Jewish Gaza-bound activists: IDF used excessive force in naval raid
Activists aboard Gaza-bound ship 'Irene' counter IDF version that the vessel was taken over in a peaceful manner.
By Yanir Yagna Tags: Israel news Gaza flotilla HolocaustIsrael Defense Forces soldiers used excessive force while taking over a Gaza-bound aid ship organized by Jewish and Israeli activists, the boat's passengers said Tuesday, countering the military's official version claiming that the takeover had been uneventful.
 |
A boat with 9 Jewish activists aboard sets sail from Famagusta harbor in the Turkish-occupied north of ethnically divided Cyprus in a bid to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza, Sept. 26, 2010 |
| Photo by: AP |
Earlier Tuesday the IDF reported that Israeli naval commandos peacefully boarded the Jewish aid boat attempting to break a naval blockade on Gaza, saying "IDF naval forces recently boarded the yacht 'Irene', and it is currently being led to the Ashdod seaport along with its passengers."
However, testimonies by passengers who were released from police questioning later in the day seemed to counter the IDF's claims, with Israeli activist and former Israel Air Force pilot Yonatan Shapira saying that there were "no words to describe what we went through during the takeover."
Shapira said the activists, who he said displayed no violence, were met with extreme IDF brutality, adding that the soldiers "just jumped us, and hit us. I was hit with a taser gun."
"Some of the soldiers treated us atrociously," Shapira said, adding that he felt there was a "huge gap between what the IDF spokesman is saying happened and what really happened."
The former IAF pilot said he and his fellow activists were "proud of the mission," saying it was organized "for the sake of a statement – that the siege on Gaza is a crime, that it's immoral, un-Jewish, and we have a moral obligation to speak out. Anyone who stays silent as this crime is being committed is an accessory to a crime."
Eli Usharov, a reporter for Israel's Channel 10 affirmed Shapira's version of the events, telling Haaretz that the takeover was executed with unnecessary brutality.
"They used a taser gun against Yonatan. He screamed and was dragged to the military boat," Usharov said, adding that both Yonatan and his brother Itamar were handcuffed.
The Channel 10 reporter also said that the activists managed to have a serious heart-to-heart conversation with the troops once they were all placed on board the military vessel, and that "overall the atmosphere was good."
Reuben Moscowitz, a Holocaust survivor who took part in the mission, expressed his disbelief that "Israeli soldiers would treat nine Jews this way. They just hit people."
"I as a Holocaust survivor cannot live with the fact that the State of Israel is imprisoning an entire people behind fences," Moscowitz said, adding that "it's just immoral."
"What happened to me in the Holocaust wakes me up every night and I hope we don't do the same thing to our neighbors," Moscowitz said, adding that he was comparing "what I went through during the Holocaust to what the besieged Palestinian children are going through."
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
EVERY country in the world has laws prohibiting contact and exchanges between its citizens and those they are at war with. Only Jews are not allowed? The US, every Eurabian state, and definitely the Muslim states do. Arrest them and imprison them for the traitors they are
how outrageous, security council meeting immediately
All they want is to open Gaza to ships so Iran can start shipping in weapons. They claim to be peaceful their intention is very war like. Hope the boat is confiscated this time.
The use of the Holocaust by Israel and others to justify the actions of Israel in regards the Palestinians and their neighbors has been a con. A great shame and insult to those who were murdered and imprisoned by the Nazis.
It is very sad, but this is the reallity of our time, that among jews there are many traitors, misguided and mentally unbalance persons, like any other place in the world. This feeble minded, pseudointelectuals, radical left traitors, should pay back all was espend by the Navy in community work in Sderot and the other kibutzim close to Gaza and indured one or two friendly rockets attacks by there camarad in arms Hamas.
Incredulous!
The only Israeli I know and respect left the country so that he wouldn`t have to be an IDF goon. What cowards tasering a man when he has already surrendered.
Can't they hold themselves back from behaving like this??
just like the mavi marmara
It is reassuring that there are some Righteous Jews who are willing to stand up and condemn the Jewish State's policy in creating and maintaining the brutal and inhuman Gaza Concentration Camp. It is regrettable that there are so few Righteous Jews willing to stand and be counted.
Shame on you for defiying the World and been arrogant like you are above it all, this man who survived the NAZI s now have to face IDF
it is beyond belief that israel has to put with self hating rotten scum like these people .... they attack their own and give the haters the ammo to hurt israel. and they are oh so proud of being jews ... too bad we can't excommunicate them ... they are no longer jewish they are now haters seeking to destroy israel by helping to arm hamas ... your mothers must be very proud of you
I don't believe my eyes. We're loosing a propaganda war to a bunch of geriatrics. Next time we should send some nurses instead of soldiers - for what will happen if someone there will get a hard attack from natural old age causes. A Holocaust survivor? What if he would have jumped into the sea and started to swim. Do we swim after him? The Israeli Navy must be prepared for such operations with warm Semolina porridge on board.
The ship should have been searched out of duty(there would be nothing untoward on it anyway)and then allowed on its way.To treat peaceful people like this is unforgivable.Why the IDF would need to even bring a water pistol to these people whom they already knew , would have been too much force.The fact of the matter is that ANY non right wing activity is met with a "we'll show them' attitude.Whether it is spontaneous individual action by the same mentality that makes young men on motorscooters nearly knock us over on footpaths,stop on or after zebra crossings at red lights,or overtake on the wrong side,...or whether it is disciplined and ordered from higher ranking officers,it is despicable.As a Jew and Israeli I am horrified and ashamed...but after some time here I am no longer surprised..just despairing of the whole situation here
If ALL that happened to him in the Shoah is what the palestinian children are going through today then he should consider himself extremely lucky. Thank G-d no one in his family was herded into cattle cars, sent to the gas chambers or crematoria, or lined up against a wall and executed. Perhaps he can point to one child with a number on his/her arm?
Perhaps he can point to one hungry child in Gaza?
From the hoses mouth IDF=NAZI that is what this man is saying,
Survival rates in Gaza are FAR higher than they were in the Warsaw Ghetto. There's really no comparison.
He compares the Holocaust with Gaza? I wonder did the germans operated on his brain. they did a lot of nasty things to people. The gazans got wapons rockets ect ect and were are the Israelis bulding the Gas chambers.the man is deluded.i do feel sorry for him,but what gets me, is that 6 milion got murdered and this nut servived, god sure got his prioritys mudled up. joseph theeboom
With a little Saudi money coming in, some treacherous Jews are ready to provide services for the enemy. They should be jailed and the key thrown out.
I guess now the IDF soldiers aren't allowed to use handcuffs and tasers on people who resist commands. I'm tired of all these activists (like Mairead Maguire) coming to Israel and putting up a fuss when they aren't given the red-carpet treatment...especially when they're trying to break the law like enter without a visa or breach a blockade. It's going to be a lefty rite of passage: come to Israel and then blog about the horrible treatment you get here. At least Israel doesn't execute protesters like in Iran, you should try your luck there.