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• Flotilla Fact Check

  Flouting international demands for an independent investigation of its deadly attack on a humanitarian aid flotilla in international waters, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formed an internal commission composed of three Israelis and two, non-voting international observers. The commission chair, retired Israeli Supreme Court justice Yaakov Tirkel, expressed his hope that the panel would finish its work as "quickly" as possible. And Netanyahu has promised that the "Gaza flotilla probe will show the world Israel acted lawfully." Both comments leave many observers wondering how seriously the findings of a quick, internal investigation with a seemingly pre-determined outcome can be taken. Skepticism is heightened by the way in which Israel handled evidence of the incident and by what many see as its misinformation campaign designed to discredit the flotilla's humanitarian aid workers.
  
  How did Israel handle evidence of its deadly raid in international waters?
  
  According to Australian journalist and flotilla passenger Paul McGeough, "The systematic attempt and very deliberate first priority for the Israeli soldiers as they came on the ships was to shut down the story, to confiscate all cameras, to shut down satellites, to smash the CCTV cameras that were on the Mavi Marmara, to make sure that nothing was going out. They were hellbent on controlling the story."
  
  After seizing all recordings of the event, Israeli authorities then began releasing highly-edited footage, including footage stolen from journalists and others on board the ships. The Committee to Protect Journalists denounced Israel's use of stolen footage. And the Foreign Press Association in Israel, representing hundreds of foreign correspondents, called the use a "clear violation of journalistic ethics and unacceptable" and warned news outlets to "treat the material with appropriate caution."
  
  Israel claims its heavily-armed Navy commandos were "lynched" by the flotilla passengers and acted in self-defense. Do the facts support this claim?
  

  
  CLAIM #1: The violence onboard the Mavi Marmara resulted from the surprising resistance the Israeli commandos encountered when they boarded the ship. According to an Israeli military spokesman, "We had in mind a sit-down, a linking of arms."
  
  IN FACT:

  • Testimony from passengers confirms that Israeli commandoes began firing before boarding the ship. According to Al-Jazeera correspondent and Mavi Marmara passenger Jamal El Shayyal, "Commandos on board the choppers joined the firing, using live ammunition, before any of the soldiers had descended onto the ship. Two unarmed civilians were killed just meters away from me. Dozens of unarmed civilians were injured right before my eyes"
  • An Israeli soldier's testimony shows that "the commandos threw a number of stun grenades and fired warning shots before rappelling down onto the deck."
  • Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren acknowledged that Israel considered the Mavi Marmara to be "simply too large to stop by nonviolent means."
  • And Israel's Maariv newspaper documented the significant planning that went into the raid, including the approval of the use of force by senior government officials well ahead of the incident.

  
  CLAIM #2: "when IDF forces tried to quietly carry out their mission to stop the flotilla, they unfortunately met violence, including from firearms on deck of the ship that were used against IDF soldiers." Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon
  
  IN FACT: The IDF could provide no evidence of this claim. The boats and passengers were thoroughly searched before setting sail and were only cleared to sail because they were found to be free of weapons. IDF sources then changed their story claiming that firearms may have been thrown overboard. Mavi Marmara passengers confirm that firearms were in fact thrown overboard - firearms which passengers confiscated from the Israeli commandos in self defense. According to Swedish Mavi Marmara passenger and professor of religion Mattias Gardell, "An Uzi and a pistol were seized, emptied of ammunition and were thrown into the sea. We would by all means show that there was a peaceful campaign and that we did not have weapons….Then came the paratroopers in four helicopters and they shot sharply already from the time they were in the air."
  

  
  

  
  CLAIM #3: When Israeli soldiers boarded the ship "they were going to be killed and they had to act in self-defense" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
  
  IN FACT:

  • As a result of the IDF's violence, which began prior to boarding the ship, nine passengers on the Mavi Marmara were killed, having been shot a total of 30 times. Five of the nine were shot in the head, some at close range, some from the back, and one, a 19 year old American citizen named Furkan Dogan, was shot in what can only be seen as execution-style: once in the chest and four times in the head from a range of less than 45 centimeters.
  • Photographs from the incident show that, once they were disarmed, IDF soldiers had their wounds treated and were given water by passengers, further disproving the claim that they were intent on killing Israelis.
  • The testimony of filmmaker Iara Lee who was onboard the Mavi Marmara shows that passengers called for medical help for the injured, "but [they] were ignored, and a lot of people who were injured actually ended up bleeding to death and died." Her testimony is supported by other eyewitness accounts.

  What other claims did Israel make that were then retracted or proven false?
  
  "GO BACK TO AUSCHWITZ"
  
  The Israeli military released what it claimed were audio transmissions of flotilla passengers responding to radio calls from the IDF by telling the soldiers to "go back to Auschwitz" and to quot;remember 9/11."
  
  IN FACT:

  • Investigative journalists uncovered the fact that IDF had previously released what appeared to be identical video of the exchange between this Israeli sailor and the Mavi Marmara in which the only reply from the ship was "Negative, negative. Our destination is Gaza. Our destination is Gaza."
  • One of the individuals whose voice appears on the IDF's tape, Huwaida Arraf, confirmed that she was not even on the Mavi Marmara, but on another ship altogether. 
  • The IDF then admitted that the audio transmission was edited and released what it claims was the full, unedited transmission. Though as New York Times reporter Robert Mackey points out, "since they are snippets of audio over a black screen, it is impossible to verify their authenticity."

