31 May, 2010 — The Guardian
The Guardian has a live page covering the attack by Israel on the Freedom Flotilla in international waters. The latest death toll now reads 19-20 people but there are as yet no names of those who have been murdered by the Israeli pirates.
30 May, 2010 — Al Jazeera
31 May, 2010 — Sky News
31 May, 2010 — Witness Gaza
31 May, 2010 — Viva Palestina
Members of the Israeli Navy commandeered the largest ship of the Gaza Flotilla and in the process kill a reported 19 activists. On board the ship are international human rights activists from a number of countries including 28 from the UK.
News reports can be found on the BBC Sky NEWS, PRESS TV, The Guardian, Al Jazeera
What can you do:
1) Protest against Israel’s actions, to support the flotilla and to demand action from our government 11am, The Foreign Office, Whitehall, London. 2pm Downing Street, London.
2) Make phone calls. We need to put pressure on our government to take action against Israel’s violent actions which are violating several articles of the UN Convention on the law of the sea, part VII putting the lives of Britons and hundreds of others at risk.
3) Make Phone calls to the Israeli embassy in Briton demanding the safe passage of the ships to Gaza and the safety of all on board.
Emergency 24 hour assistance for Britons Abroad: 020 7008 1500
British Embassy in Tel Aviv 24 hour number for emergencies: 00972 3725 1222
British Consulate for OPT: East Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza Strip: 24 hour switchboard, 00972 02 541 4100
*Numbers for Israeli officials:*
Mark Regev in the Prime Minister’s office: +972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence: +972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
Major Liebovitz from the Israeli Navy: + 972 5 781 86248
The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Fax: 972-3-697-6717
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax: 972-2- 5303367
Points you may wish to make:
There are a number of British nationals (at least 28) on board the flotilla. If asked for names, you can refer to Kevin Ovenden, Nicola Enchmarch, Nada Daher, Sarah Colbourne or Alex Harrison.
Based on the previous actions of Israel, there is reason to believe that the welfare of these British nationals may be at risk (Israel’s previous actions in ramming and nearly sinking the Dignity Free Gaza boat in December 2008 and in dangerously boarding the Spirit of Humanity in June 2009);
That based on Israel’s previous actions, there is reason to believe that large quantities of humanitarian aid, some of it donated by British people, is at risk of being damaged or destroyed.
*Numbers for Israeli officials:*
Mark Regev in the Prime Minister’s office: +972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence: +972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
Major Liebovitz from the Israeli Navy: + 972 5 781 86248
The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Fax: 972-3-697-6717
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax: 972-2- 5303367
Palestinian fishermen are regularly fired upon off the coast of Gaza, but these are the first Israeli murders of internationals at sea. In recent years, the Israeli military has adopted increasingly vicious policies toward international human rights workers in Palestine, murdering Rachel Corrie and Tom Hurdall in 2003.
The names of the dead are not yet known. The flotilla passengers included retired US diplomats Amb. Edward Peck and Col. Ann Wright as well as humanitarian aid and human rights workers, several Members of Parliament from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Turkey, Malaysia, and Palestinian Members of the Knesset.
——————————-
Alice Howard
Viva Palestina UK
Tel: +447889726777
Email: alice@vivapalestina.org
Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
Sign up to the Viva Palestina Mailing List http://www.vivapalestina.org/alert.htm
Viva Palestina, helping to make the positive steps in breaking the siege of Gaza!
31 May, 2010 — The Only Democracy?
If we were not Israeli Jews, if the nine ships bringing 800 peace-makers from 40 countries would be sailing with humanitarian aid to an imprisoned population of a million and a half to, say, Haiti, the flotilla now on its way to Gaza would be hailed as a monumental event. The government of Israel would donate another 50 tons of food and materials and a brigade of army volunteers from the “rescue corps.” But we are Israelis, and the fact that such an operation is being launched against a siege we imposed on a civilian population three years ago – actually, the blockade goes back to the late 1980s – should cause us all to reflect upon how we and our country have arrived at this sorry state – how the “light unto the nations” has become one of the most oppressive states on earth, subject to international protests like this one.
31 May, 2010
30 May, 2010 — Al Jazeera
31 May, 2010
Terrorist Attack in International Water:
More than 10 massacred and dozens injured, including MEPs.
Unarmed civilians on a humanitarian mission to bring aid to besieged Gaza were attacked by Israeli military units. The aid flotilla was 90 miles away from the pariah state Israel. Israeli navy is firing on Gaza beach.
