Peace for the Soul

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Gregg Carlstrom is an online journalist with Al Jazeera English, based in Doha.
 

Early Monday morning, Israel attacked a flotilla of aid ships bound for the Gaza Strip; at least 16 people were killed in the pre-dawn raid, according to organisers and media sources.

We'll be live-blogging the aftermath of this incident throughout the day; keep checking back for international reaction, news from our correspondents on the ground, photos and video. (All times are GMT, except where noted.)

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Update, 10:57am: Israel's National Security Counter-Terrorism Bureau just issued a travel warning for Turkey, warning of the threat of "violent outbreaks" against Israeli citizens traveling there.

It advises Israelis to postpone any trips to Turkey; for Israelis currently in Turkey, it recommends that they "should remain in their places of residence, avoid city centers and sites in which demonstrations are being held, and monitor developments out of concern that the situation could worsen."

Update, 10:53am: Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, was one of the first Arab leaders to condemn the attack; he called it an "act of piracy" in a speech earlier this morning.

Before I conclude I must briefly refer to what happened this morning: The Israeli act of piracy against Arab and foreign activists, who tried to break a non-humanitarian, unjust siege imposed on our fellow citizens in the Gaza Strip, [imposed] for no reason but [that] they exercised their democratic right of choice. The crimes perpetrated this morning against the civilians supporting the Palestinians remind us of the unjust siege, the open bleeding wound in the [Gaza] Strip. All those who preach freedom, justice and democracy are required now to move, and to act to break this siege, so the blood of these free men does not go down the drain. This is a message addressed to the Arab states, who were brought to the moment of justice by those free men on board."

Update, 10:48am: The BBC is reporting that the Greek government canceled joint military exercises with Israel in protest over the attack.

Turkey's deputy prime minister announced a few moments ago that Turkey, too, is canceling joint drills with Israel.

Update, 10:43am: We're still trying to track down information about today's victims (various reports now put the death toll between 16 and 20).

We do know that the majority of the people on board the ships were Turkish. The passengers also include people from Algeria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Norway, Palestine, Serbia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

At least three of the German passengers were members of parliament.

Update, 10:38am: The Los Angeles Times is reporting a crowd of roughly 10,000 demonstrators in Istanbul today; they marched from the Israeli consulate to Taksim Square.

Turkish media, meanwhile, are reporting that the foreign ministry recalled Turkey's ambassador to Israel.

Update, 10:32am: The Egyptian foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the flotilla attack, according to Al Jazeera's Amr El-Kahky, who sends this note from Cairo summarizing the statement.

The spokesman sent his condolences for the families of the victims. He added that such actions remind the world that Gaza is still entirely under occupation calling for the immediate lifting of the blockade. He vowed that Egypt will continue to ease the suffering of Gazans by allowing more individual passage to and from the coastal strip and making sure aid heading for Gaza is delivered to the beseiged Palestinians.

The Egyptian government temporarily opened the Rafah border crossing with Gaza earlier this month, but it generally maintains tight controls over the movement of people and goods.

Jordan's government is expected to issue a formal statement in about a half-hour.

Update, 10:10am: We're hearing from Iraq that Moqtada al-Sadr has called for a large anti-Israel rally across from the Green Zone in Baghdad. The rally is scheduled to start around 5pm local time (2pm GMT).

Update, 10:04am: Raed Salah, a senior member of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was reportedly seriously wounded during the attack, and is being treated in a hospital in Israel.

Salah's deputy, Sheikh Kamel Khatib, told an Israeli radio station that Israel would be "directly responsible" if Salah was killed.

Update, 9:53am: More international condemnation continues to roll in:

  • Pakistan's foreign ministry issued a statement that "strongly condemns the use of brazen force by Israel."

  • The Jordanian foreign ministry has summoned the Israeli charge d'affaires, the ranking official at the Israeli embassy in Amman.

  • Saeb Erekat, the chief negotiator from the Palestinian Authority, called the Israeli attack "a war crime."

Update, 9:14am: The Stop the War Coalition and several other organisations are planning a rally this afternoon at 2pm local time (1pm GMT) outside the UK prime minister's residence.

Update, 8:59am: I just spoke with Greta Berlin, one of the flotilla's organisers, who said her organisation (the Free Gaza Movement) has had no contact with the passengers and crew on board the ships since they were attacked.

Berlin also strongly rejected the Israel's claim that the activists were the first ones to start shooting. She said there were no weapons on board the boats, and that any violence from the activists would have been in self-defense:

People certainly have the right to resist if they're being attacked. We taught our Free Gaza Movement people to be non-violent, and the Turks did the same, but if anyone resisted, it was in response to soldiers opening fire on them when they hit the deck.

Berlin also said organisers are still hoping to launch a second flotilla of boats, most of which remain at port in Cyprus.

