bound ship, Times Online, June 5, 2010.
176. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10195838.stm
177. The ships were towed to the port of Ashdod http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10253357.stm
178. http://www.nationalinterest.org/Article.aspx?id=23468
179. ^ Israeli naval commandos seize Gaza-bound aid ship, Associated Press.
180. "Furkan Doğan'ın babası: Oğlum Amerikan vatandaşı olduğuna güvenip yola çıktı". Milliyet.com.tr. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
183. "Şehit Ve Yaralilarimizin Tam Listesi". Ihh.org.tr. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
184. ^ Booth, Robert; Sherwood, Harriet; Vela, Justin (June 4, 2010). "Gaza flotilla attack: Autopsies reveal intensity of Israeli military force". The Guardian. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
185. "Aid flotilla activists missing, says Turkish charity head". Hurriyet Daily News. June 3, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
186. "Furkan Doğan'ın babası: "Oğlum Amerikan vatandaşı olduğuna güvenip yola çıktı"". Milliyet. Retrieved June 7, 2010.
187. "Israel to release Turkish activists – Middle East". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
188. {{cite web | last = Magee | first = Zoe | title = American Killed on Gaza Aid Flotilla Glenn Kessler (June 4, 2010). "American teenager among those killed in Israeli raid of aid flotilla". Washington Post. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
189. ^ Booth, Robert (June 4, 2010). "Gaza flotilla activists were shot in head at close range". The Guardian. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
190. "Report: Autopsy shows Gaza activists were shot a total of 30 times". Reuters. June 5, 2010. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
191. BBC News, http://www.bbc.co.uk/turkce/haberler/2010/06/100603_gazaturkey_update.shtml
192. www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25102979/
193. Jeffrey informs Doğan’s father of raid inquiry developments
194. Hacaoglu, Selcan (June 2, 2010). "Huge welcome home for Turkish activists from Gaza". Star-Telegram. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
195. ^ Raved, Ahiya (May 31, 2010). "Hospitals treat 42 people injured in Gaza sail raid". YnetNews. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
196. Al Jazeera and agencies (June 3, 2010). "Turkey holds activists' funerals" (Video and text). Al Jazeera English. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
197. "Activists claim Israeli officials beat them". Irish Times. June 3, 2010.
198. IDF (May 31, 2010). "'Peace activists' stabbing IDF soldier" (Video) (in Hebrew). From Israel's Channel 2 -YouTube. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
199. "Under U.S. pressure, Netanyahu may ease Gaza blockade". Haaretz. June 3, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
200. Israel should lead investigation into attack on Gaza flotilla, says US, Guardian.
201. ^ Alastair Macdonald (June 1, 2010). "Egypt opens Gaza border after Israel ship clash". Reuters. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
202. ^ Sherwood, Harriett (June 2, 2010). "Gaza flotilla deaths: pressure builds on Israel for full inquiry". Retrieved June 2, 2010.
203. ^ By JPOST.COM STAFF, 06/03/2010 10:18 Since the logic is multi-negated it mean: The Israel police investigation was stooped by Israel attorney general. The Israeli court verdict to someone who wanted to continue the investigation: No your aims are rejected. Finally it double confirm the Israel court, procurator and police all do not conduct investigation.
204. Israeli government office links to video mocking flotilla, CNN.
205. Mackey, Robert (June 4, 2010). "Israelis Explain, and Mock, Flotilla Clash". New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2010.
206. Reuters: Thousands protest flotilla deaths, clashes in Athens(mention of Sweedish protests at the end)
207. "U.N. Security Council Condemns 'Acts' in Israeli Raid". nytimes.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
208. "U.N. condemns Israeli flotilla raid; calls for investigation". usatoday.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
209. "UN formally condemns Israel's deadly assault on Gaza aid flotilla". worldbbnews.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
210. "UN calls for inquiry into Israel flotilla attack". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