  IHH LINKS TO TERROR
  
  Israel claims that groups participating in the flotilla, particularly the Turkish aid group , Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH) "are non-governmental organizations that support terror and are affiliated with terror" and that the flotilla's organizers "have close, longstanding ties with agents of international terror, international Islam, Hamas, Al-Qaeda and others."
  
  IN FACT:

  • The Israeli government failed to provide evidence of individual claims of terrorist affiliations or intentions.
  • The Israeli government edited its own websites to remove Al-Qaeda assertions after it could not substantiate claims that flotilla passengers had connections to Al-Qaeda.
  • The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, a think tank with ties to Israel's Defense Ministry, concluded that there is "no known evidence of current links between IHH and 'global jihad elements."
  • Not only does the IHH not appear on the US State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, the group played an active role in delivering humanitarian aid to Haiti after the devastating January earthquake while the US military directed relief efforts there.

  What about Israel's claims regarding the humanitarian situation in Gaza?
  
  Israel claims that it told the flotilla that if they docked in Ashdod, the Israeli government would "transfer their aid through the existing land crossings, in accordance with established procedures."
  
  Did the flotilla passengers have reason to doubt that Israel would in fact let the humanitarian aid enter Gaza?
  
  Yes. According to a guide produced by the BBC, for much of the last three years, Gaza's "1.5 million people have relied on less than a quarter of the volume of imported supplies they received in December 2005." This falls far short of the minimum required to avoid malnutrition, poverty, and prevent or treat a variety of illnesses. According to Amnesty International's recently-released annual report, the siege has resulted in "mass unemployment, extreme poverty, food insecurity and food price rises caused by shortages."
  
  Israel claims that "there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza"
  
  Consider the following statistics:

  • 61 percent of households face food insecurity, defined as inadequate physical, social or economic access to food, and rely on assistance from aid agencies. An additional 16.2 percent are considered vulnerable to food insecurity.
  • 65 percent of the food insecure are children under the age of 18.
  • Unemployment is at 40 percent.
  • 10 percent of children under five are stunted (low height for age, usually attributed to a chronic lack of protein and micronutrients, including iron and essential vitamins), a steadily increasing trend over recent years, according to UNICEF.
  • More than 10 percent of children are chronically malnourished, according to the World Health Organization, a significant increase since siege began.
  • The number of children under five suffering from acute malnutrition nearly doubled between 2006 and 2008 from 1.4 to 2.4 percent, according to UNICEF.
  • 65 percent of children aged 9-12 months, and 35 percent of pregnant women are anemic.
  • According to a recent poverty survey conducted by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the number of Palestinian refugees completely unable to secure access to food and lacking the means to purchase even the most basic items, such as soap, school stationery and safe drinking water ('abject poverty') has tripled since the imposition of the blockade in June 2007.

  Israel claims that its blockade of Gaza is in response to rockets fired into Israel.

  • As documented by the Israeli human rights organization Gisha, "Beginning in September 2007, Israel openly stated that it would restrict the movement of goods into and out of Gaza not in order to protect against security threats stemming from the transfer, but rather as part of a policy to apply "pressure" or "sanctions" on the Hamas regime." This amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's civilians, and as such is a violation of international humanitarian law (Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949). Further, as an occupying power, Israel is required under Articles 55, 59 and 60 of the Fourth Geneva Convention to ensure free, unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief and is prohibited from impeding the full realization of the occupied people's human rights. Israel's blockade impedes Gazans' rights to food, to an adequate standard of living, to work, and to the highest attainable standard of health.
  • Further, according to Amnesty International, Hamas upheld its end of the 2008 cease-fire and halted rockets, yet Israel did not respond by lowering the blockade on Gaza. The cease-fire had been "the single most important factor in reducing civilian casualties and attacks on civilians to the lowest level since the outbreak of the uprising (intifada) more than eight years ago. The ceasefire [had] brought enormous improvements in the quality of life in Sderot… However, nearby in the Gaza Strip the Israeli blockade remains in place and the population has so far seen few dividends from the ceasefire."
  • The cease-fire was unilaterally broken by Israel on November 4th, 2008 and led to an escalation of hostility and the eventual Operation Cast Lead.
  • Those "22 days of death and destruction" resulted in the deaths of roughly 1,400 Palestinians, destroyed Gaza's infrastructure, schools, and hospitals, and left its citizens in even greater humanitarian crisis than before.
  • The items blockaded by the Israeli government at various times include "light bulbs, candles, matches, books, musical instruments, crayons, clothing, shoes, mattresses, sheets, blankets, pasta, tea, coffee, chocolate, nuts, shampoo and conditioner." These items have no connection to Hamas rocket capacity and serve only to punish Gaza's civilian population , half of which is comprised of children.

  ***

  For more information on the legal issues surrounding Israel's blockade of Gaza and attack on the flotilla: Israel's Siege of Gaza and Attacks on the Humanitarian Aid Flotilla - Legal Background

  For more information on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: The Facts Behind Israel's "Gourmet Gaza" Claims

  SOURCE: http://imeu.net/news/article0019260.shtml

• What Now? Current Action Items

  Israel's deadly actions will not go unanswered! Here are some steps you can take now to demand accountability through an independent, impartial investigation into Israel's latest crimes against the Freedom Flotilla.

