Israel Hijacks Aid cargo, executes hostages - Pak journo, Talat Hussain taken hostage

[Bang Galore]

Unfortunately many members here have chosen to deliberately misconstrue the posts by Indians and hold it up as somehow being supportive of Israeli actions.Speaking for myself, I have no doubt that Israel is primarily responsible for what happened today. I do however have some questions on the risks the organisers were prepared to take to make their point and the way in which they attempted to do so.

Most people knew including the people on the convoy would be blocked. The issue isn't this it is the fact that the Israeli military not only blocked the convoy but killed people on it. This isn't going to go well with Turkey at all.

The miscalculation seems to be about the severity of the response not that there would be a response. They had no chance whatsoever of unloading that ship in Gaza & the organisers probably knew that. They were probably hoping for a stand off which could serve to highlight the conditions in Gaza and bring attention to the humanitarian suffering there.

For Israel, this event has been a disaster. Other than further damaging its relationship with Turkey, it has put Egypt which was helping to enforce the blockade on Hamas in a very difficult position. It has also made the position of Israel's Palestinian interlocutors untenable and probably increased support for Hamas, which surely was not Israel's intention when it sought to board the ship.

One other point: I have never understood or supported Israel's handling of the Palestinian issue. Here is a case of people who were subjected to untold suffering for hundreds of years in turn subjecting another people to similar suffering. The attack on Gaza and the blockade against the people there was both inhuman & degrading. Israel cannot & should not be allowed to punish a whole people because Hamas controls the Gaza strip.

The greatest sadness with the Palestinian Israeli conflict is that everyone knows and agrees with how the final settlement of the issue would look like. An independent state of Palestine with Israel vacating its settlements in the West Bank and some mechanism to make Jerusalem a joint capital for both states. Israel will not allow for the return of Palestinians into Israel proper so some method of compensating monetarily the refugees will have to be found.

The present Israeli governments position on peace talks has been particularly cussed. Most Indians I know are as unenthusiastic of Israelis claiming that God gave them the land as we are about claims because of religion on our territory. Our relationship with Israel and our respect for what they have achieved in that harsh land does not blind us to their atrocities or to the suffering of the Palestinians. Our support for the Palestinian cause does not and cannot come because of shared religious sensibilities. We therefore make distinctions that some of you are blinded to because of your own religious affiliations. We have no hatred for the Jews and the Jews have never played a negative role in our history;religious or otherwise. We however share a more general view with the rest of the world about the plight of Palestinians; we need no certificate from anyone on that score.

 

[Ahmad]

every single person on this planet know the Israelis and their dirty tactics. last 60 years are full of their atrocities one incident after another ...... Now this masacare unarmed aid team.

Bigger question is what difference will it make ? will the world keep blind eye and ignore all their actions? I guess so!

Yes, everybody knows everyting and yet nothing happens. the zioinists simnply control america, they control american economy, they control their media, politicas and you name it. american administrations wont have balls to say or do anything about it, lets pray for the fall of america so that the israelis wont be able to use it for its own purpose.

 

[alibaz]

got this on twitter

Good news:Flotilla's Pakistan team-Talat Hussain/his boys, Khubaib Foundation chief Nadeem & his Turkish wife all safe & sound


waiting for confirmation........

Surly good news, if confirmed

 

[monitor]

i am following some of the US media and they are mostly in disgust with what happend.

what they can say about it ? allmost every western media are either own by the jew or control by the jews people so they are not going to tell they real story behind this carnage .

what isreal does today clearly shows their arrogant and brutal mentality .they realy does not care about the basic international lawand surly unless until the us contain their activity and public opinion rise in us to press their govt to rethink their relation and with israel i dont think this things will end any time soon.

 

[rameez ahmed]

Please do not post selective quotes from the Holy Quran to make us all look bad. There context is different when you consider them in totality with other quotes.

Do not make this into a religious debate. We are only debating the actions of Israel and nothing else.

Brother Religion is definitley included in this .. you can't separate that.... The holy Prophet (SA) have said that " time and time again, you will find that your bitterest enemy will be the JEWS"

i don't remember the book of Hadith where it is stated but this hadith is true....

They are the bitterest enemy of Muslims. Although they kill jews in this incident but in the Broader picture they stopped the aid that that was going to the Palestinians

So indirectly they have again tried to weaken the Palestinians... Religion is definitely there in this Pathetic act of Israel...

 

[T-Faz]

Many of the people will prosecuted for apparently attacking the Israeli Commandos on International waters.

 

[rameez ahmed]

what they can say about it ? allmost every western media are either own by the jew or control by the jews people so they are not going to tell they real story behind this carnage .

what isreal does today clearly shows their arrogant and brutal mentality .they realy does not care about the basic international lawand surly unless until the us contain their activity and public opinion rise in us to press their govt to rethink their relation and with israel i dont think this things will end any time soon.

