Gaza flotilla

On Monday, May 31, 2010, Israel Navy troops boarded half a dozen ships that made up a flotilla headed from Turkey for the Gaza Strip. The six-vessel convoy had the intent of breaking through a comprehensive blockade Israel had placed on the coastal territory.

The navy took control of five of the ships without incident, but resistance by activists on the sixth vessel led to clashes that claimed the lives of nine of the boat's passengers, and left dozens of activists and soldiers wounded.

Israel had requested that the flotilla turn off its course, and head for the Israeli port of Ashdod, where the aid it was carrying could be transferred via land to Gaza. This was rejected by the flotilla, leading Israel to dispatch its troops to intercept the ships before they reached Gaza.

The action was condemned internationally, in particular by Turkey, which recalled its ambassador and branded Israel a "terrorist state."

Latest Stories on Gaza flotilla

Haaretz exclusive: Organizer of Gaza flotilla sought assistance from Assad's office

In part two of the Haaretz expose of emails leaked from the account of the Syrian president's media adviser, former British MP George Galloway turns to Assad's aides with request to depart from Syrian port of Latakia.

by Barak Ravid 89 comments

Hamas leader visits Gaza flotilla ship in Turkey

Ismail Haniyeh's visits Mavi Marmara in show of solidarity with Islamic aid group IHH, which had planned to send the vessel with another Gaza flotilla last year but dropped the plan.

by The Associated Press 0 comments

AG closes case against Israeli participants of 2010 Gaza flotilla

Decision means case closed against Israeli Arab lawmaker Hanin Zuabi, who was severely criticized for her participation in Turkey-sponsored flotilla.

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Gaza-bound vessels Nov. 4, 2011 (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)

Hackers threaten cyber attack against Israel; Mossad, IDF websites down

International hacker group says will disable government computer systems after Israel Navy interception of 2 Gaza-bound vessels on Friday; calls interception ‘an act of war.’

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View All Latest Opinion on Gaza flotilla

Israeli warnings on Iran war are more than empty threats

The shortcomings in Netanyahu and the cabinet's functioning put the ministers' collective and personal responsibility into focus. They can't just abandon such a fateful decision to Netanyahu and Barak alone.

by Amir Oren 22 comments

Destructive, and anti-democratic

Netanyahu still has time to withdraw his support for this legislation, and all those - including genuinely friendly governments - who care about the future of the State of Israel, Israeli society and the unity of the Jewish people need to make sure this happens.

by Mike Prashker 4 comments

Let the flotilla go

It appears that even though a year has passed since the first flotilla fiasco, Israel is showing that it has learned just one lesson: the military lesson.

Haaretz Editorial 42 comments