Updates at: http://twitter.com/freegazaorg http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23flotilla
There is censorship in Israel on the details of the murdered human rights defenders. The BBC complies and parrots the Israeli disinformation of the bloodshed on board. Even Israeli propaganda has not claimed they were fired on, but the dutiful BBC initiated to ask “no question that Israelis came under fire from the boat?” at 07:24 31 May. The BBC ME correspondence W. Davies replied “whether the activists tried to snatch weapons from the Israeli commandos”. 10 min later the news summary at at 07:33 stated that the commandos were fired upon. Regev can rest and leave the propaganda work in the safe hands of John Humphrey.
This massacre is the result of the appeasement policies towards Israel, in particular the recent acceptance into the OECD. The latest appeasement by the new British government was when “Hague: We will change universal jurisdiction” [dated May 28, 2010], a move to effectively secure Israeli war criminals are immune from even arrest for war crimes. In less than 72 hours Israel committed this heinous crime.
So why Israel was so desperate to stop the unarmed human rights defenders? Because Israel does not want any obstacles in its plans for the final solution for Gaza. The siege won’t be lifted unless either the world stop its appeasement of this terrorist state [e.g. BDS] or the Palestinians in Gaza are genocided or forced into Sinai.
Regards,
Yael Kahn
Chair of Islington Friends of Yibna [IFY]
Islington_Yibna@yahoo.co.uk
07880 731 865
31 May, 2010 — Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera’s report on board the Mavi Marmara before communications were cut
Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country’s siege on Gaza.
More than 10 people were killed and dozens injured when troops intercepted the convoy of ships dubbed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, the Israeli military said.
The Israeli Army Radio had earlier said that up to 16 people had been killed.
The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Gaza coast.
Footage from the flotilla’s lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.
31 May, 2010
31 May, 2010 — Viva Palestina
Members of the Israeli Navy commandeered the largest ship of the Gaza Flotilla and in the process kill a reported 19 activists. On board the ship are international human rights activists from a number of countries including 28 from the UK.
News reports can be found on the BBC Sky NEWS, PRESS TV, The Guardian, Al Jazeera
What can you do:
1) Protest against Israel’s actions, to support the flotilla and to demand action from our government 11am, The Foreign Office, Whitehall, London. 2pm Downing Street, London.
2) Make phone calls. We need to put pressure on our government to take action against Israel’s violent actions which are violating several articles of the UN Convention on the law of the sea, part VII putting the lives of Britons and hundreds of others at risk.
3) Make Phone calls to the Israeli embassy in Briton demanding the safe passage of the ships to Gaza and the safety of all on board.
Emergency 24 hour assistance for Britons Abroad: 020 7008 1500
British Embassy in Tel Aviv 24 hour number for emergencies: 00972 3725 1222
British Consulate for OPT: East Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza Strip: 24 hour switchboard, 00972 02 541 4100
*Numbers for Israeli officials:*
Mark Regev in the Prime Minister’s office: +972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence: +972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
Major Liebovitz from the Israeli Navy: + 972 5 781 86248
The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Fax: 972-3-697-6717
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax: 972-2- 5303367
Points you may wish to make:
There are a number of British nationals (at least 28) on board the flotilla. If asked for names, you can refer to Kevin Ovenden, Nicola Enchmarch, Nada Daher, Sarah Colbourne or Alex Harrison.
Based on the previous actions of Israel, there is reason to believe that the welfare of these British nationals may be at risk (Israel’s previous actions in ramming and nearly sinking the Dignity Free Gaza boat in December 2008 and in dangerously boarding the Spirit of Humanity in June 2009);
That based on Israel’s previous actions, there is reason to believe that large quantities of humanitarian aid, some of it donated by British people, is at risk of being damaged or destroyed.
*Numbers for Israeli officials:*
Mark Regev in the Prime Minister’s office: +972 2670 5354 or +972 5 0620 3264
Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence: +972 3697 5339 or +972 50629 8148
Major Liebovitz from the Israeli Navy: + 972 5 781 86248
The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Fax: 972-3-697-6717
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax: 972-2- 5303367
Palestinian fishermen are regularly fired upon off the coast of Gaza, but these are the first Israeli murders of internationals at sea. In recent years, the Israeli military has adopted increasingly vicious policies toward international human rights workers in Palestine, murdering Rachel Corrie and Tom Hurdall in 2003.