211. http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/64C49CB9EFCA5BAB852577360055ADE6 HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL DECIDES TO DISPATCH INDEPENDENT FACT FINDING MISSION TO INVESTIGATE ISRAELI ATTACK ON HUMANITARIAN BOAT CONVOY
212. E. B. Solomont (June 2, 2010). "UNHRC demands raid investigation". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 3, 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
213. "Channel NewsAsia –Malaysians protest Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla". channelnewsasia.com. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
214. "Politics – Thousands protest across Lebanon against flotilla killings". The Daily Star. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
215. "Supporters protest against Israeli attack on Gaza aid flotilla in Turkey – People's Daily Online". peopledaily.com.cn. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
216. Can Israel Learn How to Make Its Case? Time Magazine Jume 21, 2010 edition
217. We won't apologize for flotilla raid
218. "Israel will accept international role in flotilla probe, officials say". CNN.
219. Amy Teibel (June 3, 2010). "Israel rejects international investigation of raid". The Guardian. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
220. Jeffrey Heller (June 6, 2010). "Israel rejects international inquiry into lethal raid". Reuters. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
221. Gwen Ackerman and Jonathan Ferziger (June 6, 2010). "Israel Rejects Demands for International Probe of Gaza Raid". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
222. ^ CBS/AP. "Israel's use of captured video draws criticism". CBS News. Associated Press. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
223. Pfeffer, Anshel. "Israel Navy reserves officers: Allow external Gaza flotilla probe - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
224. BBC: Gaza flotilla inquiry panel members
225. Haaretz: Who's who on Israel's committee on the Gaza flotilla raid
226. AFP: Israeli panel to probe Gaza flotilla raid
227. ^ Jerusalem Post: Ankara doesn't 'trust' Israel probe
228. Los Angeles Times: Israel announces creation of Gaza flotilla inquiry committee
229. White House backs Israeli internal inquiry into Gaza flotilla deaths
230. San Francisco Chronicle: Israeli Cabinet Approves Public Probe of Gaza Flotilla Raid
231. "Erdogan mulling visit to Gaza to 'break blockade'", Haaretz, Zvi Bar'el, Barak Ravid, AFP, 06.06.10
232. "Gaza flotilla attack: US to investigate death of citizen", The Daily Telegraph, 3 June 2010.
233. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/israel-points-finger-at-turkish-pm/story-e6frg6so-1225878143687
234. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/probe-erdogan-knew-gaza-flotilla-would-be-violent-1.295144
235. John Lyons, Istanbul (May 31, 2010). "''The Australian'': Australia-based journalists from Gaza flotilla 'fine'". Theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
236. "Maan News Agency: RSF condemns flotilla censorship". Maannews.net. Retrieved June 5, 2010.
237. Dershowitz, Alan. "Israel obeyed international law: Legally, the Gaza flotilla conflict is an open-and-shut case". New York Daily News. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
238. Posner, Eric. "The Gaza Blockade and International Law: Israel's position is reasonable and backed by precedent" (Subscription only). Opinion. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
239. "As Flotilla Inquiry Calls Grow Louder, Legality of Gaza Blockade Examined". PBS NewsHour. June 2, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2010.
240. "Israel's Security Cannot Come at Any Price - Legal Analysis of Flotilla Attack by Dr. Ben Saul". Retrieved June 10, 2010.
241. "United Nations: Secretary-General 'shocked' by deadly raid on Gaza aid flotilla". Un.org. May 31, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
242. Teibel, Amy (May 31, 2010). "Israeli police say 16 Gaza activists sent to jail". Associated Press. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthor= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
243. Karoline Hoppe (May 31, 2010). "Folkrättsprofessorn: Israel har brutit mot internationell rätt" (in Swedish). DN. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
244. "Was the Gaza Flotilla Raid Illegal?". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. Retrieved June 2, 2010.

