'The ship turned into a lake of blood,' says activist on Gaza flotilla
Six Greeks and several others, including a Turkish woman and her 1-year-old baby, were released on Tuesday.
By Liel Kyzer, Yair Ettinger and The Associated Press Tags: Gaza flotillaPro-Palestinian activists returning to Europe said Israeli commandos used stun guns on passengers and beat them during the deadly raid on an aid flotilla that was trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza. One woman said her aid ship turned into a l"ake of blood."
Five Germans, six Greeks and several others - among them a Turkish woman and
her 1-year-old baby - were released Tuesday, but Israel barred access to hundreds of other activists seized during the raid Monday that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens.
Israel sent commandos onto six ships carrying nearly 700 activists, and there have been conflicting accounts of what happened during the assault. Both sides claim to have been attacked by the other and so far it is not possible to reconcile those claims. Most of those killed were aboard the Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara.
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Nilufer Cetin holds her son Turker Kaan Cetin as she makes statements to the media after their arrival from Israel to Istanbul airport on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
The activists - which included Turks, Israelis, Palestinians, European politicians, a Jewish Holocaust survivor and Swedish author - were processed in and around Israel's port of Ashdod, where the six ships of the blockade-running convoy had been escorted.
The Interior Ministry said on Tuesday that 50 activists had been taken to Ben-Gurion Airport for voluntary repatriation. Around 629 had refused, and would be jailed while Israel weighed legal options.
46 civilians, mostly Turkish citizens, are still hospitalized in various medical centers throughout Israel, nine of them in serious condition. Six IDF soldiers, including two officers, are also hospitalized in light to serious condition.
The Turkish-flagged ship Mavi Marmara docked at the Ashdod port on Monday evening, the last of the six-ship flotilla to be towed into the port, nearly 16 hours after it was stormed by Israel Navy commandos in what turned into a deadly raid. Its 600 passengers were kept on board while Israel Police sappers conducted a thorough examination of the vessel.
Nine activists aboard the ship were killed and several more wounded in the clashes that erupted with Israel Navy troops at 4 A.M. on Monday. Eight of the Israeli soldiers were wounded, two of them seriously.
The other ships were towed to port over the course of the afternoon, with dozens of the activists detained for refusing to sign Israel's deportation orders. Only some 25 of the activists agreed to the order.
Activists returning to Europe said that the commandos had beaten passengers and used electric shocks during the clashes.
Six Greeks and several others, including a Turkish woman and her 1-year-old baby, were released Tuesday.
Turkish activist Nilufer Cetin, who had hidden with her baby in her cabin's bathroom aboard the Mavi Marmara, told reporters she believed there were 11 dead.
”The ship turned into a lake of blood," Cetin told reporters in Istanbul, having returned after Israeli officials warned that jail would be too harsh for her child.
"We were aware of the possible danger in joining the trip," she said. "But there are thousands of babies in Gaza. If we had reached Gaza we would have played with them and taken them food."
She said Israeli vessels harassed the flotilla for two hours starting around 10 p.m. Sunday, and returned at around 4 a.m. Monday, fired warning shots and told the ships to turn back.
When the Mavi Marmara continued on its course the harassment turned into an attack.
"They used smoke bombs followed by gas canisters. They started to descend onto the ship with helicopters," she said, calling the clashes that then erupted "extremely bad and brutal."
"I was one of the first victims to be released because I had a child," she told reporters, "but they confiscated everything, our telephones, laptops are all gone."
Her husband - the ship's engineer - was still being held by Israeli authorities.
Some 400 Turkish activists were on the six-ship flotilla, along with more than 30 Greeks and people of some 20 other nations including Germany, the U.S. and Russia.
The ships had been trying to break the three-year blockade of Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid, the activists said.
"Suddenly from everywhere we saw inflatables coming at us, and within seconds fully equipped commandos came up on the boat," said Greek activist Dimitris Gielalis, who had been aboard the Sfendoni. He was among six Greeks returned home Tuesday.
"They came up and used plastic bullets, we had beatings, we had electric shocks, any method we can think of, they used," he said.
He said the boat's captain was beaten for refusing to leave the wheel, and had sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while a cameraman filming the raid was hit with a rifle butt in the eye, he said.
"Of course we weren't prepared for a situation of war.," he added.
The returning Greeks said those still in custody were refusing to sign papers demanded by Israeli authorities.
"During their interrogation, many of them were badly beaten in front of us," said Aris Papadokostopoulos, who was aboard the Free Mediterranean traveling behind the Turkish ship and carrying mainly Greek and Swedish activists.
