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Freedom Flotilla under attack in International waters
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Israel Attacks Freedom Flotilla: 3+ Dead, 30+ Injured
Under darkness of night, Israeli commandos from at least 14 warships and military helicopters boarded the Turkish passenger ship, Mavi Marmara, and began shooting. According to live video from the ship, at least two civilians have been murdered, and dozens injured. Israeli television is reporting 16 civilians killed.
The Mavi Marmara was part of a six-ship unarmed flotilla, including a US-flagged vessel, carrying 700 passengers from 40 different countries and 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza.
The last GPS signal from the flotilla, sent just prior to the attack, placed the ships at latitude: 32.64113, longitude: 33.56727 -- approximately 65 miles off the coast of Netanya, well in international waters.
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 Hurndall 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.
Numbers for Israeli officials:
•Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office: +972 2670 5354 +972 2670 5354 +972 5 0620 3264
•Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defense: +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
•List of Israeli embassies in other countries
Organize a demonstration at an Israeli embassy
Register your demonstration or find a planned action in your area at the Gaza Freedom March
Numbers for United States officials:
•White House: 1.202.456.1111
•Department of State: 1.202.647.4000
Call or send a letter to your Congressional representative with this sample letter:
Dear YOUR REPRESENTATIVE,
In one of the most outrageous attacks on civilized people, the Israeli military killed at least three people and injured at least 30 more in an unprovoked assault on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters. The ships presented no threat as they were filled with diplomats, academics, journalists and human rights workers hoping to bring humanitarian goods to the besieged Gaza Strip.
I call on you to hold Israel accountable for their despicable actions and to immediately dispel your Israeli ambassador until a thorough investigation can be undertaken by a credible third party.
United Kingdom
Contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Other countries
Please contact your foreign ministries, embassies and representatives.
Protesters storm Israeli consulate in Turkey
Al-Manar:Turkish Protesters Try to Storm Israeli Consulate
31/05/2010
As hundreds of angry Turkish protesters tried to storm the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul over reports of an Israeli attack on at least one aid ship in international waters, Turkey's foreign ministry condemned the Israeli operation saying it may lead to "irreparable consequences" in bilateral ties.
"By targeting civilians, Israel has once again shown its disregard for human life and peaceful initiatives. We strongly condemn these inhumane practices of Israel," a written statement said. "This deplorable incident, which took place in open seas and constitutes a fragrant breach of international law, may lead to irreparable consequences in our bilateral relations," it said.
Ankara will demand an explanation of the incident from Israeli ambasssador Gabby Levy, who was summoned to the foreign ministry, the statement said. "Whatever the reason is, such action against civilians involved only in peaceful activities is unacceptable. "Israel will have to bear the consequences of this behavior, which constitutes a violation of international law," it said.
Meanwhile, CNN-Turk and NTV showed dozens of angry protesters scuffling with Turkish police guarding the consulate in downtown Istanbul. "Damn Israel," the protesters shouted.
Two TV networks reported earlier that Israeli warships attacked the six ships carrying pro-Palestinian activists and aid for blockaded Gaza, killing 16 and wounding dozens of people on board.
"We were not expecting such an operation in international waters," Omer Faruk Korkmaz, an official of the pro-Islamic aid group, IHH, that led the aid shipment said in Turkey. "Israel has been caught red-handed and the international community will not forgive it." Korkmaz said the ship was being escorted to Haifa.
Murat Mercan, a lawmaker from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party, said: "I was expecting an intervention. I was not expecting bloodshed, the use of arms and bullets." "Israel is engaged in activity that will extremely hurt its image," he said.
The al-Jazeera network reported that senior Turkish officials were expected to convene an emergency meeting to discuss their stand regarding what they referred to as "the Israeli attack on the freedom sail."
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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