We need to find out where the passengers are, where the crews are... and then we need to assess - we split up our flotilla, we have a second set of boats.

But Berlin said she didn't know when that second launch would happen; she expects it will be several days until everyone on board the first flotilla is accounted for.

Update, 8:43am: A statement from Saad Hariri, the Lebanese prime minister, who called the attack "dangerous and crazy":

The Israeli attack on the aid convoy is a dangerous and crazy step that will exacerbate tensions in the region.

Lebanon firmly denounces this attack and calls on the international community, notably major powers... to take action in order to end this continued violation of human rights and threat to international peace.

Update, 8:31am: Spain's foreign ministry has also summoned the Israeli ambassador for questioning. And Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister, described himself as "profoundly shocked" over the attack.

Update, 8:24am: An observation: We've heard a lot from the Israeli army, the Palestinian Authority, Hamas, the European Union, and a number of other governments.

The one party we haven't heard from in the last few hours is the organisers of the flotilla. Obviously it's impossible to reach those activists who were on board; and I haven't been able to reach their on-shore counterparts. The group's Web site hasn't been updated in the last few hours.

Update, 8:17am: This video, a report from Iran's state-run English-language Press TV network, shows a large crowd of protesters gathered outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul this morning.

 

 


Update, 8:05am: Turkish media are reporting protests throughout the country, particularly in Istanbul (several of the ships, and many of the activists on board, are Turkish). 300 people tried to storm the Turkish consulate in Istanbul early this morning; a larger protest is planned for 12:30 local time (9:30GMT).

"Massive" security is reported around the Israeli embassy in Ankara, and around the residence of Gaby Levy, the Israeli ambassador.

There are also reports of a small demonstration outside the US consulate in Adana, a city in southern Turkey.

Update, 7:53am: A few more international reactions:

•The European Union has called for an inquiry into the attack. Individual European governments are also starting to issue statements: Sweden's foreign minister, Carl Bildt, said his government summoned the Israeli ambassador "to get information."

•The Syrian government has called for an Arab League meeting to discuss the attack.

•Kuwait's parliament is due to hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the raid. Waleed al-Tabtabai, a member of parliament, was one of 16 Kuwaiti nationals on board the ships.

Update, 7:47am: We're getting reports of a protest planned for later this morning outside the prime minister's office in Amman, Jordan. The organisers are reportedly demanding the closure of the Israeli embassy in Amman.

Update, 7:39am: If you haven't seen it, here's the report our Jamal Elshayyal filed shortly before communications from the ships were cut off.


Update, 7:21am: Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington later this week to visit US president Barack Obama. Ha'aretz reports that he may cancel the trip in the wake of the flotilla attack (though we should note the Ha'aretz report isn't actually sourced to anyone).

Update, 7:11am: Avital Leibovich, a spokeswoman for the Israeli military, is giving a press conference right now at Ashdod port, where the navy originally planned to tow the flotilla ships after seizing them.

Leibovich acknowledged that the flotilla was seized in international waters, not in Israeli territorial waters.

The Israeli army also issued a statement on the attack, claiming that the activists on board the ship were armed.

During the intercept of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF Naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs. Additionally one of the weapons used was grabbed from an IDF soldier. The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose.

As a result of this life-threatening and violent activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means, including live fire.

The Israeli foreign ministry is expected to comment on the attack within the hour.

Update, 7:07am: Over in the West Bank, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas declared a three-day state of mourning over the flotilla deaths. He also issued a brief statement:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemns the crime perpetrated by the occupation authorities against international solidarity activists aboard the Freedom Flotilla. The Palestinian leadership is closely following the developments and the President calls on the United Nations to confront Israel, which is disregarding all international laws and norms.

The Palestinian cabinet is scheduled to convene about one hour from now, at 8am GMT.

Update, 6:58am: Ismail Haniya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, wrapped up a speech to journalists a few minutes ago. He called on the Palestinian Authority to end its indirect talks with Israel, demanded a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the attack on the flotilla, and called for a general strike tomorrow (Tuesday) in the West Bank and Gaza.

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Update, 10:57am: Israel's National Security Counter-Terrorism Bureau just issued a travel warning for Turkey, warning of the threat of "violent outbreaks" against Israeli citizens traveling there.

It advises Israelis to postpone any trips to Turkey; for Israelis currently in Turkey, it recommends that they "should remain in their places of residence, avoid city centers and sites in which demonstrations are being held, and monitor developments out of concern that the situation could worsen."


