World turns on 'aggressor' Israel over deadly sea battle .
By Malcolm Farr From:The Daily Telegraph June 02, 2010 12:00AM
AUSTRALIA yesterday joined a chorus of condemnation against Israel, demanding a "credible and transparent" investigation of the deadly sea battle between commandos and blockade runners carrying aid to Gaza.
About 4000 protesters - led by Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly and including schoolgirls as young as seven - gathered at Sydney's Town Hall before marching through the CBD last night calling for a boycott of Israel and decisive action by world leaders.
In scenes that mirrored cities around the world, chants of "Israel is a terrorist state" and "free Palestine" rang out as the Sydney protesters condemned Monday's raid that ended with at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists dead, 480 people detained and 48 immediately expelled.
Among those detained were four Australians, including Fairfax journalists Paul McGeough and Kate Geraghty, while a fifth Australian, Annette Young, 20, remained in an Israeli hospital after being shot in the leg.
"This is a terrible and shocking incident," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told Parliament yesterday of the raid in international waters.
The UN Security Council yesterday called for an impartial inquiry and the release of all civilians, while US President Barack Obama expressed "deep regret" and postponed talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called for the lifting of the blockade, which prevents supplies from reaching Palestinians in Gaza.
"The Australian Government condemns any use of violence under the sorts of circumstances that we have seen. Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about the loss of life which has occurred," he said.
"The people of Gaza ... should be provided with humanitarian assistance."
The deaths came as commandos boarded the Turkish ship Marmara, one of six boats trying to break through to the Gaza Strip.
Activists and the Israeli Defence Force released video of the assault on the Marmara, with the IDF footage showing commandos being assaulted with bars and chairs before opening fire.
Reporter McGeough and photographer Geraghty were on board a smaller boat, the MV Samoud, which was not part of the violence. Two unnamed Australian women were being held at a detention centre.
Israel challenged the claim that the raided ships were only carrying humanitarian aid and accused flotilla organisers of also carrying arms.
World turns on 'aggressor' Israel over deadly sea battle | The Daily Telegraph