WELL SAID......................

 

[Ahmad]

what they can say about it ? allmost every western media are either own by the jew or control by the jews people so they are not going to tell they real story behind this carnage .

what isreal does today clearly shows their arrogant and brutal mentality .they realy does not care about the basic international lawand surly unless until the us contain their activity and public opinion rise in us to press their govt to rethink their relation and with israel i dont think this things will end any time soon.

i was talking about the ordinary people like you and me who put their comments on the websites.

 

[T-Faz]

Syria, Lebanon say flotilla attack can lead to war

Syrian President Bashar al—Assad and Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said on Monday that Israel’s attack on a flotilla of aid bound for Gaza threatens to ignite a war in the region.

Syria and Lebanon “condemn the heinous crime committed by Israel through the brutal attacks on unarmed civilians on board the Freedom Flotilla,” both leaders said in a joint statement, after a pre— planned meeting in Damascus.

They have warned that Israel’s “violations of basic humanitarian norms and international laws threatens to plunge the Middle East into a war which will not only affect the region.” Israel’s navy on Monday stormed the flotilla, made up of six boats carrying some 700 pro—Palestinian activists and 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid bound for the Gaza Strip. At least 10 died as a result of the raid.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Lebanese, Palestinians and followers of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, demonstrated in front the UN headquarters in Beirut.

“This is a crime against humanity,” read one banner carried by the protestors, who chanted anti—Israel slogans. They handed a letter of condemnation of the event to UN spokesman in Beirut, Bahaa al Kossi.

A ‘crazy move’

Earlier, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri said the Israeli attack on the Gaza flotilla was “dangerous” and a “crazy move,” which would inflame the region.

The premier called on the international community to take action and said Lebanon was in contact with a number of countries to coordinate responses to the incident.

Reports in Beirut said the head of the Lebanese mission to the “Freedom Flotilla” Hani Suleiman, had been wounded in the attack.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah described the attack as a “premeditated crime against humanity by the Israelis.” At their meeting, al—Assad and Hariri also “demanded the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference, the Security Council and the international community to act immediately” and put an end to Israel’s actions.

The two officials also discussed the outcome of Mr. Hariri’s recent trip to Washington and his talks with US President Barack Obama as well as his meeting with UN Secretary—General Ban Ki—moon in New York last week.

A source in the Lebanese government had said earlier that discussing threats by some Israeli cabinet ministers over comments by Mr. Hariri that Arabs have the right to use all means to remain on lands occupied by Israel was on their agenda.

On Saturday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said the Lebanese government and its prime minister will pay a heavy price in case of a new war with Hezbollah.

According to a source close to the premier, Mr. Hariri’s trip to Damascus comes as part of an Arab tour that is to include Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan.

The Hindu : News / International : Syria, Lebanon say flotilla attack can lead to war

 

[Mani2020]

This is pathetic man, completely inhuman act rather worst than animals , now who is terrorist? where is there master n why she is not taking action on this ? The people who tag others as terrorist are biggest terrorist themselves , Israel did this coz they know they have uncle sam their master to once again cover them and take them out of trouble

And more sadly tens of muslim country's most of them are rich resource countries with big economies cant do anything for poor Palestinians who are being killed routinely its a blood game for israel,

All muslim country's cant handle a single small bullshit country Israel this is really bullshit, i think we should now have shemales as our presidents and prime ministers, and need to throw away so called military mights

 

[rameez ahmed]

The Holy Prophet (SA) said"

"Surely you will fight the jews. and surely you will kill them. And on that day even the stones will speak to muslims that O Muslim !! There's a jew hiding Behind Me. So come and Kill Him'

(sahih Bukhari)


If We study the history of Jews you will Come to know that they are waiting for their MESSAIH (to be Sent by ALLAH to them) who will liberate the Israel for them and will make them rule the world. But the True MESSIAH is Hazrat ISA (AS) who will return on this world for Muslims . So their MESSIAH According To Holy Prophet (SA) is DAJJAL or the FALSE MESSIAH...

They are doing all this to gain power so that their FALSE MESSIAH may come and rule...

The Israelis started to come to the Holy Land (Jerusalem) in early 1900s.... Then they create the State of Israel in 1948 ..... Now they are making steps to rule the world .. they have completed almost 60% of their 3rd objective, and when they will achieve it , DAJJAL WILL EMERGE and will say that he is the MESSIAH.

US is the Biggest supporter of Israel and have given it great weapons so that it may rule the world as the SUPER POWER .. And undoubtedly now its a very big power and can deal with the Middle east alone now..