  
  

  US: Congress is back in session today from its Memorial Day recess, and is weighing in on Israel's assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Here's a review of some Congressional initiatives and ways for you to take action:

  1. Tell Congress and President Obama to condemn the immoral and illegal May 31 attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, demand a full and independent international investigation and the release of all detainees immediately, and withhold military aid to Israel until it abides by international law, including ending the siege of Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank including East Jerusalem.
  2. Ask your Representative to "sign on" to Rep. Dennis Kucinich's "Dear Colleague" letter, which states, in part, "Israel must account for our support, for the lives of our soldiers, for the investment of billions from our taxpayers. Israel owes the United States more than reckless, pre-meditated violence waged against innocent people." Ask him/her to also have the State Department initiate an investigation into whether Israel violated the Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
  3. Thank Rep. Barbara Lee by calling her at (202) 225-2661 and Rep. Keith Ellison by calling him at (202) 225-4755 or emailing him here, for sending President Obama a letter, calling on him to support an investigation into the attack and a lifting of the blockade of Gaza.
  4. Ask your Representative NOT to "sign on" to Rep. Ted Poe's "Dear Colleague" letter which states that Israel's attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla was an "act of self-defense" against "extremist terrorists", by clicking here. 
  5. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has posted a compendium of Congressional statements in support of Israel's attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. As wretched as many of these statements are, none are quite as disturbing as remarks reportedly made by Rep. Brad Sherman during a conference call organized by the Israel Project. On the call, Sherman invoked the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act and reportedly stated that he "will be asking the Attorney General to prosecute any American involved in what was clearly an effort to give items of value to a terrorist organization." 
     Call him at (202) 225-5911 to oppose his plan to prosecute U.S. citizens for participating in a legitimate humanitarian aid mission. Ask him instead to direct the Attorney General to prosecute Israeli military and political leaders who are responsible for the deaths of Furkan Dogan, a U.S. citizen, and eight other Turkish citizens killed during its attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. 

  Global:

  1. Tell Congress and President Obama to condemn the immoral and illegal May 31 attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, demand a full and independent international investigation and the release of all detainees immediately, and withhold military aid to Israel until it abides by international law, including ending the siege of Gaza and the occupation of the West Bank including East Jerusalem. 
  2. Demand that the United Nations launch an independent investigation into the Israeli attack against unarmed relief ships in the Freedom Flotilla. DEMAND that the international community stop simply condemning Israel's brutal and illegal blockade of Gaza - and start doing something to end it!
     
     CONTACT
     UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon
     The United Nations, New York NY 10017
     tel: +1 212 963 5012
     fax: +1 212 963 2155
     email: sg@un.org

  
  

• Survivor Testimonies from the Freedom Flotilla raid

  Haneen Zuabi
  Member of Parliament, Israeli Knesset
  “Israel had days to plan this military operation. They wanted many deaths
  to terrorise us and to send a message that no future aid convoys should
  try to break the siege of Gaza.”
  
  Sarah Colborne
  Director of campaigns and operations, PSC, United Kingdom
  "I couldn't even count the amount of ships that were in the water. It was
  literally bristling with ships, helicopters and gunfire. It was horrific,
  absolutely horrific. ...Israeli forces handcuffed members of the
  activists' medical team who were sent to help treat the injured. It was
  terrifying...If you talked they pointed a gun at you. ...We wrote a sign
  in Hebrew saying, 'SOS! Need medical assistance. People are dying. Urgent'
  Hanin Zoabi, who’s a Knesset member, an Israeli Knesset member, took that
  sign to the front—to the back of the boat, where the soldiers were
  pointing at her. They ordered her to go back."
  
  Henning Mankell
  Bestselling Swedish crime author
  "It was an act of piracy. We were actually kidnapped. ...On the ship I was
  on, they found one weapon: my razor. And they actually came up and showed
  it off, my razor, so you see what level this was at."
  
  Professor Norman Paech
  Member of Parliament (ret.), Germany
  "We had not prepared in any way to fight. We didn't even consider it
  because we knew very well that we would have absolutely no chance against
  soldiers like this. ...The Israeli government justifies the raid because
  they were attacked. This is absolutely not the case."
  
  Annette Groth
  Member of Parliament, Germany
  "It was like war. They had guns, taser weapons, some type of tear gas and
  other weaponry, compared to two-and-a-half wooden sticks we had between
  us. [For Israel] to talk of self-defence is ridiculous. ...The scandal is
  that we have to fight the Israeli images only with words. The Israelis
  confiscated all the activists' cameras, computers, and mobile phones."
  
  Iara Lee
  Brazilian Filmmaker (based in San Francisco)
  "(The attack) was a surprise, because it happened in the middle of the
  night, in the darkness, in international waters, because we knew there
  would be a confrontation but not in international waters. Their first
  tactic was to cut all of our satellite communications and then they
  attacked. All I witnessed first hand was the shooting. They came on board
  and started shooting at people. ...We expected them to shoot people in the
  legs, to shoot in the air, just to scare people, but they were direct.
  Some of them shot in the passengers' heads. Many people were murdered – it
  was unimaginable."
  
  Jamal El-Shayyal
  Journalist from Al Jazeera
  "...as this attack started I was on the top deck and within just a few
  minutes there were live shots being fired from above the ship from above
  from where the helicopters were. The first shots that were fired were some
  sort of sound grenades. There was some tear gas that was fired as well as
  rubber coated steel bullets. They were fired initially and the live
  bullets came roughly about five minutes after that, after those initial
  shots were fired.
  
  "There was definitely fire from the air because one of the people who was
  killed was clearly shot from above. He was...the bullet targeted him at
  the top of his head. There was also fire coming from the sea as well. Most
  of the fire initially from the sea was tear gas canisters and sound
  grenades. But then it became live fire. There is no doubt from what I saw
  that live ammunition was fired before any Israeli soldier was on deck.
  
