The Israeli Conflict - In Perspective
From: DeanTester.com/blog/
This morning, a six-ship flotilla carrying humanitarian aid attempted to run an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
The results were disastrous. At least nine activists were killed, and dozens more injured.
The incident has provoked international outrage and protest from human rights groups, Hamas, and even some foreign governments.
Most seem to be laying the blame squarely on Israel. Initial reports from an Al Jazeera reporter suggested that Israeli soldiers boarded the ships and immediately began firing live ammunition.
This claim was quickly refuted by video evidence, showing Israeli forces dropping from a helicopter, one by one, and being attacked with large steel poles and chairs. One soldier was thrown off the upper deck of a boat.
In another video, footage allegedly shows protesters using both stun grenades and firebombs. Another photograph shows a “peace activist” brandishing a large knife. A statement from the Israeli military said they confiscated two pistols from activists who had stolen them from the soldiers and opened fire, which is what provoked their soldiers to use live ammunition.
Another video that appeared on Al Jazeera showed soldiers boarding one of the boats with guns drawn, but they were later revealed to be paintball guns, despite the reporters fanatical claims of live ammunition being used.
Meanwhile, others are claiming that Israel acted illegally because the incident occurred in international waters. However, this is not the case. International law clearly gives a state the power to attack a ship if it is “believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture.”
Naturally, the leader of the Free Gaza Movement rejected claims that “peace activists” would ever resort to violence. Despite video evidence to the contrary, these groups are still claiming they acted under the guise of peace and humanitarian aid.
However, considering the circumstances, it hardly seems likely that this was their real intention. The ships were only bringing 10,000 tonnes of supplies to Gaza, which is less than Israel gives Gaza every single week. They spent the previous week on the Greek island of Crete practicing “non-violent resistance techniques for an expected raid by Israeli soldiers” meaning they never expected to actually deliver that aid. In fact, several weapons were seized, including knives, slingshots and metal bats.
Some of the 700 “peace activists” were likely there with good intentions, but this was not an aid mission. This was a mission to provoke Israel and to make a point, which is that they believe the Israel blockade of Gaza is unjust.
But regardless of whether or not the blockade is just and regardless of what their intentions were, and regardless of who you blame, the outcome of today’s incident is the same. Anti-Israel tensions are flaring across the world and the peace process has been irrevocably harmed. A brief survey of Twitter shows just how perverse the attitudes of some are towards Israel, which may be why the truth is so easily tossed aside.
When someone like journalist @qudsiya writes “Israel: scum of the earth,” or others like bio-med student @Omayma_ claim Israeli citizens are sub-human, it is obvious that today’s incident did nothing positive for the peace movement.
Instead, at least nine are dead and people are rioting around the world. Surely, this wasn’t the intention of these so called “peace activists,” but it is the end result.
UPDATE: Weapons cache found on board the flotilla, Flotilla links to Hamas and global jihad, and anti-Semitic chants on board the flotilla.
http://deantester.com/blog/2010/05/31/truth-and-peace-are-the-real-victims-in-flotilla-raid/
