Eager to find out how far cnn will twist and manipulate the story for U.S. viewers, all in favor of Israel!!!...Most of us watched the footage online, and is clear Israeli commandos are the cold blooded slaughterers. Those unarmed aid activist are the fallen hero's.

NO they don't have to go through Israel to deliver aid to Gaza.

Looks like Israel has morphed in to a cruel country which they wanted to run away from in WWII. I lost any respect for Israel. USA should back off from Israel to reduce number of enemies of USA.

Is apartheid Israel just looking more Nazi-like every season? Sad how the victims have become the villains in this tale of woe. Now the frightened rogue nuclear nation chokes and slowly exterminates the previous occupants. The thing is, if Israel changes direction it will have to admit its current criminality and amorality.

Would Israel be willing to kill millions via nukes? What would the consequences be if they did? Are we Americans really willing to stand behind this apartheid regime? Will we look back in shame and wonder why we didn't protect the Palestinians just as we wonder now at our cruelty in turning back Jewish refugees in WWII?

I support Israel and am pro-zion. but this is criminal and very ridiculously evil. I would like to be one of those protesters, Zion will never be until the Hebrew People respect the human rights of Palestine, the sovereign nation who's capital is Jerusalem, and has been since before time, shared with Israel.

killing innocent people of conscience in international waters is a high crime. Israel will falter from this action. Far from a partner in peace, Israel is the core of global conflict, and these Israeli Govt/Soldier crimes prove exactly why.

People of the world will let Israel go now, and leave them to their fate, Iran may step up. But there will be some response. Israel's aggressions are causing the most vital arms race. Someone has to protect the Palestinians. it will NEVER be Israel that chooses to respect Palestine – the sovereign nation must stand on it's own, and it already has been for a long time... thousands of years.
peace

Give nukes to Palestinians for defending their country.

WHAT PROTEST?!

As a Jew, living in Canada, this is shameful and embraessing. I pray for the families of the dead. The suffering of the Palestinians for over six decades is a tragedy and the Israeli government & the U.S are fully responsible for this humanatarian crime.

naaah, the Palestinians would just use them on us. Overall, Hezbollah and Hamas have killed more Americans than Al Qadea

NORMALLY i HAD SOME TIME FOR iSRAEL, BUT NO MORE. U SHOW A DISGRACE NOT ONLY TO UR ENEMY BUT JUST AS WELL TO UR FREINDS. NEVER AGAIN I WILL BUY ANY ISRAELI GOODS AND URGE EVERYBODY NOT TO BUY ANYTHING FROM ISRAEL.
THE WHOLE WORLD CONDEM AND BOYCUT ISRAEL

Amazing how twisted propaganda can fool people into believing a myth.

Israel acted according to imternational maritime law.

As soon as the commandos boarded the ship, they were attacked with knives and metal bars and several had their weapons stolen.

The terrorists on board then shot at the soldiers who followed the rules of every army, first using crowd dispersal and then live fire in self-defence.

The fact that 10 were killed out of 600 or more on the boat is an obvious sign of restraint.

BTW, none of the other 5 boats resisted physically and there were no injuries.

All those commenting above never had any time for Israel and their opinions will not be changed by any argument.

If they had any ounce of interest or care, they would have objected to an al-Qaeda linked group provoking Israeli forces in the false name of humanitarian aid.

knives of all kinds

axes

batons

metal bars

marbles

stun grenades

molotov cocktails

live arms

.....some of the weapons used in the lynch of IDF soldiers, who were mainly armed with paint guns so as not to hurt "innocent civilians".

I wonder what another country would do if they were invaded. If something like this were to happen in to US, I wouldn't be surprised if they torpedoed the ships (and rightfully so!).. In the "aid flotina" Israeli solders were carrying paint ball guns normally used for crowd suppression! Only after the "peace activists" attacked Israeli troops, brutally beaten, stabbed, and thrown off the ship did the Israeli army authorize live ammunition. i saw how the moment an Israeli soldier landed on a ship, four or more people. There are countless wounded, and one critically wounded Israeli soldiers. They were stabbed, hit, and beaten. Since when did a humanitarian aid ships started carrying weapons?
i also saw that reporter who said there was a baby onboard and nobody suspected violence. i just wonder were she had been the last few weeks when the Israeli government clearly stated it will board the ships and bring them to Ashdod.
The Gaza strip is currently controlled by a terrorist organization called the "Hamas" bent on the genocide (killing all) of the Israeli people. Is it wrong for a country to protect it's people? I don't recall seeing anything on the news talking about Hamas's random bombing of civilian population!