  "[From the top deck] you could almost see the soldiers pointing their guns
  down through some sort of hole or compartment at the bottom side of the
  helicopter, firing almost indiscriminately without even looking where they
  were firing and those bullets were definitely live bullets. There was a
  Knesset member who approached the Israeli soldiers saying we have injured,
  she was saying they have injured people, please come and take them. Yet
  the Israelis refused. Three hours later all three of those people that
  were injured ended up dying on the spot because no one came to take them."

• World Leaders Respond to Israel's Attack on Freedom Flotilla

  The following are selected statements made in response to the Israeli attack on the civilian ships:

  Statement from the Turkish foreign ministry

  The interception on the convoy is unacceptable ... Israel will have to bear the consequences of its actions.

  We strongly condemn it and await an immediate explanation.

  By targeting innocent civilians, Israel has once again clearly displayed that does not value human lives and peaceful initiatives.

  We forcefully condemn these inhumane activities by Israel.

  The incident that occurred in open sea which is a gross breach of international law, could cause irrevocable consequences for our relations.

  We wish to express our condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased, and swift recovery to the wounded.

  Ismail Haniya, Hamas leader in Gaza

  The government of Hamas call on Palestinians to carry out a total strike in Gaza and West Bank to show solidarity and protest the Israeli crimes.

  We request emergency session for the UN Security Council, Arab League and Islamic Conference and we demand the Palestinian Authority to stop all forms of negotiations.

  The government decided to grant those on board Freedom ships the medal of honour.
  We appeal to the UN to withdraw from the Quartet.

  The government has decided to name the May 31 "the freedom day". We demand the Arab League to carry out all decisions to stop the siege of Gaza.

  We say to those heroes that the essence of your honourable blood has reached us before the aids you are carrying to us.

  We salute everyone on board the Freedom ships.

  Salam Fayad, Palestinian prime minister

  Israel went beyond all that could be expected.

  This [attack] is a transgression against all international covenants and norms and it must be confronted by all international forums.

  Statement from the Palestinian presidency

  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemns the crime perpetrated by the occupation authorities against international solidarity activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla.

  The Palestinian leadership is closely following the developments and the President calls on the United Nations to confront Israel, which is disregarding all international laws and norms.

  The attack on the Flotilla is an attack against humanity.

  This incident will have grave consequences in the region and the world.

  Statement from the Arab League

  Secretary General Amr Moussa has called for an emergency meeting at the League's headquarters in Cairo on June 1.

  The attack clearly shows Israel's aggressive nature and its disrespect to international and humanitarian rules and laws.

  We call on the international community to take immediate steps against Israel, a rogue state that practices all forms of terrorism and piracy, and instigates tension and instability in the region and in the middle of the Mediterranean sea.

  Saad Hariri, Lebanese prime minister

  The Israeli attack on the aid convoy is a dangerous and crazy step that will exacerbate tensions in the region.

  Lebanon firmly denounces this attack and calls on the international community, notably major powers ... to take action in order to end this continued violation of human rights and threat to international peace.

  Spokesperson for EU's foreign policy chief

  High Representative Catherine Ashton expresses her deep regret at the news of loss of life and violence and extends her sympathies to families of the dead and wounded.

  On behalf of the European Union she demands a full enquiry about the circumstances in which this happened.

  The continued policy of closure is unacceptable and politically counter-productive. She calls for an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza.

  Guido Westerwelle, German foreign minister

  I am deeply concerned about the events last night in the waters off Gaza ... These are disconcerting initial reports.

  The foreign ministry is now working to establish the full facts of what happened.

  Diego Lopez Garrido, Spain's secretary of state for EU affairs

  The Israeli storming of a flotilla of activist ships heading for Gaza is unacceptable and very serious event.

  We have have summoned the Israeli ambassador [to Spain] to give us explanations and, of course, we will investigate and will start handling this matter immediately.

  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iranian president

  The attack was an] inhuman Zionist regime action against Gazans.

  Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Emir of Qatar

  The Israeli act of piracy against Arab and foreign activists who tried to break an non humanitarian unjust siege imposed on our fellow citizens in Gaza Strip, for no reason but they exercised their democratic right of choice.

  The crimes purportrated this morning against the civilians supporting the Palestinians remind us of the unjust siege the open bleeding wound in the Strip; and all those who preach freedom, justice and democracy are required now to move and act to break this siege so the bloods of those free men do not go down the drains.

  This is also message addressed to the Arab states who were brought to the moment of justice by those free men on board.

  Micheal Martin, Irish foreign affairs minister

  I am gravely concerned at the reports emerging of the storming of a Turkish ship this morning by Israeli commandos.

  My department is seeking to establish the full facts of what has occurred and confirm the safety of the eight Irish nationals who sailed with the Turkish-led flotilla.

  The reports of up to 15 people killed and 50 injured, if confirmed, would constitute a totally unacceptable response by the Israeli military to what was a humanitarian mission attempting to deliver much needed supplies to the people of Gaza.

  Statement from Britain's Stop The War Coalition

  The action should see Israel condemned under international law.

  Israel has repeatedly flouted law and public opinion worldwide in its treatment of the Palestinians.

  The decision by Israel to attack the flotilla with such loss of human life shows it is arrogant and deadly intent in opposing any aid to the Palestinians.

  Navi Pillay, UN high commissioner for human rights

  I am shocked by reports that humanitarian aid was met with violence early this morning reportedly causing death and injury as the boat convoy approached the Gaza coast.

  The blockade keeps undermining human rights on a daily basis.

  The current situation falls far short of what is necessary for the population to lead normal and dignified lives.

  I condemn once again the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza into Israel.

