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http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/20105313304799...

Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country's siege on Gaza.

At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured when troops intercepted the convoy of ships dubbed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, Israeli radio reported.

The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Gaza coast.

Avital Leibovich, an Israeli military spokeswoman, confirmed that the attack took place in international waters, saying: "This happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves."

Footage from the flotilla's lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara, showed armed Israeli soldiers boarding the ship and helicopters flying overhead.

Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal, on board the Mavi Marmara, said Israeli troops had used live ammunition during the operation.

Live blogging


Aftermath of Israel's attack on Gaza flotilla

The Israeli military said four soldiers had been wounded and claimed troops opened fire after "demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF Naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs".

Free Gaza Movement, the organisers of the flotilla, however, said the troops opened fire as soon as they stormed the convoy.

Our correspondent said that a white surrender flag was raised from the ship and there was no live fire coming from the passengers.

Before losing communication with our correspondent, a voice in Hebrew was clearly heard saying: "Everyone shut up".

Israeli intervention

Earlier, the Israeli navy had contacted the captain of the Mavi Marmara, asking him to identify himself and say where the ship was headed.

Shortly after, two Israeli naval vessels had flanked the flotilla on either side, but at a distance.

IN DEPTH


Focus: On board the Freedom Flotilla
Focus: 'The future of Palestine'
Focus: Gaza's real humanitarian crisis
Outrage over Israel attack
Tensions rise over Gaza aid fleet
'Fighting to break Gaza siege'
Aid convoy sets off for Gaza
Programmes: Born in Gaza
Video: Israel's Gaza PR offensive
Video: Gazan's rare family reunion abroad
Video: Making the most of Gaza's woes

Organisers of the flotilla carrying 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid then diverted their ships and slowed down to avoid a confrontation during the night.

They also issued all passengers life jackets and asked them to remain below deck.

Al Jazeera’s Ayman Mohyeldin, reporting from Jerusalem, said the Israeli action was surprising.

"All the images being shown from the activists on board those ships show clearly that they were civilians and peaceful in nature, with medical supplies on board. So it will surprise many in the international community to learn what could have possibly led to this type of confrontation," he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli police have been put on a heightened state of alert across the country to prevent any civil disturbances.

Sheikh Raed Salah,a leading member of the Islamic Movement who was on board the ship, was reported to have been seriously injured. He was being treated in Israel's Tal Hasharon hospital.

In Um Al Faham, the stronghold of the Islamic movement in Israel and the birth place of Salah, preparations for mass demonstrations were under way.

Protests

Condemnation has been quick to pour in after the Israeli action.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, officially declared a three-day state of mourning over Monday's deaths.

Turkey, Spain, Greece, Denmark and Sweden have all summoned the Israeli ambassador's in their respective countries to protest against the deadly assault.


Worldwide outrage has followed the deadly Israeli attack of Gaza aid convoy [AFP]
Thousands of Turkish protesters tried to storm the Israeli consulate in Istanbul soon after the news of the operation broke. The protesters shouted "Damn Israel" as police blocked them.

"(The interception on the convoy) is unacceptable ... Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behaviour," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

Ismail Haniya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, has also dubbed the Israeli action as "barbaric".

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, including a Nobel laureate and several European legislators, were with the flotilla, aiming to reach Gaza in defiance of an Israeli embargo.

The convoy came from the UK, Ireland, Algeria, Kuwait, Greece and Turkey, and was comprised of about 700 people from 50 nationalities.

But Israel had said it would not allow the flotilla to reach the Gaza Strip and vowed to stop the six ships from reaching the coastal Palestinian territory.

The flotilla had set sail from a port in Cyprus on Sunday and aimed to reach Gaza by Monday morning.

Israel said the boats were embarking on "an act of provocation" against the Israeli military, rather than providing aid, and that it had issued warrants to prohibit their entrance to Gaza.

It asserted that the flotilla would be breaking international law by landing in Gaza, a claim the organisers rejected.

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From all that I wrote to you, this is the only part you care to comment on. Well done!
I must admit that I didn't express myself correctly. I shouldn't have said I fear being judged or called a "nutter" because it is not true. I have one fear in my life: not being "there" for my son. But I'm working on it!
I could care less of what people think of me, honestly. I respect your opinion Nickolas. Respect mine. Or not. I doesn't really matter. If judging others is what makes you happy, judge away!

Nickolas Macen said:
I will say to you what a very smart man ones said to me. When you let the fear of judgement of others keep you from living your life how you want it. That is when you cease being a human being and become a slave to society.

Simmy said:
Ok Nickolas...how can you judge someone without having a clue about their personal circumstances?
How can you say I don't get get up and do anything? Yes, I could do more. But at the moment, because of my personal circumstances, this would bring chaos to my family life. I do what I can without disrupting anyone else's lives. Remember that not everyone share our views and trying to impose them on others can bring a lot of disharmony.
So I have time to come here and discuss about subjects I'm interested in. What's so wrong with that???? This is the only place I can come and talk about these subjects without fear of being judged or called a "nutter".
But here you are, judging us and saying you're better than us because you organize work with your community. This is great of you, but don't say I'm "worse" than you because I don't have the oportunity (and freedom) to do the same.
By the way...I never blame anyone else but me for my current circumstances. About the state of the world...I blame no one (or everyone, depending on the point of view...)
p.s.: No one here calls themselves "ascended ones". Not that I know of.

''And believe me, dear Nickolas, my Light doesn't shine any less as I stance hard toward the violence of Israel. Consciousness does remain that you stay close to yourself, believe in unconditional love for all living things and keep yourself open to outside influences for your balance in good and right. silly dutch I am : I mean ofcourse right and wrong or good and badKeep an eye on your ego and rely more on your intuition ''.
Simone your words are so valuable to me, but apparantly not for Nickolas, that man has to much anger in him, maybe he is come swim back from the other side, you remember all those angry people with their frustrations on sosoe ... right !!
So I close down this discussion...
Thank You PaTricia Thank You Ian Thank You Simone and ofcourse many thanks for Nickolas for giving us the opportunity to forgive him :)))

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