CNNI seems to be basing its coverage on the repeated mantras of the usual Arab propagandists who deny the truth and intensify the myths with their false rhetoric.

They know nothing of the events apart from the wild rumours that are flying, but manage to deceive the world with their dramatic and colourful language.

The loan breath of fresh air is from Atia Attawi who seems to doing her best at reporting both sides amid the fast-paced, confused information that emerges continually.

Sorry, Atia Abawi!

You get what you want to hear.
What we expect of the media is to keep the dialogue honest. What we get is partisan innuendo and selective reporting to inflame conflict. The media is then a pawn of the enemies of civilization. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by the US, EU, Britain and every free civilized country, not just Israel. Gaza is not suffering a humanitarian crisis at Israel's hands. Israel gives Gaza 100 truckloads of aid every day and the Hamas mafia families that run the 300 tunnels from Egypt bring is so much that there is a glut of many item that depresses prices in Gaza. The Palestinians who live in Gaza are prisoners of Hamas, who captures the aid and uses it to reward its supporters. It is real easy to form an opinion if you know very little. It would be wise to wait for the facts. After all, there will be several investigations. The hard part will be finding the truth under all the demonization and double standards. It sure is easy to blame the Jews and Israel.

Legitimate humanitarian aid organizations should be up in arms at humanitarian aid being so politicized and used as a front for a terrorist provocation. I think this is the first time we have been witness to this new strategy. Why doesn't CNN point this out?

Octavia Nasa reports that voices within Israel are criticizing the operation.

The only truth in this is that the Arab MKs are using language wholly inappropriate from elected Israeli officials in their criticism, along with the minority views of some ultra left-wing media.

The vast majority of Israeli commentators support the IDF actions and only have criticism of the inefficiency of the government to explain Israel's position to the world.
There is also some criticism that the IDF were too generous in believing the claims of the activist terrorists that they would resist passively.

What is universally agreed is that the flotilla could not be allowed to reach Gaza by sea, that there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza and that the blockade, also upheld by Egypt ,is entirely legal and necessary, something that the CNN presenters seem unable to report.

miriam aka Israeli propaganda agent
You say "Israel acted according to international maritime law."
Where did you get ridicules perception from?
Apparently the civilians shot themselves?
The Israeli Government has already retracted the weapons on board claims, so much for your facts.
This was clearly an act of Piracy on the High Seas. A criminal act bordering on insanity!
Here you have a modern military attacking several defenceless ships with over 600 civilians on board in International waters.
I hold the USA responsible for making this rogue state militarily able through their billions of dollars of military equipment support and continuously vetoing UN resolution against this Pariah state.
I hope with this criminal act the American citizens will finally see who the real victims are.

Ivan Watson would do well to research into the IHH a bit further than the first paragraph of wikipedia.

A Danish report proved the links of this organization with terror groups and their leader was recently arrested after having transfered funds to the main Hamas charities in the West Bank ahead of the flotilla launch. He was subsequently released in a deal with the Turkish government.

He also omits to mention that in Turkish social media, there is widespread opposition to the Turkish government's role in this affair.

its sad that the events today had tragic consequences and yet they could have been avoided. it is obvious that both sides made a mistake and the naive activists paid for it with their lives while accomplishing the goals of the real perpetrators of violence and certain international schemers pretending to really care for the Gaza residents. in the end Israel had a PR disaster but still did what they had to do and that is protect its security interests. this should be a lesson to all those who seek to use the suffering for selfish gains like the leaders of free Gaza movement did by using naive and adventurous youths from different countries for their selfish gains. they should try it out in Iran or Kurdistan and see if they come out less scarred than they were today.

Israel says the IDF Troops Who Murdered Innocent People Are ‘Brave Heroes’

With that yard stick their whole country is full of hero’s

Good people from Spain, Sweden, Germany, America, Greece and Turkey were all taking bread and rice to the starving hungry in Palestine.

Good people from around the world murdered by Israels army.
Israels army has a long history of murdering innocent Palestinian civilians, but this attack against the world community means WE ARE ALL PALESTINIANS TODAY.

This time even America's corporate media whores are squirming as they try to defend Israels latest murderous crime against humanity.