  Franco Frattini, Italian foreign minister

  Italy deplores the loss of civilian life in Israel's raid on a flotilla of aid ships bound for Gaza.

  Statement from the UN Relief and Works Agency

  We are shocked by reports of killings and injuries of people on board boats carrying supplies for Gaza, apparently in international waters.

  Such tragedies are entirely avoidable if Israel heeds the repeated calls of the international community to end its counterproductive and unacceptable blockade of Gaza.

  William Hague, British foreign secretary

  I deplore the loss of life during the interception of the Gaza Flotilla. Our embassy is in urgent contact with the Israeli government. We are asking for more information and urgent access to any UK nationals involved.

  We have consistently advised against attempting to access Gaza in this way, because of the risks involved. But at the same time, there is a clear need for Israel to act with restraint and in line with international obligations. It will be important to establish the facts about this incident, and especially whether enough was done to prevent deaths and injuries.

  This news underlines the need to lift the restrictions on access to Gaza, in line with UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1860. The closure is unacceptable and counter-productive.

  There can be no better response from the international community to this tragedy than to achieve urgently a durable resolution to the Gaza crisis.

  I call on the government of Israel to open the crossings to allow unfettered access for aid to Gaza, and address the serious concerns about the deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation and about the effect on a generation of young Palestinians.

  Vatican decries Israeli raid on 'Freedom Flotilla'

  The Vatican has expressed intense concern about the Israeli raid on the "Freedom Flotilla" headed for the Gaza Strip on May 31.

  Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Vatican press office, decried the "needless loss of lives" in the attack, which left at least 20 people dead and others wounded.

  Reminding reporters that Pope Benedict XVI will soon be traveling to the Middle East for a pastoral visit to Crete, Father Lombardi said that the Pontiff will follow the latest crisis there with great care.

  While outraged protestors in Turkey demonstrated outside the Israeli embassy to denounce the violent attack on the Freedom Flotilla (which had sailed from Turkey), supporters of Israel said that the ships deliberately provoked Israeli action by defying that country's embargo on shipments to Gaza. Davis Harris, the executive director of the American Jewish Committee, charged that "violent clashes are exactly what the international supporters of Hamas must have been seeking."

  Cynthia McKinney Mourns the Dead of the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza: People of U.S. & World Must End Israeli Impunity!

  I am outraged at Israel's latest criminal act. I mourn with my fellow Free Gaza travelers, the lives that have been lost by Israel's needless, senseless act against unarmed humanitarian activists. But I'm even more outraged that once again, Israel's actions have been aided and abetted by a U.S. political class that has become corrupted beyond belief due to its reliance on Zionist finance and penetration by Zionist zealots for whom no U.S. weapons system is too much for the Israeli war machine, and the silence of the world's onlookers whose hearts have grown cold with indifference.

  I recently visited the offices of IHH, the Turkish humanitarian organization that sponsored one of the Freedom Flotilla boats, and that was targeted by the Israelis for its murderous rampage. Reports are still coming in as to the full extent of the senseless Israeli violence. Of course, I expect Israel's apologists in the press and in the United States government to shift into high gear to support Israel's lying machine. Take note of their names. The 12,000 internet squatters/written word grenade throwers, hired by the Israeli Foreign Ministry to defend Israel and attack peace activists online, are already busy spreading their orchestrated disinformation in cyberspace. Be very careful what you read and believe from special interest press and the internet. You could be reading one of Israel's hired hacks. As a news diversion from what Israel has just done, I suspect that we can also expect to see a lot of historical footage of war's atrocities on television: today is Memorial Day in the United States, a day long ago set aside to remember the sacrifices of U.S. war dead.

  I encouraged and supported U.S.S. Liberty veteran Joe Meadors's participation in the Freedom Flotilla. Unfortunately, the fate of the U.S.S. Liberty innocents on the high seas, while in international waters, has now been visited upon the participants in the Freedom Flotilla, in large measure because of the Congressional- and Presidential-level cover-up of the 1967 Israeli attack on that U.S. surveillance ship. Combined with the failure of just about every other effort to hold Israel accountable for its crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, and crimes against the peace. Belgium and Spain changed their domestic laws of universal jurisdiction after Israeli appeals to do so. The entire musical chairs gang of rotating Israeli leadership are war criminals. During my imprisonment in Israel for attempting to take crayons to the children of Gaza, I called Israel a failed state. If Israel is threatened by unarmed, humanitarian activists to the point of massacring them, then Israel is a failed state. Israel is a failed nuclear state.

  Obama's most recent granting of an additional $205 million for Israeli "missile defense" is unconscionable, when in the same week, reports revealed for the first time, Israel's offer of nuclear weapons to apartheid South Africa. Just last week, a paper bearing the signature of former Israeli Prime Minister, Shimon Peres, was released by South Africa, revealing that in 1975, Israel could offer South Africa nuclear weapons "in three sizes." South Africa's then-Minister of Defense, P.W. Botha, was South Africa's signatory to the letter. This information would make the entire Obama Administration look sadly farcical as it points an accusing finger at Iran, except that U.S. obeisance to the Israeli bloodthirst is deadly serious. With deadly outcomes.

  Earlier this month, Israel was granted admission to the Organization of Economic and Community Development (OECD), a direct affront to ongoing Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) efforts across the world. Once again, Israel has thumbed its nose at the global community--with bloody results--because it can.

  I am proud to serve on the Bertrand Russell Tribunal on Palestine. Its next sitting will be in London, where we will examine corporate complicity in Israel's crimes against Palestine. The Tribunal will sit from November 5 - 7. Please put this on your calendar. We all must do what we can, where we are to end wars against the people at home and wars against human rights abroad.