Brothers and sisters ask any Islamic Scholar who have studied the Signs of Emergence of Imam al Mahdi , Dajjal and Hazrat Isa (SA) in detail.. He will tell you that WE ARE LIVING IN THE AGE OF DAJJAL.....

If you don't agree with me search on net the Lectures of late Dr Israr Ahmed (may Allah bless his Soul) and Maulana Imran Hosein (he is Sunni)......

You can see the lecture on Dajjal by Sheikh Imran Hosein at the following link:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2113563453256462293#

 

[Meengla]

@Bang Galore,
Mostly good comments.
However, I find a disproportionate number of Indian bloggers sympathetic to Israel or at least trying to present this latest fiasco has 'equal-equal' part.

I also think your insinuation about we Pakistanis supporting Palestinians based on shared-religion only partly true. Posters like me, @Durrani, @Sparkle etc are quite clear in mentioning the Palestinians issues as a humanitarian issue and we are also watchful that the fundos in Pakistan do not get too much 'mileage' out of this latest one.

Anyway, while the Israeli powerful media teams and their bloggers--little doubt prepared for the cyber-onslaught for this fiasco--are in full-swing what has been done is catestrophic for Israel's image. It would be wise for Indian bloggers to read up on the world opinion about it.

As to your question about the risk the Flotilla was talking, well, at least I have maintained from my very first post that it was for media-attention as well as for giving any 'aid'. And I don't think getting media attention in the name of giving 'aid' is a bad thing at all: They were unarmed and shoudl have been let through after inspection if smuggling of weapons was the concerned.

But Israelis are DRUNK with power. The power of a booming economy. The power of the backing of the sole Superpower and most Western countries. The power of being in charge of media. The power which a sense of perpetual-victimhood can arise over decades.

And IF Turkey decides to escort the next Flotilla then Israel's power will be, for the first time since 1948, matched by another power. I don't want that to happen because that can lead to the 3rd World War.

 

[T-Faz]

Israeli prime minister cancels White House meeting

JERUSALEM – Israel's prime minister has called off a planned visit to the White House to deal with a crisis over a botched naval raid that killed 10 pro-Palestinian activists.

Netanyahu, who is in Canada, was set to travel to Washington to meet with President Barack Obama on Tuesday. But his office says he decided to return home early after Monday's commando raid.

The commandos intercepted a flotilla of activists trying to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip. The deadly crackdown has drawn widespread international condemnations.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli naval commandos stormed a flotilla of ships carrying aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists to the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least 10 passengers in a predawn raid that set off worldwide condemnation and a diplomatic crisis.

Israel said its commandos were attacked by knives, clubs and live fire from two pistols wrested from soldiers after they rappelled from a helicopter to board one of the vessels.

Dozens of activists and at least 10 Israeli soldiers were wounded in the bloody confrontation in international waters.

Reaction was swift and harsh, with a massive protest breaking out in Turkey, Israel's longtime Muslim ally, which unofficially supported the mission. Ankara announced it would recall its ambassador and call off military exercises with the Jewish state.

The bloody showdown came at a sensitive time in Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to meet Tuesday with President Barack Obama to discuss the next round in U.S.-led indirect negotiations. From Toronto, Netanyahu spoke by telephone with top Israeli officials and expressed his "full backing" for the military, according to a statement from the army.

The White House said in a written statement that the United States "deeply regrets" the loss of life and injuries and was working to understand the circumstances surrounding this "tragedy."

The activists were headed to Gaza on a mission meant to draw attention to the blockade, which Israel and Egypt imposed after the militant Hamas group seized the territory of 1.5 million Palestinians in 2007.

There were conflicting accounts of what happened early Monday, with activists claiming the Israelis fired first and Israel insisting its forces fired in self defense. Communications to the ships were cut off shortly after the raid began.
An Israeli commando who spoke to reporters on a naval vessel off the coast, and who was identified only by the first letter of his name, "A," said he and his comrades were surprised by a group of Arabic-speaking men when they rapelled onto the deck.

He said some of the soldiers, taken off guard, were stripped of their helmets and equipment and thrown from the top deck to the lower deck, and that some had even jumped overboard to save themselves. At one point one of the passengers seized one of the soldiers' weapons and opened fire.

A high-ranking naval official displayed a box confiscated from the boat containing switchblades, slingshots, metal balls and metal bats. "We prepared (the soldiers) to deal with peace activists, not to fight," he said. Most of the 10 dead were Turkish, he added.


A Turkish website showed video of pandemonium on board one of the ships, with activists in orange life jackets running around as some tried to help an activist apparently unconscious on the deck. The site also showed video of an Israeli helicopter flying overhead and Israeli warships nearby.

Turkey's NTV showed activists beating one Israeli soldier with sticks as he rappelled from a helicopter onto one of the boats.