Hala,

Impunity? Thanks to you and the rest of the media, the reporting of Israel's actions and the reasons for it are dismissed and the ignorant of the world are fooled into condemning the Jewish state, delegitimizing her and demonizing her.

Meanwhile you rejoice in front of the camaras broadcasting across half the world.

Disproportionate force?
The opposite is true. The terrorists on board were prepared to lynch and attack, with boxes of weapons waiting for the occasion.
The IDF commandos were deliberately under-armed, mainly with paint-guns, in order not to harm what was promised to be, "innocent humanitarian workers" who would resist passively.

The UN High Commisioner for Human Rights knows very little about international law, but a lot about repeating disinformation and the rhetoric of her fellow anti-Israel activists.

These people know that there is a blockade and yet they use illegal means to break it, provoking Israel then act like innocent unarmed people being attacked by the brutal Israeli military. Where were they when Hamas was firing rockets into Israel?
You didnt even hear a peep of condemnation about the innocent Israeli civilians that may have been killed. The hypocrasy is astonishing. They dont even protest the barbaric slaughter of civilians by terrorists yet they cry about massacres by the Israeli military, if they could only take pause and think before they open their deceitful big mouth's.

Pretty Damn Convenient:

The Israeli commando's that stormed the Turkish cargo ship in a flotilla of passenger ships carrying protesters against the starvation embargo placed by Israel against the residents of Gaza are publicly telling the propaganda news media they were carrying paint-ball guns.

And the hundreds of protesters that were arrested at gun point are being held without being permitted to be interviewed by any news media or independent journalists.

Independent reports indicate the bridge of the Turkish cargo ship was sprayed with Israeli machine gun fire, seriously wounding the captain. At least 10 protesters were gunned down by the Israeli commandos. The Israeli commando's are blaming the deaths on the unarmed protesters composed of some 70 nations claiming the protesters took the commando's pistols away from them!

Is independent news media going to interview the protesters to find out what actually happened or just continue reporting the protesters shot themselves?

When does the forced starvation of a neighboring people become acceptable and in self-defense? News media is happily reporting the Israeli line that 100 trucks of food per day is flowing into Gaza. SO? Does more food for the Gaza people frighten the Israeli government, and threaten the security of Israel?

For Century's America has stood up against the forced starvation of a neighbor. America's Values include not with holding Food and Medicine.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is asking China to help keep North Korea in check against aggression, why is America not firmly demanding the same from Israel?

It used to be that you had to be inside the Occupied Territories to wind up being killed by Israeli soldiers for non-violently trying to challenge the occupation; now, it appears, nowhere is safe, even in international waters on an aid ship.

It was a sad and disappointing day today it is more disappointing as CNN has started to protect and defend the Israeli act of terror though not new it is an old tradition of them. CNN claims neutrality now where is it? Why Cnn has been propagating that people on board carrying iron rods and they hit the israeli soldiers with those rods isn't it an act of giving protection to israeli act ot terror on civilians? In my view it is an attempt to distract the attention fm the henious crime of israel. Bravo Obama you are just diappointed and sorry on israeli act no condemnation nothing just sorry and your predecessor bush ravaged the already ravaged nation on grounds of fake intelligence reports, how pitty such a big president and what a mean and regrettable reaction...

Thus far in this latest round of foobar, Israeli news agency and CNN has shown the viewers a single pathetic hand made sling shot as being confiscated from one of the thousands of Gaza flotilla protesters.

The number wounded plus the number killed appears to indicate the Israeli Commando's used 3 or more full clips of bullets in their machine guns as they raked the civilian protesters after rappelling down to those passenger and cargo ships.

If rifles, pistols and other weapons had been on board or found on the body's of any of the protesters or flotilla ships, Israel would have immediately posted photos of each and every one of them. There has been a single posting of a crude hand-made sling shot.

The photos of the heavily armored Israeli Commando's rappelling down to the protester ships dispels any notion protesters took their pistols away from them, or threatened them with knives which would have been harmless against such enormous amounts of Kevlar and ceramic plates each of those Israeli Commando's clearly was wearing.

The Gaza peace flotilla was intercepted in International Waters, where is the Israeli excuse for confiscating all of the ton's of food and medical supply's? That is piracy in the civilized world isn't it?

