By Warren Popp
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
International condemnation has grown in the days following the raid on 31 May of a flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid headed toward Gaza, which Israeli forces commandeered in international waters. During the incident, seven Israeli soldiers were severely injured when activists on the ship allegedly attacked Israeli commandos with knives, Molotov cocktails, clubs, iron bars, and even pistols from the injured Israeli soldiers as they descended upon the ship, and nine activists were allegedly shot and killed by Israeli forces either as they descended and/or from commandos in the helicopter above and in nearby boats.
The United Nations Security Council acted in emergency session and called for independent investigation into the incident. The Human Rights Council also took action in a special sitting call for by Arab and Islamic states and passed a resolution that sets up an independent investigation and calls for an end to Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
While Israel has rejected a demand for any international investigation, they reportedly embraced a U.S. proposal on Thursday for an Israeli inquiry that would include the participation of outside observers.
The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, as well as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other World leaders have joined countries throughout the World in condemning Israeli action in the incident and demanding that the blockade of Gaza be lifted. Mr. Ban noted that this tragedy highlights the underlying problem of the siege of Gaza, stating that the siege was “counter-productive, unsustainable, and wrong.”
While the U.S. took an active role in preventing any direct criticism of Israel in the language of the Security Council Resolution, there are also signs that the incident may be altering the U.S. position towards the U.S. support of the Gaza blockade. The New York Times reports that according to U.S. officials, the international pressure from the incident “create[s] a new opportunity to push for increased engagement with the Palestinian Authority and a less harsh policy toward Gaza”; that the Administration considers Israel’s blockade of Gaza to be untenable; and that they will press for alternative approach’s that will ensure Israel’s security while still allowing more supplies into the impoverished Palestinian area.
Turkey immediately responded to the incident by recalling its ambassador to Israel and canceling joint military exercises. Turkey’s President stated, “Turkey will never forgive Israel for the killing of Turkish citizens.” However, since the release of nearly all of the detained activists, tensions between Israel and Turkey have eased: The Turkish foreign minister said, “It was time that calm replaces anger.”
Due to diplomatic and political considerations, Israel decided not to prosecute dozens of the detained activists, including many who Israel claimed were linked to terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, and many who allegedly attacked the Israeli commandos when they descended on the ships.
According to the Associated Press, Israeli Cabinet Minister Isaac Herzog said the release of the activists was an effort, “to take full control of this crisis management and move forward.”
The incident also led to other notable responses by states, including: South Africa temporarily recalling its Ambassador to Israel; Nicaragua severing all diplomatic ties with Israel; Sweden summoning Israel’s ambassador to demand an explanation of the incident; Great Britain calling for an end to the to the blockade; and perhaps most notable the response by Egypt. Egypt, which kept its border crossing with Gaza closed even during the 2008 Israeli invasion of Gaza, responded to the latest incident by at least temporarily opening the border for humanitarian purposes.
The Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, Yigal Palmor has responded to some of the criticism by stating, “Those who criticize Israel would be better advised to turn their criticism against the terror-supporting rioters from the flotilla, who have nothing to do with humaneness.”
Israel appears to be focusing on its own allegations that the Turkish charity participating in the flotilla mission, the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), to terrorist groups. This characterization is in especially stark contrast to the stated adherence to “the principles of nonviolence and nonviolent resistance in word and deed at all times” that is a stated principle and practice of the Free Gaza Movement, the principle organizer of the flotilla, as well as to the professed peaceful and humanitarian nature of the flotilla’s mission in general.
Israel Remains Committed to Defending its Actions during the Flotilla Incident
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused world leaders for holding Israel to a double standard in regards to Israel’s actions in the interception of a flotilla of ships on May 31 that was purportedly on a humanitarian mission, stating, “Once again, Israel faces hypocrisy and a biased rush to judgment.”