Activists said Israeli naval commandos stormed the ships after ordering them to stop in international waters, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Gaza's coast.

An Al-Jazeera reporter on one of the Turkish ships said the Israelis fired at the vessel before boarding it. The pan-Arab satellite channel reported by telephone from the Turkish ship leading the flotilla that Israeli navy forces fired at the ship and boarded it, wounding the captain.

"These savages are killing people here, please help," a Turkish television reporter said.

The broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, "Everybody shut up!"
In a news conference in Tel Aviv, Israel's military chief of staff and navy commander said the troops were able to take over the five other boats without incident and all of the violence was centered on the boat carrying most of the flotilla's passengers, the Turkish-owned Mavi Marmara.

Troops were attacked, said Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, and an unspecified number of troops were helicoptered to hospital suffering from gunshots, knife wounds and blows.

"To me it is clear without a doubt, judging by what I saw and what I heard in the first reports from the soldiers, that in light of the danger to human life this violence required the use of weapons, and in my opinion the soldiers acted as they should have in this situation," Ashkenazi said.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak expressed regret for the loss of life, but called IHH, a Turkish group organizing the sea convoy, a violent organization "operating under cover of humanitarian activity."

The ships were being towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, and wounded were evacuated by helicopter to Israeli hospitals, officials said. Two ships had reached port by midday.

Many of the passengers were from European countries.

The European Union deplored what it called excessive use of force and demanded an investigation by Israel. The EU said the blockade of Gaza, now in its fourth year, is "politically unacceptable," and called for an immediate, sustained opening of crossings into the Hamas-controlled territory, according to a statement by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
Turkey called on the U.N. Security Council to convene in an emergency session about Israel.

Thousands marched in protest in Istanbul, some setting Israeli flags on fire after trying to storm the Israeli consulate. Israel quickly advised to its citizens to avoid travel to Turkey. In neighboring Jordan, hundreds demonstrated in the capital Amman to protest the Israeli action and demand that their government breaks diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.
Israeli security forces were on alert across the country for possible protests.
There were no details on the identities of the casualties, or on the conditions of some of the more prominent people on board, including 1976 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire of Northern Ireland, European legislators and Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, 85.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Israeli "aggression," declared three days of mourning across the West Bank and called on the U.N. Security Council and Arab League to hold emergency sessions on the incident.
Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the rival Hamas government in Gaza, condemned the "brutal" Israeli attack and called on U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to intervene.

In Uganda, Ban condemned the deaths of the activists and called for a "thorough" investigation. "Israel must provide an explanation," he said.
The activists were headed to Gaza on a mission meant to draw attention to a 3-year-old Israeli blockade of the coastal territory. Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after Hamas, which it considers a terrorist group, violently seized the territory. Critics say the blockade has unfairly hurt Gaza's 1.5 million people.

Before the ships set sail from waters off the east Mediterranean island of Cyprus on Sunday, Israel had urged the flotilla not to try to breach the blockade and offered to transfer some of the cargo to Gaza from an Israeli port, following a security inspection.

The violent takeover threatened to deal yet another blow to Israel's international image, already tarnished by war crimes accusations in Gaza and its blockade of the impoverished Palestinian territory.

Organizers included people affiliated with the International Solidarity Movement, a pro-Palestinian group that often sends international activists into battle zones, and the IHH.

The Turkish group is an Islamic humanitarian group that is based in Istanbul but operates in several other countries. Israel recently arrested the IHH's West Bank operative, but said his arrest was not related to the planned aid mission.
Hasan Naiboglu, the Turkish maritime affairs undersecretary, told the Anatolia news agency that Israel had jammed communications with the ships. He accused Israel of violating international law by carrying out the raid in international waters.

Turkey had unofficially supported the aid mission and has been vocally critical of Israeli military operations against Palestinians in Gaza.

The flotilla of three cargo ships and three passenger ships carrying 10,000 tons of aid and 700 activists was carrying items that Israel bars from reaching Gaza, like cement and other building materials.

This is the ninth time that the Free Gaza movement has tried to ship in humanitarian aid to Gaza since August 2008.

Israel has allowed ships through five times, but has blocked them from entering Gaza waters since a three-week military offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers in January 2009.

The latest flotilla was the largest to date.

Israeli prime minister cancels White House meeting - Yahoo! News

 

[T-Faz]

Video of Israeli forces firing on the ship and the innocents running away, it start half way through.

Watch Press Tv Live | Presss Tv Online | Press Tv Live Stream Free

 

[Barrett]

SHAME ON YOU ISRAEL.

Cowards all you can do is attack innocent unarmed civilians, I can't wait to hear from the pro-Israeli members on this forum who will still justify the acts of these godless, satan worshipers.