Hamas blocking entry of flotilla aid into Gaza

"Several wounded in the raid, in which nine were killed, are still in hospital, however, while another three - an Irishman, an Australian woman and an Italian man" - Clearly these must be from the Irish, Australian and Italian Al Qaida....

Dump the cargo into the Mediterranean, near Turkey.

this is normal,we call this dignity in our civilisation,i think you don't know it in your criminal "country"

When King Arik pulled out of Gaza without a formal transition of power to the PLO, he knew what he was doing: tempting Hamas to take over and then having a pretext for a blockade. Now most civilians are trapped between two forces: a neighboring one blocking and raiding, and a gangster organization that does not give a damn about their welfare. Still I don't see any reason why the Flottilla participants should apologize to the worse of the oppressors. They wanted to bring goods to the people - not to Hamas.

Since Hamas doesn't want the suffering IT inflicted on its people to ever be relieved!

If the Gazan's don't want to accept the food, Israel should donate it to people who would really appreciate it.

The poor Gazan terrorists-in-diapers won't get their toys. What a war crime! Who's responsible now??

Perhaps some big mucky mucks from the UN should unexpectedly show up instead of making decisions behind their big oak desks in a far away land. When in the Gaza, they should take note of the Shuk and the overabundance of fruits and veggies. Not to mention I eyed more than a few nice "rides" (Audi's, Beemers, too). Come'on journalists, put a towel on your head and sneak in with a camera - report what's really going.

cargo. send it back. Best regards, Hamas

Well, there are two explanations for that in my mind, either Hamas & Israeli gov. are competing on the stupidest policy award or Hamas is trying to press on Israel to deliver all the aid... but even that looks ridiculous, as Hamas can check - in the presence of UN - what was delivered with the aid organizers and announce the results later. We will have to wait a bit more till they release further details, but really if they didn't allow the aid to go to Gaza soon, someone may need to lock both Hamas and Israeli gov. up and take charge of the situation... that's pathetic, a gov. that thinks aid workers are terrorists & an organization that puts conditions on receiving aid... what a pride. I bet in another country, an Israeli and a Palestinian may be best friends.

Hamas is right, and here is Israel dead wrong. And BTW, Israel has "kept" parts of the aid cargo, said a customer officer to an Israeli journalist ...

Hamas reminds Israel who is boss in Gaza. Indeed, Israel will have to fulfill the Hamas conditions for delivery because it has already promised to release all flotilla members and to deliver all the goods the ships carried. While Hamas delays the delivery, it embarasses Israel by indicating that its promises have not been fulfilled. And when the full conditions are satisfied, Hamas will claim some "victory". It will then actually look like a victory. If Israel wants to avoid this pitfall, it should quickly ship the truck content to the Turkish organization which brought them in.

Israel was right to act. The whole event was designed as a major provocation, testing Israel's stamina to resist. .As long as Hamas or other groups of the same ilk remain in power in Gaza, there can be no hope for a negotiatied settlement. Don't worry about "losing friends" in Ankara which is quickly giving up Kemalism and wants to regain influence lost within the islamic world. There may be very little to lose, indeed. Throughout her history, Israel has survived due to the readiness for action, if need be military. The characters you have to deal with just do not understand anything but a clear signal of strength and preparedness.Worry even less about the strange array of so called Western - often self appointed "intellectuals" who - in absence of a figure like George Bush - just need another scape goat. Their true influence on politics is minuscule and easily surpassed by their bottomless vanity. The EU is politically cacophonic and absorbed in its financial survival.This alone will mould headlines in months to come. The theatrical character of the aid issue is clearly underlined by the politically motivated refusal from Hamas.They, who claim to really need such aid, can't refrain from trying to exploit it for their propaganda. As in the past, the major problem of the Palestinians is their ruling class wishing them to remain just what they are and where they are so as to have a raison d'être for themselves and easy access to funds from abroad Arafat style. Gunter

This is aid contributed from overseas to assist the GAZAN people. It needs to be delivered to GAZA. It is not for some meddling third party to push its way into the middle and start deciding which part of the aid it would like to withhold for political reasons - it wasn't given to Israel, they have no role in the process. It would be like Bashir in Sudan going through the Red Cross aid supplies to Darfur. No, they don't need sardines or flour and what do they want wheelchairs for? but ooh, I quite fancy these nice blankets, let's just keep them for ourselves. The "security" story Israel trots out to justify its every crime, misdeed and act of malice really cuts no ice anywhere worldwide. It just looks greedy and spiteful here and Hamas is quite right to say, hang on there, that aid's got nothing to do with you thieves. Of course, if Israel finds any hidden weapons, WMD, portable nukes etc, it would be fair enough to remove and return them to the donor. But it hasn't and won't, the manifest has been inspected enough times already to know it contains what it says on the tin. Israel just can't resist meddling can it, it's like a spoiled kid at a party pushing its way into the middle to get attention and then dictating to the birthday boy which of his presents he can have and which little Israel wants to keep. Unfortunately, Israel's only role here is that of postman, so get on with it you lazy Zios, get the aid to the people it's addressed to.