I wouldn't be handing out any humanitarian awards to anyone of the passengers of the Floatilla. I'm sick of these damn pacifist. What does this really mean to them. They can call themselves whatever but what is it for them? If you read then you know the origins of the Floatilla. I actually see the palestinians as the bullies. Pshycologically at any rate. This like the kids at school who are devious and try and undermind anyone they don't like or are jealous of. To sabatage, they play this stuff out on a world stage so to speak and the marshmellows fall for it. I know that there is real sufering of the palestinian people but to blame it on Israel is faulty. Its the palestinian leadership and thier followers that keep it going and it will keep going. So like this is it. Let the jews live where they live big whoop. Let the palestinians live where they live and if they can have a truce and get along because they are tired o this then, maybe down the road they really will begin a cooperate interconnected relationship.

CNNI's on-going delight in reporting Israel's "diplomatic crisis" is largely due to CNN itself and other media who claim to be respectable, trusted reporters of the news.

The media's ability to select its bias reports and ignore the truth, which is often slower in coming than the rumours and propaganda since the traditional confirmation and accuracy in reporting can't keep up with the rapid demands of instant gratification for the impatience of the Orwellian world we live in, is evidence of the demise of the role of responsible media in favour of uncensored, innaccurate and inciteful social media.

It is especially clear that CNN's permanent reporting staff in Israel are nowhere to be seen, conveniently abroad, requiring the last minute import of others who, with all due respect, must find it overwhelming and confusing to be dropped into the picture with no familiarity with the media and government in Israel, that is, unless he is one of the old-time, well-recognised, Israel antagonizers.

Tonight's review of the Israeli Commando's rappelling down to the Gaza peace protester passenger and cargo ships SHOWED EACH of them carrying a standard M4 Automatic Rifle equipped with a Grenade Launcher underneath. The same rather standard NATO issued 5.56mm that is the routine weapon by US and NATO troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But Israel's News Agency is touting the peace protesters took pistols away from the Israeli Commando's and THAT was the reason for opening fire on the peace activists.

No way and No How is someone going to take a pistol away from a soldier holding a M4 Automatic Rifle in their hands, the story that protesters did that simply is nonsense.

The view appeared to show protesters beating one of the commando's and other protesters throwing around deck chairs. SO? Is that then the reason to open up with Automatic Weapons on a passenger ship filled with peace protesters in INTERNATIONAL WATERS?

UN Investigators would likely find 100% of all the wounds and rounds fired came from the M4 Automatic Weapon firing the 5.56mm rifle round and NOT from a 9mm pistol. That is if Israel actually permits UN Investigators to comb over the bullet holes, shell casings and collect photos of the wounds and spent bullets.

I'm betting Israel is at this time actively removing all evidence and continue with their cover-up on what the Israeli Commando's actually did to those protesters on International Waters.

So this is all about democracy and freedom of expression my comments have been removed which i posted last night but i m not surprised at it, i already know democracy is a fake tale.

fred,

International Maritime Law is not rediculous nor a perception.

All the false rhetoric about Israel breaking international law and emphasizing the location is an ignorant lie.

Everything Israel has done is well within international law. Unfortunately, you fail to realize that you are being taken for a ride through the fantasy world of red-green propaganda.

Smith,

Whoever convinced you that those were automatic rifles is lying!
They were paint guns that couldn't even resist the hits of batons!
They were easily commandeered from the IDF since they were wearing gloves that aided their drop from ropes but impeded their ability to grip. Fortunately, they were harmless because the death toll would have been far greater when the flotilla deceivers started using them!

Most of the empty casings were from pistols held under body armour that were stolen by the criminals during the lynch, and emptied on the body of the IDF soldiers.

The UN Security Council has already pronounced against the blockade of GAZA in UNSCR 1860. As a result the criminal activity by the Israeli Government on the high seas can only be called psychopaths in action.
As to the legal position, it is quite clear that to attack a foreign flagged vessel in international waters is illegal. It is not piracy, as the Israeli vessels carried a military commission. It is rather an act of illegal warfare.
Because the incident took place on the high seas does not mean however that international law is the only applicable law. The Law of the Sea is quite plain that, when an incident takes place
on a ship on the high seas (outside anybody's territorial waters) the applicable law is that of the flag state of the ship on which the incident occurred. In legal terms, the Turkish ship was Turkish territory.
Therefore, if the Israeli commandos were acting on behalf of the government of Israel in killing the activists on the ships. In that case Israel is in a position of war with Turkey, and the act falls under international jurisdiction as a war crime.
As a Nato member, Turkey can expect military support from other member states including the USA as the Nato Charter calls for an attack on one is an attack on all.
In brief, if Israel and Turkey are not at war, then it is Turkish law which is applicable to what happened on the ship. It is for Turkey, not Israel, to carry out any inquiry or investigation into events and to initiate any prosecutions. Israel is obliged to hand over indicted personnel for prosecution.