This is exactly what the Jews against Zionism warn about. It's the Zionists who create antisemitism against the real Jews. That's how the Zionists got non European, non white Jews in Israel in the first place: by staging events in their home countries to bring people against the Jews and then causing them to flee, while the Zionists held the doors open to Palestine.
In these times, it's terribly important for allies from each side to reach out and sustain each other. I give thanks for those who have been faithful to the vision of sisterly Arab/Israeli co-existance from the beginning of Arab/Israeli dialogue movement, about 20 years ago, through all the iterations of violence, lies, and propaganda. May they live to enjoy the fruits of their faithfulness.
yes Harriet, I also share that sentiment with Americans who ally with American natives, and all natives who have been harmed by the colonization of the profiteers who invaded their lands in the world. I am European as those invaders. But we recognize the evil perpetrated onto them and ally ourselves to the native cause. We are people, not profiteers. That gives us the justification to share the lands as one of them. not of the colonizers. There were Palestinian Jews already in Palestine who fought along side Palestinian Christian and Muslims. They are the people of the land and all who share in their cause. They are all Palestinian in Palestine.

Harriet Warnock-Graham said:
In these times, it's terribly important for allies from each side to reach out and sustain each other. I give thanks for those who have been faithful to the vision of sisterly Arab/Israeli co-existance from the beginning of Arab/Israeli dialogue movement, about 20 years ago, through all the iterations of violence, lies, and propaganda. May they live to enjoy the fruits of their faithfulness.

In Memory of the 9 Martyrs of the MV Mavi Marmara

This video is Dedicated to the victims of the 9 victims of the on the Free Gaza Flotilla Ship MV Mavi Marmara who were attacked by the IDF Navy in International Waters on the
31st May 2010 while en route to Gaza. The Flotilla of Ships were trying to bring aid to the besieged people of Gaza who are desperately in need of food and medicine and other resources due to the Israeli blockade. May we see the end of the to thise injustices for both in Palestine and Justice for the Victims of this attack on the free gaza flotilla which been on of many crimes in this illegal siege so far. WIth the world outraged and continuing to call on there leaders to d more lets hope the 9 who lost there lives fighting for this just cause did not die in vain, May they rest in peace ameen.

WIth the many media and other sources in the world, this goes out to the brave reporters and journalists who risk there lives to bring us these stories.
Defend Freedom

I love the music on this video, Eva!

Eva said:
Defend Freedom

I think John Lennon was part of the NWO.

Motorcycle Hippy Al said:

Genie said:
This is exactly what the Jews against Zionism warn about. It's the Zionists who create antisemitism against the real Jews. That's how the Zionists got non European, non white Jews in Israel in the first place: by staging events in their home countries to bring people against the Jews and then causing them to flee, while the Zionists held the doors open to Palestine.

Shalom-salaam Genie,

I am not a zionist, but your comment tempts me to say I am. It is antisemites who create antisemitism - be they zionist, antizionist, or none of the above. When you speak of "the Zionists" in such dehumanizing terms (as though a zionist cannot even be a "real Jew"), it sounds no different to my ears than when others speak similarly of "the Jews." Neither group is a monolith. Both are as deserving of your love and loving speech as any other of G!d's creatures.

Blessings,
-Hayyim
Zionism and the state of Israel was and always has been a European enterprise. I make the distinction between Zionism and Jewish, the lynch mob will not.

Hayyim Feldman said:
Genie said:
This is exactly what the Jews against Zionism warn about. It's the Zionists who create antisemitism against the real Jews. That's how the Zionists got non European, non white Jews in Israel in the first place: by staging events in their home countries to bring people against the Jews and then causing them to flee, while the Zionists held the doors open to Palestine.

Shalom-salaam Genie,

I am not a zionist, but your comment tempts me to say I am. It is antisemites who create antisemitism - be they zionist, antizionist, or none of the above. When you speak of "the Zionists" in such dehumanizing terms (as though a zionist cannot even be a "real Jew"), it sounds no different to my ears than when others speak similarly of "the Jews." Neither group is a monolith. Both are as deserving of your love and loving speech as any other of G!d's creatures.

Blessings,
-Hayyim
Zionism is a political ideology, love does not play into it. It's big business, like BP. I don't have to love BP.


Both are as deserving of your love and loving speech as any other of G!d's creatures.

Hayyim Feldman said:
Genie said:
This is exactly what the Jews against Zionism warn about. It's the Zionists who create antisemitism against the real Jews. That's how the Zionists got non European, non white Jews in Israel in the first place: by staging events in their home countries to bring people against the Jews and then causing them to flee, while the Zionists held the doors open to Palestine.

Shalom-salaam Genie,

I am not a zionist, but your comment tempts me to say I am. It is antisemites who create antisemitism - be they zionist, antizionist, or none of the above. When you speak of "the Zionists" in such dehumanizing terms (as though a zionist cannot even be a "real Jew"), it sounds no different to my ears than when others speak similarly of "the Jews." Neither group is a monolith. Both are as deserving of your love and loving speech as any other of G!d's creatures.

Blessings,
-Hayyim

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