  Finally, a friend just sent a message to me saying that the Israelis had lost their minds. Sadly, based on the past, the Israelis could very well conclude that they can do anything--imprison me for trying to take love to the children of Gaza and kill humanitarian activists trying to do the same--because they know, in the end, they'll get away with it. Instead, I would suggest that we are the ones who have lost our minds, our souls, our spirits, and our human dignity if we allow the Israelis to get away with murder--again--and we do nothing.

  I am calling on the people of the United States to change course now.

  On this Memorial Day 2010, I am stunned and outraged beyond belief while mourning the dead of the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza.

  Greta Berlin, Free Gaza Movement Spokesperson:
  "It's disgusting that they have come on board and attacked civilians. We are civilians. How could the Israeli military attack civilians like this? Do they think that because they can attack Palestinians indiscriminately they can attack anyone?" (BBC)

  Navi Pillay, The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights:
  "I am shocked by reports that humanitarian aid was met with violence early this morning, reportedly causing death and injury as the boat convoy approached the Gaza coast .. the [Gaza] blockade keeps undermining human rights on a daily basis .. The current situation falls far short of what is necessary for the population to lead normal and dignified lives." (Press TV)

  Amr Moussa, Arab League Secretary-General:
  "The Arab League strongly condemns this terrorist act." (BBC)

  Ismail Haniyeh, democratically-elected Prime Minister of Palestine:
  "The Palestinian government honors the convoy's effort to break the siege. We consider all of the killed as Palestinian martyrs, martyrs of the siege on Gaza." (Press TV)

  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, President of Iran:
  "The inhuman action of the Zionist regime against the Palestinian people and preventing the humanitarian aid from reaching Gazans does not show this regime's strength, but is a sign of its weakness, and all this brings this sinister and fake regime closer than ever to its end." (BBC)

  Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's reporter in Jerusalem:
  "All the images being shown from the activists on board those ships show clearly that they were civilians and peaceful in nature, with medical supplies on board. So it will surprise many in the international community to learn what could have possibly led to this type of confrontation." (Aljazeera)

  Turkish Foreign Ministry:
  "(The interception on the convoy) is unacceptable ... Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behavior." (Agencies and Aljazeera)

  Mark Regev, Israeli Prime Minister's Spokesperson:
  "Though our naval servicemen were instructed to exercise maximum restraint, they were attacked. They were attacked with knives, with iron clubs, and also with live fire. We have unfortunately 10 servicemen injured, one of them very, very seriously. The violence was initiated unfortunately by these activists, and this is regrettable." (BBC)

  Senior UN Officials Report Serry and Filippo Grandi:
  "We are shocked by reports of killings and injuries of people on board boats carrying supplies for Gaza, apparently in international waters. We condemn the violence and call for it to stop. The situation is still ongoing and we are awaiting confirmation of what has happened. We wish to make clear that such tragedies are entirely avoidable if Israel heeds the repeated calls of the international community to end its counterproductive and unacceptable blockade of Gaza." (BBC)

  Ramzy Baroud, Palestinian-US journalist and author of My Father was a Freedom Fighter, Gaza's Untold Story:
  "What Israel has done tonight is most barbaric. It's an unmitigated crime against humanity and no one with a living conscious and a shred of humanity can stand idle as a sophisticated army attacks and slaughters international peace activists carrying medicine and toys while on their way to supporting a besieged nation. However, the murder of those activists, and the wounding and the arrest of hundreds will forever cement the ties between Palestine and international peace and justice forces the world over. Starting tonight, this conflict is no longer Israel vs. Palestine, but a criminal state vs. humanity." (PalestineChronicle.com)

  Uri Avnery, Israeli journalist:
  "This night a crime was perpetrated in the middle of the sea, by order of the government of Israel and the IDF Command A warlike attack against aid ships and deadly shooting at peace and humanitarian aid activists It is a crazy thing that only a government that crossed all red lines can do." (Gush Shalom)

  Mahmoud Abbas, acting Palestinian President:
  "What Israel has committed on board the Freedom Flotilla was a massacre." (Wafa news agency)

  A spokesperson for Catherine Ashton, EU foreign policy chief:
  "The official "expresses her deep regret at the news of loss of life and violence and extends her sympathies to families of the dead and wounded. On behalf of the European Union she demands a full inquiry about the circumstances in which this happened. ... She calls for an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza." (Associated Press)

  Daniel Ayalon, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister:
  "The armada of hate and violence in support of [the] Hamas terror organisation was a premeditated and outrageous provocation. The organisers are well known for their ties with global jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas. They have a history of arms smuggling and deadly terror." (BBC)

  Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas's Spokesman:
  "We in Hamas consider the Israeli attack on the freedom flotilla as a great crime and a huge violation of international law. In spite of the great harm suffered by the people who joined this flotilla, we consider that their message has been delivered. Thanks to these heroes from other countries who showed their solidarity with Gaza, the Israeli siege is now an international issue and we consider that the occupiers, through this crime, are the ones under siege now." (BBC)

  Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister:
  "I am profoundly shocked by the tragic consequences of the Israeli military operation against the peace flotilla for Gaza. Nothing can justify the use of violence such as this, which we condemn. The circumstances of this drama must be fully brought to light and we wish for a thorough inquiry to be put in place without delay." (BBC)

• EMERGENCY Response Plan

  Israel has used military force on the peaceful, humanitarian flotilla and murdered several unarmed civilians. ISRAEL'S ACTIONS CANNOT GO UNANSWERED!!
  