Israel had a right to go onboard and check for weapons and anti-Israel freedom fighters. More than 6000 Kartoche Rockets fired into Israel in 2008 and 2009. Israel has a right to check to see if new arms were being broght into Hamas controlled Gaza. Israel offered to allow the boats dock in one of their ports and guaranteed that the humanitarian aid and supplies would be delivered to the people of Gaza, but the people on the flotilla decided to come anyway. This isn't the first flotilla to attempt this. There had been 8 other flotillas. Israel had allowed 5 of the 8 to pass. How many times must a country allow "Illegal Aliens" to enter into their controlled area? Supposedly 15 members of the flotilla have been shipped off to Israeli prisons and another 50 being held for refusing to give their name and country of origin. Any chance some of these people are pro-Hamas supporters intending to do harm to Israel? VERY Likely! As for stopping a ship in International waters, IT IS DONE ALL THE TIME BY EVERY COUNTRY! A country has the right to defend/protect itself especially when 600+ Illegal Aliens are attempting a mass entrance into their country/territory. If these countries are so concerned about the poor starving people of Gaza then why doesn't these countries open their borders up to them? Not going to happen. It is easier to bitch and complain about a travesty instead of getting involved and actually doing something.

Gary Sorry to say, but you have no clue. Honestly your words just have no clue at all!!

Nobody checks boats in the night by droping from helicopters in surprise attacks.

Israel never offered to take the supplies to Gaza. Israel offered to take what it declared acceptable to Gaza. Medicine and Childrens toys are not acceptable for Israel. Therefore they would not and have not allowed many basic non threatening products to enter gaza.

The blockade is not about security, the blockade started when gaza elected hamas. Its polotics and Israel is the polotics of evil!

39I wonder what another country would have done if they were invaded. If something like this were to happen to the US, I wouldn't be surprised if they would have torpedoed the ships (and rightfully so!). In the "aid" flotila, Israeli soldiers were carrying paint ball guns normally used for crowd suppression! Only after the "peace activists" attacked Israeli troops, brutally beaten, stabbed, and thrown off the ship did the Israeli army authorize live ammunition. i saw how the moment an Israeli soldier landed on a ship, four or more people started hitting him with metal poles, stabbing him, and in the end threw him off the ship. There are countless wounded, and one critically wounded Israeli soldiers. They were stabbed, hit, and beaten. Since when did a humanitarian aid ships start carrying weapons?

I also saw that reporter who said there was a baby onboard and nobody suspected violence. I just wonder where she had been the last few weeks when the Israeli government clearly stated it will board the ships and bring them to Ashdod Port. The Gaza strip is currently controlled by a terrorist organization called the "Hamas" bent on the genocide (killing all) of the Israeli people. Is it wrong for a country to protect its people? I don't recall seeing anything on the news talking about Hamas's random bombing of civilian population!

I think we can safely say that this whole "aid flotila" thing is a political stunt. if all they really wanted was to bring aid material to Gaza, they would have gone through political channels instead of trying to invade another country. I would also think that if they were really interested in bringing aid to Gaza, they would have brought less cameras and weapons and more medicine. All the aid material they brought is really an excuse for invading Israel and trying to hurt it's image. The fact that the Israeli soldiers waited for 40 minutes until they started using live firearms is a sure sign of restraint. You should really watch on YouTube how the "innocent" peace activists are beating the Israeli soldiers as soon as they rappel to the bout. Also, the 5 boats that didn't attack the Israeli soldiers didn't have any casualties.

If i were to plan this operation, I would have either blown the ships engines (without damaging the ship or hurting it's passengers) and towed it to Ashdod Port, or had snipers use dart rifles to sedate the passengers before boarding the boat. Either way would have avoided direct confrontation and causalities would have been avoided.

In conclusion, while i wouldn't have planned the operation in any way similar way the IDF did, they are not the only ones to blame. Either side could have avoided direct confrontation and then we wouldn't be in this mess.

mario,

Every ship has to be flagged, but that does not then permit them to break international law by intentionally breaking a legal blockade.