The names of the dead are not yet known. The flotilla passengers included retired US diplomats Amb. Edward Peck and Col. Ann Wright as well as humanitarian aid and human rights workers, several Members of Parliament from Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Turkey, Malaysia, and Palestinian Members of the Knesset.
——————————-
Alice Howard
Viva Palestina UK
Tel: +447889726777
Email: alice@vivapalestina.org
Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
Sign up to the Viva Palestina Mailing List http://www.vivapalestina.org/alert.htm
Viva Palestina, helping to make the positive steps in breaking the siege of Gaza!
31 May, 2010 — BBC
The Israeli navy has stormed at least one of a convoy of ships carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip, amid reports of casualties on board.
Some reports say two people have been killed and about 30 injured. Israel has declined to comment.
The BBC’s Jon Donnison told Jonathan Charles footage obtained by Turkish television, taken on board the Turkish ship leading the flotilla, appeared to show Israeli soldiers fighting to control passengers.
http://widgets.vodpod.com/w/video_embed/Groupvideo.5834903
31 May, 2010
Tune in to Al Jazeera for live coverage, using the free software Livestation downloadable from
http://www.livestation.com/downloads
Yet another act of Israeli barbarism as its forces storm one of the seven ships on the international flotilla taking aid to Gaza, where Israel’s illegal siege is starving Palestinians of essential resources. At least ten activists on board have been killed by Israeli forces.
Please join the emergency demonstration today if you can. Publicise it as widely as possible.
See video of Israeli assault from Turkish televison: bit.ly/aKExFf
For updates see: bit.ly/bg5gIu
CONTACT FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE & YOUR MP
PROTEST TO FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE:
EMAIL:
msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk AND/OR
private.office@fco.gov.uk AND MSU.PublicIn@fco.gov.uk
LETTER TO:
William Hague MP, Foreign Secretary, King Charles Street, London,
SW1A 2AH
CONTACT YOUR MP: findyourmp.parliament.uk
Ask him/her to contact Hague on your behalf
CONTACT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NICK CLEGG
EMAIL: cleggn@parliament.uk
LETTER TO: Nick Clegg MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
STOP THE WAR COALITION
31 May 2010
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/STWuk
31 May, 2010 — Viva Palestina
Israeli forces have attacked the international aid convoy Freedom Flotilla en route to the besieged Gaza Strip, killing at least 10 people and leaving more than 50 injured.
The attack came on Monday morning after one of the six ships in the convoy was hit by Israeli navy forces before being stormed by commandos descending from helicopters.
The interception reportedly took place in international waters, more than 150km (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza.
George Galloway speaks out in outrage from Houston, Texas at 05.18
Gaza TV News: Gaza TV’s phlog
Please share
Short URL: http://ipad.io/KIN
Wharton, TX, USA, US
———————
Alice Howard
Viva Palestina UK
Tel: +447889726777
Email: alice@vivapalestina.org
Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
Sign up to the Viva Palestina Mailing List http://www.vivapalestina.org/alert.htm
Viva Palestina, helping to make the positive steps in breaking the siege of Gaza!
31 May, 2010 — witnessgaza.com – www.freegaza.org
Cyprus – At 11:00 pm Cyprus time and in international waters off the coast of Israel, the boats were contacted by the Israeli navy. “Who are you and where are you going?” Our reply was that we were part of a flotilla and we were going to Gaza to deliver humanitarian supplies.
On the radar, the boats could see three Israeli war ships shadowing us, and 15 minutes later, a silent aircraft hovered over the flotilla. One of our Hebrew speakers had found Israel’s strategy and posted it to us. It stated, “You will be boarded by highly trained, very efficient and very SILENT commandos. They will use silent inflatable boats to get to our boats and both try to board our boats directly from the inflatables and by dropping divers into the water to climb onto the boats,” so people were preparing for them to come up and over the sides of the ships.
Our SPOT locator has sent out several HELP messages at http://www.witnessgaza.com.
Lubna Marsawa, Free Gaza’s organizer on the Turkish passenger boat said in outrage,
“Very few times in history has a flotilla delivering humanitarian goods been welcomed by military war ships.”
This is a call to the world from the people on the boats. “We are a civilian people doing what our governments have refused to do, challenge Israel’s right to collectively punish 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza by blockading their right to their own sea. This flotilla is bringing construction and educational supplies the people of Gaza and are being met by Israeli warships.”