Papadokostopoulos said the flotilla was about 80 miles (130 kilometers) off Gaza when the raid occurred around 4 a.m. Monday.
"The Turkish ship was in front of us ... on which there was a terrible raid from the air and from the sea and from everywhere, with shooting," he said.
Aboard the other boats, he said, commandos beat activists, but nobody was gravely injured. He said no one put up resistance on the Free Mediterranean, which was carrying a cargo of wheelchairs, building material and medical and pharmaceutical aid.
Some people were hit by clubs and electric shocks, he said.
Crew member Mihalis Grigoropoulos said he was on the bridge of the Free Mediterranean and heard shooting coming from the Turkish ship.
"Several people who tried to stop the Israeli forces from getting to the bridge were hit by electric shocks and plastic bullets," he said. We didn't resist at all. Even if we had wanted to, what could we do?"
Civil engineer Thanassis Petrogiannis said he had joined the flotilla to provide help in rebuilding destroyed Palestinian homes.
He said that, while in Israeli custody, authorities had demanded he sign a paper written in Hebrew. He refused, and was eventually given another document that he signed.
"Everyone who didn't accept to sign is in jail," he said.
Grigoropoulos, the crew member, and Gielalis said they were not asked to sign anything, though their cell phones, cameras and clothes were confiscated before they were expelled.
While the six Greeks are in good health, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras said Greece was demanding the others still in custody be repatriated as soon as possible.
"Israel bears responsibility for their safety. So it must contribute so they can return quickly to Greece," he said.
Turkey said it was sending three ambulance planes to Israel to pick up 20 more Turkish activists injured in the operation.
Three Turkish Airlines planes were on standby waiting to fly back other activists, the prime minister's office said.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo&has_verified=1&has_verified=1
At least 30 people on board the Turkish vessel were reported to be the main assault group fighting against the IDF. It is also reported that before departure the ship was inspected by Turkish authorities. It would appear then that either Turkey was complcicit in allowing these 30 violent protesters on board or they knew nothing about them In which case their intelligence system failed and could have averted this tradgedy and taken these 30m people off. Claims are being made of Soldires landing on the ship and firing immediately. Turns out it was stun grenades going off. Several pistols were found all empty having been fired at IDF troops. Turkey will now have to explain why it allowed such a known violent group of people on baord this ship. I for one want tom know. Is Turkey looking for an excuse for a confrontation with ISrael?
The Israeli leaders will have to hand themselves over to the international tribunal for punishment. They have clearly violated civil laws. Only Pirates and diktators attack humanitarian aid, which is Israel? Do the people of Israel want to be apart of this? /Swede
Israel has shown the world it's true face, an attack on ships carrying medicine and food is an act of barbarism. after today, I am no longer a friend of Israel.
One has to admire a country that is consistent in its policies to trash its image around the world and not give a damn. It's political suicide and Israel is on a rampage. What do they stand to gain from such tactics? Israel has become the laughing stock of the whole world. Do they really believe the world admires their commando style attacks or their arrogance in defiance of international law? Their actions are unacceptable and condemnations from around the world are simply not enough anymore. I don't believe these Gaza freedom flotillas are helpful to be quite honest and there would be no need for them if only Israel began to act like a democratic state. Peace activists are acting out of desperation and they are to be commended for their efforts. I hope and pray that cooler heads will prevail and this violent act will not escalate and cause more civilians from all sides to be harmed.
With at least 4 different choices of action, why did Israel choose the most violent one? its just silly. See http://www.cnas.org/blogs/abumuqawama/2010/05/memorial-day-and-lesson-information-operations.html#comment-47305 for a US veteran comment.
Tomorrow morning, when the search will end, and massive amount of weapons will appear on the ships and all the video footage will be released by the IDF, will u SHUT UP and stop defending the terrorists? Blockade -> You are not allowed. Break it -> You get hurt. Simple as the ABC
Please observe some glaring holes in their claim of demonstrators attacked first. To support their claim, they posted a video on the YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU12KW-XyZE&feature=player_embedded Following are few of my observations: 1. If the ship was beyond 6 nautical miles (some countries claim 12 nautical miles) from the shores of the Gaza-strip then Israel violated the International Law applied to the high-seas. The law doesn't allow a forced/armed boarding of a vessel flying a flag of a sovereign nation. Unless, the boarding party is authorized by global or regional authority, like the UN. Hence, Israeli boarding of the relief ship could be considered as an act of piracy and/or hijacking. (feel free to correct my understanding) 2. Around 13 seconds, people on ship's deck can be seen running away from the point where an Israeli soldier was about to land; an apparent sign of running away from the gun fire coming from the top. 3. The heavily edited video starts by claiming, the lead soldier was thrown to the lower deck (not apparent in the video). Around 19 seconds, one can observe, the soldier trips and fall on the same deck. Around 21 sec a defenders can be observed pursuing the initial aggressor on the same deck. 4. Around 29 sec, the Israeli soldiers can be seen opening gun-fire on the deck. 5. Video alleges stun grenade was thrown at soldiers. Not true. Around 43 sec, a person can be seen picking and throwing a smoking object off board. Most probably a tear gas shell.
