Israel: New Gaza flotilla has ties to Hamas, terrorist organizations
Israel's ambassador to UN warns the organization not to allow new flotilla, planned for May, to launch; U.S., Germany also call on flotilla organizers to find other ways to deliver aid to Gaza.
By Shlomo Shamir and DPAIsrael warned the United Nations Security Council on Thursday not to allow a new flotilla to sail to Gaza, saying that the flotilla organizers had "ties to Hamas and other terrorist organizations."
Another flotilla to Gaza is being planned for May, one year after Israel's deadly raid on the aid flotilla that sailed from Turkey. The new flotilla being planned is larger than the last one, with 15 ships that will transport over 1,000 people in an attempt to break Israel's naval blockade on the Strip.
While speaking to the UN on Thursday, Israel's UN Ambassador Meron Reuben said, "Numerous participants engaged in the planning of this flotilla have made very troubling statements expressing their willingness to become martyrs in this effort," Reuben said.
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One of the ships of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla that was intercepted by the IDF enters the port of Ashdod. |
| Photo by: Eli Hershkovitz |
Flotilla organizers aim at "political provocation and not to advance any humanitarian goal," Reuben said.
He said Israel is determined to enforce the naval blockade of Gaza and "stop additional terrorists from infiltrating the area."
The United States supported Reuben's statement, with U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice saying "There are distinct mechanisms to deliver goods to Gaza and there are no justifications to sail directly to Gaza."
Germany's Ambassador Peter Witting expressed similar sentiment at the meeting, warning that the flotilla has the potential for escalating tensions in the region.
"We call on the organizations involved to find other ways to deliver aid to the people of Gaza," Wittig said.
The United Nations last year opposed the purposes of the flotilla, saying that humanitarian assistance should follow an agreed mechanism to deliver aid to the intended people.
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Israel Navy forces approach one of six ships of an aid flotilla bound for Gaza on May 31, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
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You'd think the whole Israeli gov was in the boat
Because that is the month that Israel was created,so you say this is not provocation people??Grow a brain and look thru different eyes and you will see the truth.
These are very serious, but vague charges. If they can be substantiated with evidence lets see the evidence. That is what will turn opinion. If Israel can't back up these claims with evidence we will all continue to view them as garbage propaganda.
They sure do, but that's not one of the IDF's strong points...preventing civilian casualties. They actually have a terrible track record for that.
It's hard to be sure, of course, but this sounds like more propaganda to me. If Israel expects anyone to believe that members of the new flotilla have ties to Hamas, et al., they need to give specific names and organizational affiliations, at a bare minimum. The complete absence of detail, at least as reported here, is highly suspicious.
When all else fails pull out the terrorist link tale. It worked for George Bush but I think that at last the world is wising up. TIme for Israel and their US partners to stop with the fear mongering. Also past time for the US and Israel to lift the siege of Gaza. That would pay benefits in two ways. The people of Gaza would be able to get on with their lives and the people of Israel would not have to worry about homemade rockets failing on them. The flotilla will proceed and if Israel once again stops them with resulting deaths of passengers Israel will once again have egg all over its face and be damned in many quarters of the world. I hope Israel will not interfere this time. But I fear that my hopes are in vain.
The rafah terminals are open so why the need??
Its lose-lose.
Its lose-lose.
Since the Palestinians are OPENLY in a declaration of war against Israel, international law allows a full blockade of the coats and allows Israel to take any and all action against a declared enemy state. No difference than the enforced blockade of Libya! That said, if the Palestinians want goods, their friends in Egypt have opened all the borders at Rafah so they can no longer claim an excuse of isolation! Let's build that new reef and thank Turkey and the Palestinians for providing the raw materials.
Under international law military occupation, such as Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza (Gaze is still occupied in the eyes of all international actors) is in and of itself the product of an unresolved war. Occupation situations are ruled by international humanitarian law which are otherwise known as the laws of war. These include the Geneva conventions which outline how populations under occupation should be treated. Imposing a blockade (i.e. collective punishment) on an occupied people is a violation of the laws you are attempting to use.
It's about the siege of Gaza, and the oppression of the Palestinian people.
Osama bin Laden is the ship's first mate, right? Those stinky little terrorists are everywhere.