Contact: Huwaida Arraf on board the Challenger 0088 216 5207 2093
Ewa Jasciewica on board the Challenger 0088 163 184 7926
Fatima Mohammed on board the IHH ship 8821636619168
Greta Berlin 00 357 99 18 72 75
Mary Hughes 00 357 96 38 38 09
Check out this site, find the Israeli embassy nearest you and let them know how you feel.
http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Israel
—
Greta Berlin, Co-Founder
+357 99 18 72 75
witnessgaza.com
www.freegaza.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freegaza
31 May, 2010
Tune in to Al Jazeera for live coverage, using the free software Livestation downloadable from
http://www.livestation.com/downloads
Yet another act of Israeli barbarism as its forces storm one of the seven ships on the international flotilla taking aid to Gaza, where Israel’s illegal seige is starving Palestinians of essential resources. At least ten activists on board have been killed by Israeli forces.
Please join the emergency demonstration today if you can. Publicise it as widely as possible.
See video of Israeli assault from Turkish televison: bit.ly/aKExFf
For updates see: bit.ly/bg5gIu
CONTACT FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE & YOUR MP
PROTEST TO FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE:
EMAIL:
msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk AND/OR
private.office@fco.gov.uk AND MSU.PublicIn@fco.gov.uk
LETTER TO:
William Hague MP, Foreign Secretary, King Charles Street, London,
SW1A 2AH
CONTACT YOUR MP: findyourmp.parliament.uk
Ask him/her to contact Hague on your behalf
CONTACT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NICK CLEGG
EMAIL: cleggn@parliament.uk
LETTER TO: Nick Clegg MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA
STOP THE WAR COALITION
31 May 2010
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Tel: 020 7801 2768
Web: stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: twitter.com/STWuk
31 May, 2010 — Viva Palestina
Israeli forces have attacked the international aid convoy Freedom Flotilla en route to the besieged Gaza Strip, killing at least 10 people and leaving more than 50 injured.
The attack came on Monday morning after one of the six ships in the convoy was hit by Israeli navy forces before being stormed by commandos descending from helicopters.
The interception reportedly took place in international waters, more than 150km (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza.
George Galloway speaks out in outrage from Houston, Texas at 05.18
Gaza TV News: Gaza TV’s phlog
Please share
Short URL: http://ipad.io/KIN
Wharton, TX, USA, US
———————
Alice Howard
Viva Palestina UK
Tel: +447889726777
Email: alice@vivapalestina.org
Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
Sign up to the Viva Palestina Mailing List http://www.vivapalestina.org/alert.htm
Viva Palestina, helping to make the positive steps in breaking the siege of Gaza!
30 May, 2010 — Free Gaza
From someone with contacts in the Israeli military, the following message has been translated.
Commando units that will be used to stop the boats. He says they are highly trained, very efficient and very SILENT.
They will use silent inflatable boats to get to our boats and both try to board our boats directly from the inflatables and by dropping divers into the water to clime onto the boats.
He said that no matter the circumstances, the boats must NOT travel by night or with little light. They must keep in formation at all times, with the smaller boats in the inside and the larger boats on the outside. They must not allow any israeli boats to penetrate the formation.
But we are traveling at night, so everyone out there needs to be aware of what the Israeli military is planning. If this does happen, we have been forewarned. The boats have also. Lubna has just reported that some kind of plane came over the ships, perhaps trying to block the satellite and it looks suspiciously like a drone.. which would make sense.
—
Greta Berlin, Co-Founder
+357 99 18 72 75
witnessgaza.com
www.freegaza.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freegaza
30 May, 2010 — www.freegaza.org
Lubna: greta urgent we have threat from israel (check out the HELP button on www.witnessgaza.com)
me [Greta]: Lubna. What is happening?
lubna: two israeli ships coming toward us me: So glad to see you here
Me: Please try to stay on this so I can tweet it
lubna: they contact the ship asked who we are and dissappeared now they getting close to the ship we can see them stay here 3 boats are coming not two 3 israeli boats we are 78 mile from israel
me: I’ll keep writing
lubna: people here put their life jackets every body preppering here
me: OK. You are the lifeline to our TWITTER account
lubna: we may loose the wirless, we didnt expect them now, we thought they will arrive at the morning, please stay in touch with the other boats
Sent at 10:50 PM on Sunday
me: We can’t reach anyone
Sent at 10:52 PM on Sunday
me: where are you? Are you there?
—
Greta Berlin, Co-Founder
+357 99 18 72 75
witnessgaza.com
www.freegaza.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/freegaza
The New Dark Age 