UN resolutions are not law and calls to remove the blockade of Gaza reflect the opinions of the nations involved and not law.

Your arguments are not relevent since the Law of the Sea does not deal with armed conflict, the reason for the blockade in the first place.

"Good people from Spain, Sweden, Germany, America, Greece and Turkey were all taking bread and rice to the starving hungry in Palestine.

and what did these good people do with yard long knives, batons, molotov coctails and guns?

John A, your jew bashing is full of lies

but let me not confuse you with verifiable facts, you are happier with your lies

The photos of the heavily armored Israeli Commando's rappelling down to the protester ships

hahahahahaha

with paint guns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@ miriam, I fully know and I am familiar with a M4 Machine Gun with a M203 Grenade launcher tube attached beneath it. That is in no fashion a paint ball gun period. ALL of the Israeli Commando's were carrying M4 Machine Guns equipped with a M203 Grenade Launcher which is a standard armed assault weapon system. It in no fashion looks like a 'paint gun', it is very lethal and used only for close in armed combat sweeping actions.

The Israeli Commandos rappelled onto the ship in International Waters which is a International Crime and Only legally conducted by Interpol themselves when there is a signed world wide arrest order given, which was not conducted by Interpol and no such order by Interpol was given.

The Israeli Commando's conducted their blitzkrieg onto the passenger and cargo ships in the Gaza Peace Flotilla at midnight, dressed in black, armed with M4 Machine Guns and wearing heavy full body armor. Non-Israeli witness's state the Israeli Commando's immediately began randomly firing their M4 Machine Guns AND smashing windows as they kicked in the doors to the passenger cabins, attempting to terrorize the hell out of the passengers.

The heavily edited night-scope Video released by the Israeli Defense Force which is highly biased in favor of this illegal act of Piracy in International Waters showed Commando's with M4 machine guns equipped with M203 grenade launchers and on the Audio you can hear a FULL CLIP fired in a single burst by one of the M4's.

The rounds fired were entirely lethal full metal jacket 5.56mm issue, not rubber bullets. The 'notion' the Israeli Commando's didn't have nor plan on using lethal force against the unarmed Peace Flotilla Passengers is BS, a fantasy which holds no water whatsoever.

Non-Israeli witness's also stated they saw only TWO wooden batons that TWO passengers used to defend themselves from the Israeli attackers. There is NO Israeli photos of any weapons, no knives, no metal rods, only a single photo of a crude hand made sling-shot as being found and recovered.

When the witness's of the Israeli attack are finally released from the Israeli prisons where they are currently housed, they'll likely fill in more of what actually occurred.

The Turkish Captain was also shot by the Israeli attackers, likely by a full automatic burst into the wheel house.

This was a act of terrorism in International Waters, the theft of hundreds of ton's of food and medical supply's and the civilian deaths indicate this was entirely an act of piracy against the Gaza Peace Flotilla passengers and should be treated as such by Interpol.

I hope Turkey severs it's ties with Israel and orders America to either entirely condemn Israel for this act of terrorism and piracy in International Waters OR Turkey will sever its contract with America which allows America to move its US Military fuel supplies thru Turkey to Iraq and Afghanistan.

smith

the heavily edited video

prove your allegations, jew basher, or simply shut up!

The heavily edited Israeli Commando midnight raid video was filmed by the Israeli defense forces and shows only a very short time-frame of the entire operation which took place under the cover of darkness, the Israeli Commando's were dressed in all black and it was filmed by the IDF using a nightscope, large sections were entirely redacted and only a tiny portion was shown with the public release.

Obviously this operation was conducted at midnight so the passengers couldn't film what took place and under the cover of darkness, select passengers could identified and then murdered if the hit list which immediately surfaced is authentic.

The midnight raid appears to be a cover for the targeted and select execution of the flotilla organizers who were civilian passengers on the Turkish cargo ship.

Why the floated 'story' of paint guns? The video clearly shows the Israeli Commando's carrying standard issue M4 machine guns with the optional M203 Grenade Launcher which would presumably be used if a target locked themselves in their cabin.

The audio in the tiny video released by the IDF has a full clip on a M4 being fired in a single burst, with adequate filtering I could even count the number of bullets being fired.

I believe the story of 'paint guns' was a cover used to explain the sound of silenced or suppressed pistols normally used by the Mossad to execute their enemy's. The sound threshold is nearly identical to the sound of a paintball gun. The Commando team would locate and execute the organizers, telling the other passengers who heard the noise or asked were told a 'paint ball gun' was being fired.