  1. Global - CALL the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem and DEMAND that the U.S. Government take immediate action to safeguard innocent lives!
     Tel: +972 2 622 7207/21/30
     Fax: +942 2 625 9270/627 2233
  2. Global - Call your elected officials and make Israel's violent actions against the peaceful, unarmed internationals an issue.
  3. Global - Call your Israeli embassy and demand they stop using military force on unarmed internationals.
  4. GLOBAL - Contact news agencies to ensure they are adequately and properly covering the flotilla:
     • 'Bombard' the BBC with requests to report on the flotilla
     • Suggest the flotilla as a debate topic for the "World Have Your Say" program
     • Call MSNBC to demand they cover the attacked flotilla: 1 (212) 664-4444
     • Call CNN to demand they cover the attacked flotilla: 1 (404) 827-2600
     • Express condemnation for the fact that they have not covered it
     • Click here to see example talking points

       "Hi,

       As a BBC online viewer, I'd like to alert you to reports that a big flotilla of boats is currently making its way across the Mediterranean to Gaza with around 800 activist passengers and a massive cargo of humanitarian aid.

       You may not know about this international convoy, widely covered and tracked as a major story by other principal news outlets like al Jazeera, AFP, the Guardian, Haaretz and others.

       As a major International news gathering organisation, you may want to check the story out, as it might be of some substantial interest to your readers.

       Aside from the key humanitarian issues, there's a potentially explosive situation pending after the Israeli cabinet met in emergency session and instructed its navy to intercept the flotilla, arrest all its passengers and seize the cargo, all in gross violation, so many expert observers say, of international law.

       I'm no expert myself in these matters, but I'd speculate that any Israeli seizure of the large Turkish liner, in particular, carrying the bulk of supporters and cargo, might just become a critical diplomatic incident.

       There might also be some scope, in running such a story, to help explain the continuing siege of Gaza and the reasons for all these international efforts to provide assistance for the Palestinians - you know, that BBC thing about informing and educating viewers.

       Meanwhile, I'm curious to know why there's been no report of the matter, to date. I assume it's just an innocent oversight and realise, of course, that even a major International news gathering organisation can't cover everything, even this kind of globally-supported flotilla and emergency situation for Israel. It's always interesting to know how a major International news gathering organisation selects and determines its news output.

       Anyway, I hope, as a major International news gathering organisation you can find some time, resources and willingness to put up a report soon.

       Regards,"

  5. Global - Join officials' Facebook Pages and comment regarding the Flotilla.
     • Click here for some sample text

       "You need to do all in your power to hold Israel accountable for its attacks on unarmed civilians on the high seas!"

       "You must insist Israel release, unconditionally, the passengers and ships it has violently seized. You must hold Israel accountable under international law for its actions by insisting on a full, independent investigation of the attack on the aid flotilla."

     • Click here for Facebook Pages for officials in each country. You can join and comment on them all!
  6. GLOBAL - Protest in front of your nearest Israeli embassy. This includes a planned protest at all Israeli embassies (and beyond) from Thursday, May 27 onwards to coincide with the arrival of the Flotilla in Gaza coastal waters! In the event that Israel launches any military attack or naval blockade on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, our demonstration will be a powerful protest to demand that it be allowed to pass in peace!
     
     • Confirmed regions: Click here for an updated list of actions!
       >> To add your protest, please register your event.
     • Petition signatures, signed letters, demands, messages, etc are available for delivery and protest, hunger strike and/or sit-in at the embassy.
  7. US - CALL White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and DEMAND the support of creating an unbiased, international commission to investigate and hold the Israeli government accountable for the hijackings and the murder of unarmed civilians
     Tel: +1 202 456 6798
     Fax: +1 202 456 2461
  8. US - Contact the White House to express your anger that US military aid to Israel is used to attack civilians. The White House comment line may also be reached at +1 202-456-1111.
  9. US - Send an email and fax to your elected officials, including the US President and Congress, calling on them to prevent Israel from using US military aid against peaceful, unarmed citizens.
  10. UK - Email the Foreign Commonwealth Office at private.office@fco.gov.uk , AINAGCorrespondence@fco.gov.uk , haguew@parliament.uk
      
      "Dear Respected Office,
      
      I write this letter to you with a real sense of danger which is prevailing on our British citizens who are in danger of kidnap, and imprisonment by the Israel Navel forces.
      
      No doubt you are well aware of the 4 year long illegal siege imposed on Gaza and it's inhabitants by Israel, but you have chosen to stay quite, and let Gaza become a natural death camp, which is being suffocated of all living supplies.
      
      Yet you chose to invade countries as big as Iraq, and feel proud by claiming to have liberated the people from a cruel dictator. The list goes on and on, and I can give you other examples. However, I feel now is not the time, because right now, time is in short supply.
      
      In January of this year, British citizens were among 500 people who took part in a convoy of aid to the stricken region. When the convoy reached Egypt, British Citizen’s were brutally attacked by Egyptian Riot Police. In March '09, British Citizens were attacked in the same town, while on a previous convoy.
      
      On both occasions, you chose to stay quite, and didn’t indulge in talks with Egyptian authorities to provide help, protection, and support for the British Citizens.
      
      Yet, you claim to liberate a whole country from a dictator by sending our armed forces who have paid with their live’s to protect the live's of another nation. But yet you fail to protect our own British citizens from attacks, and torture at the hands of the Egyptian forces.
      
      Your silence can be seen as supporting a very illegal siege on Gaza, even at the extent of peaceful British humanitarians being harmed.
      