Netanyahu and other Israeli officials have repeatedly justified the actions by the Israeli commandos as acts of self-defense, have claimed that the interception of the flotilla in international waters was permitted by international law, and have stated that it is vital for Israel’s security that they continue to enforce the Gaza blockade.
Netanyahu claimed, “The international community cannot afford an Iranian port on the Mediterranean … The same countries that are criticising us today, should know that they could be targeted tomorrow.” He further states, “Opening a naval route to Gaza will present enormous danger to the security of our citizens”.
Israel claims that if any significant amount of cement and steel were allowed into Gaza without restrictions it would end up in missiles and other weapons that would be used against Israel. (It should be noted that Israel now claims that cement was not found on the ship as initially alleged; however, the Free Gaza ship that is currently in route to Gaza is purported to have 550 tons of concrete.)
However, it appears that Netanyahu is willing to consider easing the naval blockade on Gaza, as well as other creative solutions for monitoring the goods that are allowed to enter the Hamas-ruled territory. The New York Times reported that Netanyahu proposed to Tony Blair, the international envoy of the ‘quartet of Middle East peacemakers’, that an international naval force inspect future aid shipments bound for Gaza.
Amos Gilad, a senior defense official, reportedly said in an interview that in Gaza, “we only have bad solutions, worse solutions and worst solutions”: “Hamas is a terrorist organization sworn to Israel’s destruction. We, on the contrary, are facilitating them to bring in all kinds of food, materials; they are even exporting strawberries and flowers.”
The Most Recent Developments in the Flotilla Incident:
The Hamas minister of social affairs, Ahmad al-Kurd, accused Israel of not delivering all of the supplies from the seized flotilla, including batteries for wheelchairs and cement, and has said that he won’t accept the aid from the flotilla until Israel provides everything that was confiscated and all detainees were released.
Another ship from the Fee Gaza movement, the MV Rachel Corrie, which was unable to join the ships in most recent flotilla due to mechanical problems, has been boarded without incident by Israeli forces.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu quickly distinguished the latest incident between the boat filled with Irish and Malaysian activists of the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish-sponsored activists that was intercepted May 31 in an incident that left nine dead and scores wounded: “The different outcome we saw today underscores the difference between peace activists who we disagree with but respect their right to express their different opinion and flotilla participants who were violent extremist supporters of terrorists.”
In response, the Free Gaza Movement said, “we’d like to remind Mr. Netanyahu that the only hate evidenced on board all six boats on Monday morning came from the Israeli attackers.”
For more information, please see:
Jerusalem Post – Navy Boards, Takes Control of ‘Rachel Corrie’ Off Gaza Coast – 5 June 2010
NY Times – Second Set of Activists Steams Toward Gaza – 4 June 2010
Al Ahram Weekly – Death on the High Seas – 3 June 2010
Al Jazeera – S. Africa Recalls Israeli Ambassador – 3 June 2010
Al Jazeera – Turkey will “never forgive” Israel – 3 June 2010
AP – Israel Trying to Limit Diplomatic Damage From Raid – June 3, 2010
Haaretz.com – Under U.S. Pressure, Netanyahu May Ease Gaza Blockade – June 3, 2010
Jerusalem Post – Flotilla Dead Mourned in Turkey – 3 June 2010
Jerusalem Post – South Africa Recalls Its Ambassador – 3 June 2010
Telegraph.co.uk – Gaza Flotilla Attack: UN Secretary General Demands Blockade be Lifted – 3 June 2010
NY Times – Israeli FM Proposes Inquiry With Foreign Observers – 3 June 2010
Al Arabiya – UN Approves Probe Into Israel’s Ship Raid – 2 June 2010
N.Y. Times – In Bid to Quell Anger Over Raid, Israel Frees Detainees – 2 June 2010
N.Y. Times – New Israeli Tack Needed on Gaza, U.S. Officials Say – 2 June 2010
Free Gaza Movement – Our Mission – 30 January 2009
Free Gaza Movement – We Will Be Back – 30 January 2009