I find it very troubling how swiftly the alleged Israeli Commando's hit list was published on various Internet websites which shows the photos and names of the Gaza Peace Food flotilla organizers who were civilian passengers that were apparently murdered.

It is plausible and possible for a Islamic extremist organization to obtain the photos and names of those involved given several weeks or a month AFTER the incident took place. HOWEVER it is extremely unlikely this document would be created when it was utterly unknown who and how many were killed. And this alleged hit list said to have been taken from one of the Israeli Commando's during the midnight raid surfaced almost immediately.

I find it very troubling and feel that a line has been crossed by Israel which is utterly and totally condemnable.

Perhaps this will further pressure Interpol to charge those Israeli's responsible with International criminal charges.

Perhaps this will pressure Turkey to rethink its open door policy with America in allowing enormous US Military supplies to travel thru Turkey and Turkey's future relationship with Israel.

This Israeli Commando midnight raid on a civilian flotilla in International Waters could force America to redirect Israel or face a significant chill in American and Israeli relations.

The isreali cammandos were athorized to use live firearmes after 40 minuets of being beaten with metal rodes and stabbed with knives. Each soldier was attacked by four or more peolple. meny of the protesters are wanted terrorists in isreal.

Smith. i wonder what your opinion would be if every day 3 or more rockets (with shrapnal) would explode in your city. anyway, what do you belive more? a few fanatic ani-shemites or video proof? look at a few videos on YouTube and then tell me the passengers are innosent.

anyway, the "aid" the flotila was less than a quarter then the daily avrege isreal streems into Gaza. in addition, much of what little aid they brought was faulty and dosn't work.

Smith,

What a load of conspiracy fiction!!!!!!!!!

Paint guns were used as they are common implement in crowd dispersal that prevents serious injury. That was the expected action the commandos would have to take.

Those of us exposed to balanced reporting and can be bothered to look at both sides, IDF footage is far more comprehensive that you claim and the series of events is absolutely clear.

The whole operation was entirely legal, from the preventative warnings and attempted diplomatic resolution, to the boarding of the ships and subsequent actions.

Smith

"Obviously this operation was conducted at midnight"

you doi not even know when the operation took plkace because you are not concerned with facts.

This sentence, like everything else you write, is simply made up by your Hamas masters

I suggest you find out at what time the operation tookj place, why 5 ships were boarded quietly and one not, and why the Turkish terrorists leeft Shihad messages before they left, just like your friends, the Hamas suicide bombers

A Smith didn't you know that piracy in international waters, murder of unarmed civilians, abduction and false imprisonment are all totally legal in Israel and its been going on for 60 years. Its only a crime when committed against a Jew. Just ask Miriam and she will clear your misunderstandings about Israeli law.

I bet your happy to be sending your hard earned tax dollars to pay for Israeli bullets. You do realize paying tax in America is now complicit with murder.

John jew bashing A

murder of unarmed civilians? Check your facts

false imprisonment. Yes, like the surviving perpetrator of the tel avivb airport massacre. Oh, I forgot, he is a hero in your book because he massacred 24 people and injured 80

miriam you spout:
"The whole operation was entirely legal, from the preventative warnings and attempted diplomatic resolution, to the boarding of the ships and subsequent actions."

You and your right wing nuts only seem to have this opinion, quite frankly, the World seems to think differently.
The Security Council has mandatory powers and can impose sanctions. The Security Council with provisions in the Charter have enforcement authority. That is why the five permanent members of the Council can exercise a veto. This veto’s is usually political and has nothing to do with the details of law. See the regular veto’s by the US concerning Security Council rulings against Israel. The UN Charter sections which apply here are found in provisions of “Peace and Security”. The ultimate UN value is Law. Your babbling that the UN carries no weight in International Law is nonsense just ask Iraq, North Korea, Serbia, South Africa, etc., just a few examples.
Israel is temporarily safe because of the US veto nothing more nothing less. It has nothing to do with the law.

John A,

All actions were legal under international law,

International Maritime Law,

The Helsinki Principles on the law of Maritime Neutarlity,

The San Remo Manual on International Law

and more,

and other nations would and do act in exactly the same way in similar situations.

Yusil,

When drafting the UN charter, governments were overwhelmingly opposed to confering legislative power to enact binding rules of international law.

