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The clash occurred in international waters, about 40 miles (64km) out to sea. The Israeli military has said its soldiers came under fire from the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish passenger ferry carrying 581 people and one of three ships provided by Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), an aid organisation with links to the Turkish government. Activists say the Israeli commandos came onboard and started shooting. According to the Israeli military, seven of the troops and 20 protesters were injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed full support earlier today for the navy operation. He has cancelled his visit to America where he was due to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House tomorrow.
It is still unclear how many British nationals were on the flotilla. According to Reuters, nationals from the US, Britain, Australia, Greece, Canada, Malaysia, Algeria, Serbia, Belgium, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Kuwait were onboard. This included three German parliamentarians, two Palestinian Knesset members and the Swedish author Henning Mankell was also on board the flotilla.
International Reaction
The incident sparked international outrage and condemnation. The civilian deaths in international waters has been condemned by the UN and the world.
"I am shocked by reports of killings and injuries of people on boats carrying supplies for Gaza. I condemn this violence.
It is vital that there is a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place. I believe Israel must urgently provide a full explanation." Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General
The Turkish President has strongly spoken against the Israeli navy's use of force "against an aid convoy, including members of non-governmental organisations from 32 countries" and has declared his country will be requesting "every kind of investigation into the incident". He has also requested Israel to bring those who are responsible to justice.
Early this afternoon, Foreign Secretary William Hague made the following statement: "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."
Tony Blair, envoy to the Middle East, has expressed "deep regret and shock at the tragic loss of life" and added his voice to the call for a full investigation into the incident.
The UN Security Council has gone into emergency session to discuss the situation. Presently, EU ambassadors from 27 nations, including Britain, are also expected to hold emergency talks.
Impromptu protests have taken place across the world including in Isreal in reaction to the flotilla incident. Several thousand people gathered to demonstrate outside the entrance to Downing Street in London this evening. They marched to the Israeli Embassy where speakers (including the veteran radical writer and activist Tariq Ali, Salma Yaqoob of Respect and Craig Murray former British Ambassador to Uzbkekistan and now a human rights campaigner) called for a trade boycott of Israel and the suspension of the Israeli trade agreement with the European Union.
"Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), an aid organisation with links to the Turkish government"
Yes, but more predominantly, an organisation with connections to terrorist groups including Al Qaeda; it's in the link you post, and yet you don't mention it in the article itself?
Also, why is it necessary for a student website to report on international news which offers no service the BBC doesn't?
I, for one, don't have the time to check the BBC every day - therefore articles like this are really useful to remind me to get out of my campus bubble once in a while. I am sure I'm not the only one.
If you don't like it, I'd advise you not to look at the Politics section.
comment deleted by the author
comment deleted by the author
comment deleted by the author There is no evidence that the said charitable organisation, the IHH has any links to terrorism.
Rather, the link provided is a highly unreliable one given it's clearly a pro-Israeli website. The website is littered with phrases such as "reliable sources" which coming from that website means nothing at all.
The charges levelled at the organisation come almost exclusively from Israel. The rest of the world and the United Nations recognise it as a charitable organisation.
The links it has to Hamas are not of ideological support rather they've merely recognised that they are necessary partners in delivering aid to Gaza. Just because they refuse to be part of the disgraceful blockade of Gaza this doesn't mean they have any real, substantial links to terrorist groups.
The fact that unreliable information clearly originating from a bias website is taken as truth by a university student is worrying.
If you want to know the truth about this issue read the below:
http://www.spectator.co.uk/melaniephillips/6044639/peace-convoy-this-was-an-islamist-terror-ambush.thtml
Not only is great analysis which clearly shows teh terrorist linkages that the IHH have, the vidoes that are linked to in the piece show clearly that the so called activists were trying to provoke violent confrontation.
One video clearly shows soldiers being attacked as soon as they hit the deck from descending from the hellicopter. This incident is a perfect example of how the western media is causing huge setbacks in the fight against Islamic Extremism.
I hope that the author of this article will print an update or amendment to the article in light of this evidence.
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