      The situation which I turn to you for your unprecedented support and resolve, is in regards to the “Freedom Flotilla” which is currently positioned in international waters. 750 people from 50 different countries, along with 15,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid are destined for Gaza. On Sunday, May 30th, they will sail towards Gaza through International waters. The journey time will be 24 hours.
      
      There is great fear and danger surrounding this peaceful mission, as Israel as publicly stated that it has launched "Operation Sky Winds", whereby they willl stop the flotilla by any means. They have issued threats saying they will use force, kidnap all the passengers, and place them in a make shift prison. They will then process and deport everyone, and will sieze the 15,000 tonne of humanitarian aid on board, as well as the ships
      
      I feel you are duty bond, and morally burdened to help the safe passage of the Flotilla, along with the British Citizens who are on board. Therefore, in line with the EU’s call for their safe passage, we ask you to conduct dialogue with Israel to ensure that the flotilla and British Citizens are under no threat of force or imprisonment. Can I trust you to do that?
      
      This matter is one of great urgency, and I, along with the hundreds of thousands of British people look forward to an immediate reply to this letter. Please detail what actions you will be taking to ensure the safety of our British Citizens?
      
      I hope that unlike previously, you choose to act, and act straight away, because I am informing you of the real dangers which our Citizens will face in the next 24 hours.
      
      Therefore your actions need to be taken immediately before any harm can come to our citizens. I feel that if you ignore the contents of this letter, you will be failing to fulfil your duty to protect the citizens of this country.
      
      I am confident that you will act promptly to the above concerns, and I look forward to a positive and rapid response, with which I can provide to the thousands of British citizen’s who seek assurance that our Government will, and is protecting our citizens to ensure a great nation remains sovereign.
      
      Awaiting your response"
      
      
  11. UK - Contact your Councillors, MP, MEPs, MSPs, or
      Northern Ireland, Welsh and London AMs.
  12. Global - Send an email and fax to all Israeli embassies and consulates worldwide.
  13. US - Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.
  14. Global - Sign the petition demanding the UN to investigate the raid on the flotilla.
  15. Global - Sign the petition urging Obama to condemn Israeli commando assault on the flotilla.

• Join the World Wide Network

  http://freegaza.org	Facebook Twitter Flickr YouTube RSS Feed WitnessGaza.com
  United States	Midwest Emergency Response Network East Coast Emergency Response Network Free Gaza Flotilla - New York West Coast Emergency Response Network
  Canada	Canada Emergency Response Network
  United Kingdom	Gaza Boat Convoy UK Website | Group | Blog
  Greece	Ship to Gaza - Greece Website | Fan Page | Live Map
  Sweden	Ship to Gaza - Sweden Group | Fan Page
  Malaysia	Viva Gaza - Malaysia Blog
  Turkey	IHH Humanitarian Relief - Turkey Website | Fan Page
  International	Viva Palestina Flotilla
  International	The Gaza Flotilla archive

  ---

  If you wish to have your online community included here, please email flotilla@gazafreedommarch.org with your group and your contact information.

• Look Who's Joined the Flotilla!

  > Former US Army Colonel, US Diplomat, and GFMer, Ann Wright, Joins Gaza Flotilla!

  So far, 14 Gaza Freedom Marchers on the Freedom Flotilla!

  So far, 35 MPs from 15 different countries will also be on board!

  So far, 20 newscasters will be reporting from the Flotilla!

  
  

  The countries represented on the passenger lists of the 9 ships are:

  Greece Contact your MP	Turkey Contact your MP	Palestine Contact your MP	Malaysia Contact your MP
  United Kingdom Contact your MP	Ireland Contact your MP	Sweden Contact your MP	Poland Contact your MP
  Norway Contact your MP	Germany Contact your MP	Canada Contact your MP	United States Contact your reps.
  Spain Contact your MP	Belgium Contact your MP	Algeria Contact your MP	France Contact your MP
  Italy Contact your MP	Serbia Contact your MP	Kuwait Contact your MP	Yemen Contact your MP
  Jordan Contact your MP	Morocco Contact your MP	Egypt Contact your MP	Bahrain Contact your MP
  Netherlands Contact your MP	Israel Contact your MP	Indonesia Contact your MP

• Flotilla Coalition and Endorsers

  The Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition includes: 

  • Free Gaza Movement [ http://www.freegaza.org ]
  • Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), [ http://www.ihh.org.tr ]
  • European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza (ECESG) [ http://savegaza.eu/eng ]
  • Perdana Global Peace Organization - Malaysia [ http://www.perdana4peace.org ]
  • Ship to Gaza / Greece [ http://www.shiptogaza.gr ]
  • Ship to Gaza / Sweden [ http://shiptogaza.se ]
  • The International Committee to Lift the Siege on Gaza

  Endorsing organizations in formation are:

  • Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago
  • International Solidarity Movement-Chicago chapter
  • United States Palestinian Community Network
  • Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism (CCAWR)
  • CodePink-Chicago
  • International Socialist Organization (ISO)
  • Chicagoans Against Apartheid in Palestine (CAAP)
  • Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at DePaul University
  • End the Occupation
  • Northern Illinois
  • M20 Coalition
  • The Palestine Working of the Center for Theology and Social Analysis in St. Louis
  • Albany Park Neighbors for Peace and Justice
  • North Park Neighbors for Peace and Justice
  • Mayfair Neighbors for Peace and Justice
  • Gaza Freedom March
  • People for Peace - London

  Organizations wishing to endorse should send an e-mail to flotilla@gazafreedommarch.org with the name of your group and your contact information.