References with quoted text or translations

1. "Israel asalta la legalidad internacional". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved June 1, 2010. Al menos una parte de la versión del Ministerio de Defensa israelí resulta poco creíble: en las otras naves, donde supuestamente nadie opuso resistencia, también hubo heridos, como pudo comprobar este periódico hablando brevemente con algunos de ellos mientras eran ingresados en camilla en un hospital de Ashkelon. (At least one piece of the account from the Israeli Ministry of Defence is scarcely believable: in the other ships, where nobody apparently offered any physical resistance, there were also some wounded people, as this newspaper was able to verify by briefly talking to some of the passengers when they were being admitted on stretchers to a hospital in Ashkelon.)
2. Damolin, Mario (June 5, 2010). "Wer nicht weicht, wird aus dem Weg geräumt (Who does not move out of the way is thrust aside)". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved June 6, 2010. Mit gezogenen Waffen gehen sie auf unbewaffnete Zivilisten zu. Wer nicht weicht, wie etwa der große, gemütliche Michalis, ein 65 Jahre alter Kleinunternehmer, wird auf kürzeste Distanz aus dem Weg geräumt. Michalis fällt wie vom Blitz getroffen neben mir um, als ihn Soldat Nr. 14 – alle haben Nummern – aus zehn Zentimetern Entfernung mit der Elektroschock-Pistole anschießt. (With their weapons drawn they approach unarmed civilians. Who does not move out of the way, like e.g. big, jovial Michalis, a 65-year old small-time entrepreneur, is thrust aside within very close distance. Michalis drops to the ground as if struck by lightning as soldier no. 14 – all of them bear numbers – tasers him from a distance of 10 centimeter.)
3. Rößler, Hans-Christian (June 5, 2010). "Holzstöcke zu Eisenstangen (Wooden staves to iron bars)". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Retrieved June 5, 2010. Als Anschauungsmaterial für die Gewaltbereitschaft der Aktivisten verbreitete die Armee später Bilder von Holz- und Eisenstangen, Steinschleudern, Murmeln, aber auch Schraubenschlüsseln und einer Reihe von Messern, wie sie in jedem größeren Haushalt zu finden sind. (As material for demonstrating the activists' readiness for violence, the army later published images of wooden staves and iron bars, slingshots, marbles, but also of screwdrivers und a selection of knives, as can be found in any larger household.)
4. Stöcker, Christian (June 5, 2010). "Gaza-Hilfsflotte: Propaganda-Satire blamiert Israels Regierung (Gaza Aid Flotilla: Propaganda Satire embarrasses Israeli Government)". Der Spiegel. Retrieved June 8, 2010. Das "Center for Security Policy" (CSP) ist eine erzkonservative Organisation (The "Center for Security Policy" (CSP) is an ultraconservative organisation)
5. Wurzel, Steffen (June 1, 2010). "Ab heute ist nichts mehr, wie es war (From today on, nothing is anymore as it used to be)". Tagesschau. Retrieved June 4, 2010. Die türkisch-israelischen Beziehungen sind nach der Militäraktion Israels auf dem Tiefpunkt. "Staatsterrorismus" warf der türkische Ministerpräsident Erdogan Israel vor und sagte in einer Rede vor Parteifreunden voraus: "Ab heute ist nichts mehr wie es war." Von antisemitischen Tönen distanzierte er sich klar. (After Israel's military action, the Turkish-Israeli relations have reached a low. Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan accused Israel of "state terrorism" and gave as forecast in a speech to party members: "From today on, nothing is anymore as it used to be." He clearly distanced himself though from antisemitical tones.)

External links

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• Gaza flotilla raid on Discourse DB (archive of notable opinion items)
• "Gaza Freedom flotilla carried world-renowned names and veteran activists" – The Guardian (lists passengers)
• "Q&A: The Gaza Freedom flotilla" – The Guardian
• Israel attacks Gaza flotilla – live coverage  – The Guardian
• English website of the Israeli Defense Forces

International response

• UN Security Council Condemns Acts Resulting in Civilian Deaths during Israeli Operation, Declaration after the first meeting, 31 May
• Human Rights Council Decides To Dispatch Independent Fact Finding Mission To Investigate Israeli Attack On Humanitarian Boat Convoy, Declaration on 2 June
• Global Condemnation of Israeli Armed Attack on Gaza-Bound Freedom Flotilla – video report by Democracy Now!

Israeli response

• The Gaza flotilla and the maritime blockade of Gaza – Legal background, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Communique from IDF Spokesperson with links to IDF videos, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 31.5.2010
• IDF's YouTube channel's section of the Gaza flotilla raid – videos from IDF footage and ship's security cameras, YouTube

Activist response

• http://www.freegaza.org/
• http://witnessgaza.com/
• http://gazaflotilla.delegitimize.com/
• http://gazaflotillasurvivors.posterous.com/
• Willie Nelson Peace Research Institute - includes photos and details of the dead

• Current events from June 2010
• Gaza
• Greece–Israel relations
• International maritime incidents
• Israel–Turkey relations
• Israel – United States relations
• Operations involving Israeli special forces
• Conflicts in 2010
• Political activism
• Israeli Security Forces
• Gaza flotilla June 2010