It is self-defence in Tel-Aviv, Haifa, Natanya, Ashdod but not 40 miles into the international water.
I am proud of the IDF forces who displayed level-headedness in the face of an angry mob of armed terrorists. The IDF knew not what to expect other than hatred, and I commend them on their incredible bravery. The terrorist "activists" got the confrontation they wanted, and they alone are responsible for the outcome.
Well done!
it's shame for humanity.i dislike israeli.unfourtunately
That the tragic results of the forceful takeover of the ships should have been anticipated, is clear. If you let a few commandos slide down ropes into a small ship loaded with 600 passengers, there would be two possibilities: 1. The one I anticipated, which is that the passengers surround the attackers and throw them overboard, or 2. The attackers pull out weapons and then all hell breaks loose. Unfortunately, the brainless Godzilla decided to take over the ships by whatever force was necessary. An alternative method should have been used from the very beginning of such siege-busting flotillas. (I am opposed to the siege, but once this is the policy, a wiser enforcement should be used.) Israel could have let the ships pass, then come at night and disable them in the Gaza shore by small explosive and incendiary means. The result would have been that the 700 pilgrims would have been stuck in Gaza for weeks, and Israel could have allowed them out slowly, and after the payment of fines. This would have served as a discouragement for others to repeat the exercise.
since these seizures were made illegally in International Waters, if the Israeli authorities have any sense they will simply put all of these activists on the first plane out of Ben Gurion to Ankara.
WHO PLAYS WITH FIRE GET BURNED
and again and again...etc. Here and idea.. Leave jews, christians, hindus and everyone else alone. Stop taking their lands and stop attacking israel.
Another reckless statement by Israel to the world..the message being..we are so special we are above any international laws and we don't care what the world thinks....careful or you may find the world will no longer care about Israel..then you will be in trouble and you will only have yourselves to blame.
Israel, let all the aid-helpers free as soon as possible otherwise we will come to free them.
Of course there is international outrage at Israel's attack. I too am outraged. However, there is a silver lining. Now is a good time for truly meaningful negotiations to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue -- while the Jewish people are also in shock at the actions of its government. Let the meaningful talks begin without delay.
Netanyahu, Man of Courage. " No weapon formed against Israel shall, prosper." Shalom
When a Navy – any nation’s Navy – declares a certain area closed for civilian vessels, it’s the responsibility of the civilian vessels to stay away. Russians often close areas of Pacific due to missile tests, and these areas are much larger than the one near Gaza. So do Americans, British, French, any nation. Not obeying commands of naval vessels could result in sinking, and Israelis had every right to do just that, instead of risking lives of boarding parties. And so called “world community” are a bunch of hypocrites. When the S. Korean ship was intentionally sunk without warning and with much greater loss of life, there was no special SC meeting, and so far none happened. However seems like Jews are not supposed to have right to do things everyone else does. Very old notion, and long known as Anti-Semitism.
"Turkish citizens detained in Israel, seized through an unlawful use of force in international waters. Which court has jurisdiction to hear this? Do they have the right to habeas corpus in Israel? Are they going to be designated "unlawful combatants"?"
They are quite obviously anti-semites. They should be tried and punished just like in Nurenberg. They were trying to wipe us of the map and take away our freedoms. Never Again!!
Impossible to answer because Israel does not follow any international laws and makes up its own as it goes about, unrestricted by a constitution which it doesn't have. Its "always" are actually concocted by a team of linguists who often use existing words but with totally unexpected connotations (like saying their pirate commandos were "lynched" by the humanitarian volunteers.
International waters or not, all were found ins and complicit in the acts of attacking stabbing and shooting of the boarding party, If they refuse to identify themselves, no problem keep them under remand until they do I hear israeli jails are not nice places in the hot summer. TYurkey will have a lot of explaining to do in why it allowed known agent provocateur to board this vesel with weapons. Seems Turkey is not as clean as she likes to think.
Is this comment supposed to be ironic?