UN resolutions are documents issued by political bodies,
They represent the viewpoints of those who support them rather than embodying legal rules or principles.

We all know the political viewpoints of the nations that now dominate the UN.
It's just as well the founding nations were so perceptive.

Why hasn't CNN reported that an American citizen was killed on the flotilla....shot three times in the head. Yes he had duel US/Turkish citizenship but Rahm Emanuel and Michael Chertoff have duel citizenship too.

miriam
There has never been a case in the West where a government has blocked an aid convoy with military force and killing the civilians on board.

Israel declares it legal, nobody else. But then you make and interpret International Law as you will. Fortunately you are not part of Western society but then you claim to be a part of it anyway. We do not want State Murder to be a part of our Heritage.

Pls check UNSCR 1860.

harry,

since when is religion a citizenship.

Anti-Jewish lies are not new and are a feature of pure bigotry, racism and hate.

Yusil,

There have been many cases where western governments have blocked aid convoys but the difference is the reaction of the passengers in the convoy.

The legal basis for the protection of humanitarian workers in the Geneva Conventions refers to the rights of non-combatants but do not guarantee the access of convoys to their destination which may be blocked.

Genuine humanitarian workers are subject to detailed guidelines for their safety and security.
These include expecting delays and possible rejection, reconsidering missions if likely to face danger,showing no resistance and quick surrender, avoiding heroics and absolutely no physical violence or verbal aggression. There should definitely be no arms apart from perhaps a small pen-knife for non-violent purposes.

They should not ignore warnings or advice, knowing that doing so only increases danger before inevitable stopping.

Camaras, camcorders and cell-phones should not be taken on missions.

It is obvious that many participating in the flotilla did not follow humanitarian volunteer guidelines, also ignoring the guidelines concerning group responsibility and the abuse of humanitarian action for political ends.

Consequently, after the IDF took into account all the responsibilities of humanitarian missions and found them to be ignored by the participants, their raid was justified and carried out in accordance with international law.

Once again, UNSC resolutions are not law and only binding to the political opinions of a group of countries if under Chapter VII which 1860 was not.
The resolution also called for the international community to prevent the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition into Gaza.

IN NO WAY was the mission a protest. Supposedly the mission made by self proclaimed "peace activists" -(even though there are videos them chanting anti-jewish slogans and wishing the journey to either end in Gaza or with martyrism aka death http://w w w . youtube.com/watch?v=b3L7OV414Kk&feature=related)- was to bring humanitarian aid into Gaza. Because Gaza has a long history of obtaining weapons through the disguise of humanitarian aid, Israel offered to take the aid to their Ashdod port and allow the humanitarian aid to be checked first, then sent into Gaza. ISRAEL EVEN OFFERED TO LET THE ACTIVISTS BE PRESENT EVERY STEP EVEN INTO GAZA AND ONLY REQUESTED THE GOODS GO THROUGH THE ASHDOD PORT TO BE CHECKED. Israel repeatedly sent signals to the flotillas to stop coming closer and because the flotillas didn't respond, the ISraeli army was forced to respond and boarded the ships where they were attacked immediately. http://w w w . youtube.com/watch?v=gYjkLUcbJWo&has_verified=1

BY THE WAY ISRAEL SENDS OVER 5,000 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN AID INTO GAZA WEEKLY. A PLACE THAT CONTINUES TO SHOOT ROCKETS AT ISRAELI CITIZENS.

Becca, do you ever stop to think for yourself????

Israel says these peace protestors were really armed and ready for a fight. They claim that they were a mob armed with axes and knifes and they surrounded Israeli soldiers and repeatedly hit them. Meanwhile the Israeli soldiers were supposedly armed with paint guns.

To believe Israels whopping story, we must believe that a mob can repeatedly hit Israeli soldiers with knifes and axes and Israeli soldiers don't receive a single serious injury? We have to believe that 9 people got shot point blank in the back of the head and died because Israel wanted to preserve life and Israeli soldiers were only armed with paint ball guns.

Becca, I guess you never passed any basic exams at school. My guess is that if CNN told you 2 + 2 = 5 you would swallow it hook line and sinker. Becca, after the November elections and when the bums are kicked out of office in the US, will you still believe the lamestream media or will you muster a spark between your neurons?

I feel that it is best to write extra on this topic. It might not be a taboo subject however typically persons are not enough to talk on such topics.