Just dump the aid on the Gazan side of the crossing! Let whoever needs come and get it. Or, like the nonstate tribal arabs in judea and samaria, just throw all the aid onto the bonfire. The world saw Abbas tossing food products into the fire. So, obviously, nobody is hungry. Nobody needs the medical aid. Nobody needs . . . . And if Israel allows in construction materials, Hamas will confiscate it and build bunkers. If $$$ are donated, Hamas confiscates it and sells it on the black market in Egypt (that's the $12.5Milion UNRWA demanded from the UN, and got, and Hamas double traded to make more $$$; thus enabling UNRWA to pay its employees and Hamas to pay Hamas!!!

What a surprise!?! Israel is worried about weapons getting through whilst Hamas worries about itself. Never mind its responsibilities to its people. Maybe the Flotilla 'Activists' should be apologising to Israel for their naivity.

9 people were murdered for simply trying to deliver aid unimpeded to Gaza and dozens have been injured. If Gaza accepts the aid from Israel while activists are still under house arrest for their efforts and it is unknown if Isreal has confiscated some of the aid, then they are giving in to a terrorist country. If Israel truly wants the aid delivered to Gaza for P.R. reasons, then it is very simple for them. All they need to do is release all their hostages from any type of custody and prove that they are delivering all of the aid. I wish that they would also demand that Isreal first return the bodies of the dead victims and return all of the seized video and pictures in tack.

There was something about Israel's handling of electric wheelchairs in yesterday Jerusalem Post. These electric wheelchairs arrived at the Gaza border with the their batteries removed, making the chairs useless. I guess Israel has legitimate concerns about wheelchair terrorists.

Why did the IDF not destroy the steering gear of the ship??? Think about the consequences - nobody would have died and no one harmed. Only radio calls for help by the ships captain...:-))

Now hopefully the goodwilling people amongst the flotilla "Peace" crowd understand the true nature of the scum they involve themselves with. This mobster flotilla was covered in lies and disguise. Hamas at its best. They do not care about the welfare of their people at all. It is about power and greed, this is the latest in countless examples...

but I think I understand the reasoning behind it. The world is focused at this moment on Gaza and the blockade. To take advantage of that focus, they are pushing to have the entire blockade abandoned. Demanding all the goods be delivered is one way to point out how Israel picks and chooses among the goods being let in.

israel is truly preventing the transfer of aid to gaza and then blaming it on Hamas. Another cruel israeli trick!

Hamas shows again their face to the world - not caring at all about their people, they even put condition to accept the aid! But the world is blind. they don't want it - so send the whole cargo aid to Haiti - they really need it

there isn't any cement in the aid, and Hamas will not accept the Humanitarian supplies. This is old news where are the responses! Oh, that's rights it is not Israel blocking the supplies. What hypocritical readers you people are, not to say anti-Israel (obvious) and anti- semitic (again obvious).

Issue an ultimatum to Hama that if the goods are not recived within 24 hours it will be distributed to needy communities in Israel - or dumped in the sea.

Somebody tell these idiots that an unknown number of people were killed trying to deliver the aid to the Gaza strip and for them to hold it back is just as criminal. Better yet, somebody tell these idiots to go to hell and stay there! These Palestinian leaders have done nothing for their people except cause more misery.

Why should we expect the Hamas to be any more intelligent than our very own Prime Minister. Let us wait and see who can through out his chest farther and pound on it hardest.

It has dawned on me for a very long time: Gaza actually doesn't need any aid......otherwise I cannot explain the behaviour of the Hamas Welfare Minister......But anyway the world cares only about the Gazans if they can use it against Israel....I am disgusted by this hypocrisy.

Of course they do not want the aid,, there was only food ...... no explosives/arms etc. food/water/electricty/fuel etc they get from Israel every day !!!, what they want is explosives to make bombs and prepare rockets to bombard Israel...

If Hamas is really interested in the well-being of th eGazans,it must allow the aid to go in regardless of who wil deliver it.Otherwise,it will prove that the whole issue wasn't about the aid but about trapping Israel...

it goes to prove that they don't really need it, and that the whole flotilla was organized only for political reasons, not to "help" Gaza

if you sait yes and there is a war and also they are soldier yes you can attacked to them. but they were only peoples without any arm. I want to ask to questions: 1.Is there any roles from israil side in cyprus war beetween türkiye and north cyprus in 1960th 2.In Lebonon war to destroy and stop groving of Beyruth that nearly on same way like Paris or Honkong . please first ask everything to your hearth than act.

Or maybe they aren't starving

Can't anyone see through Hamas? They're not interested in helping their people, just creating conflict.

The phony blockade is the bigger problem.

Much has been made of 'Israel's offer to transfer the aid cargo to Gaza'. 'Why did the convoy not accept this?' 'This demonstrates their true motives were provocation not delivery of aid'. This is, like so many other government statements, a clear case of dissembling. Even ignoring the fact that accepting the offer, at face value, would imply an acceptance of Israeli authority, there is a need to look at the fine print. The sub-text to this offer was that Israel 'would inspect the goods and transfer humanitarian aid to Gaza'. Quite clearly the Israeli definition of 'humanitarian' is very different to that of the flotilla organisers and Gazans in need. Much of the cargo would not have been transferred to Gaza and would have been impounded at Ashdod - not a worthy outcome for the many thousands who contributed to the funding of the flotilla nor for those in Gaza desperately trying to rebuild their homes and lives.

Just shows that they are not interested in getting aid or helping the people and are only interested in power. I feel bad for the aid activists and hope they will condem this stupid act.

How long will it be before they start refusing all forms of humanitarian aid, as well as electricity and fuel?

So now who's refused aid to the people of Gaza?? Let's see the left demonstrate against Hamas now. Sure!! This is no surprise. Hamas will sacrifice everyone (including the naive Westerners) in the Jihad against the right of Israel to exist.

Who is the repressive regime? Haniyeh and his gang certainly aren't suffering. Check out their waistlines. Hamass needs to be eliminated.

If Obama thinks an Israeli inquiry with US "observers" will quell world outrage, he must be completely deluded, or shamefully compromised. The world is fed up with US/Israeli antics that have gone on now for years until Israel is completely out of control.

Huh ! I did not think there were any ships to block and that was what Israel stopping and all the furore is about.

NGOs, what are you waiting for? to kerem shalom & push your way through..

terror hamas don't want peace and aid from israel, only want to shoot katyusha on peace-loving citizens! We try to give aid and they say NO! we want ROCKET! Israel must strike back, no hamas! no Al-Qaeda! No ROCKET!!!

This is the twisted way of thinking of Hamas. They can surpresse people in Gaza who are no supporters of Hamas (does the world know that or just does not want to know), but Hamas is in no position to dictate Israel what to do. The Hamas rules do not care what happens to their people, they care about their power.

Dump it into the sea - the Gazans obviously don't need it.

khiz bull.. ah claiming victory turkey syria iran the 3 amigos joining hand from land side israel still can be defended but allowing an opening from the sea side would be a desaster ,so aid flotilla or not they should never be allowed entering without israel approval, security comes first screw the world

Since when do we allow terrorist to dictate conditions? Israel has agreed to transport the humanitarian aid to Gaza and its Hamas govt, but Hamas is now blocking the aid !!! Whose side are Hamas on? Would they like the delivery of lead pipes, broken glass, knives, baseball bats, stun grenades, metal chains etc. ??

Pretty fancy footwork on the part of Hamas. Obviously they did not think of this little trick all by their rather unschooled little selves. Obviously it was R-U-S-S-I-A. Anybody who cannot see Putin behind all this needs to clean his glasses. After all, Russia has been strangely silent during all the flotilla crisis. They are usually quiet when they are secretly pulling all the strings. Unfortunately for us methinks they might be the slightly stronger brain power...time to put on our Jewish thinking caps...before the Russian bear pulls any more tricks...

Why should they? Of all humanitarian aid goods, only about 20% has been delivered in the past. The rest has been subject to ridiculous bans whose only purpose is to collectively punish the Gazans for voting for Hamas. This doesn't inspire any confidence in the Israelis changing their mind now and dutifully transporting all the cargo, without holding anything back. Ok, there have been promises by Netanyahu, but promises are cheap. It's too easy to delay the delivery and to come up with nitpicking "problems" with parts of the cargo, resulting in the actual delivery being only a subset of the goods once again. A neutral observer may help, but it will take strong pressure on the government for them to accept any supervision. Having said this, imho it's counterproductive for Hamas to weigh in on the controversy. They're not trustworthy, either, and their loudmouthing will only result in the government more stubbornly resisting compliance. And, after all, those aren't Hamas' goods at all, but those of the humanitarian organisations! That stuff is for the people of Gaza, not for their radical "government".

Haaretz should publish the names, nationalities and professions of the 9 people killed on on Mavi Marmara.

If I were an Irish Humanitarian I would think again before sending anything. If the Hamas's record for honesty is as reliable, who is going to get the goods--the wholesalers who pass them on to the retailers who pass them along to . . . To quote Irma La Douce, "It's grand how the money passes hands". It's clear to me that some Palestinian Arabs in Gaza will have to pay for something that was meant to be free.

very smart mouve from Hamas

and leave

This was never about aid, this was about eventually transfering arms and rockets that will be able to hit and destroy Tel Aviv fired from Gaza, land Israel left and gave away to the Palestinians for nothing in return.

can someone please explain the rationale for this position? if these supplies are badly needed, as everyone seems to assume, wouldn't the priority be to get them in ASAP? indeed, isn't that the whole point of breaking the blockade, to make the statement that the situation in gaza is dire etc? how does the release of the few remaining detainees, who will get visits from the red cross, get fed etc justify depriving children from these supplies (unless perhaps they aren't so baldy needed?)?

hamas wants to put conditions on which goods it will allow into gaza. hamas needs to know that there are many needy people in the world who would be happy to receive those goods.

After all that fuss and crocodile tears about being so short on goods for their people, these pathetic execuses of a government (HAMAS) have no compunction in denying the very aid they complain is lacking! PLEASE, Israel, publicise this idiotic, pathetic, and (dare I say it?!) CRIMINAL attitude that shows what animals the world is having to deal with.