Aa
Gaza flotilla activists were shot in head at close range ( By Robert Booth )
Israel was tonight under pressure to allow an independent inquiry into its assault on the Gaza aid flotilla after autopsy results on the bodies of those killed, obtained by the Guardian, revealed they were peppered with 9mm bullets, many fired at close range.
Nine Turkish men on board the Mavi Marmara were shot a total of 30 times and five were killed by gunshot wounds to the head, according to the vice-chairman of the Turkish council of forensic medicine, which carried out the autopsies for the Turkish ministry of justice today.
The results revealed that a 60-year-old man, Ibrahim Bilgen, was shot four times in the temple, chest, hip and back. A 19-year-old, named as Fulkan Dogan, who also has US citizenship, was shot five times from less that 45cm, in the face, in the back of the head, twice in the leg and once in the back. Two other men were shot four times, and five of the victims were shot either in the back of the head or in the back, said Yalcin Buyuk, vice-chairman of the council of forensic medicine.
The findings emerged as more survivors gave their accounts of the raids. Ismail Patel, the chairman of Leicester-based pro-Palestinian group Friends of al-Aqsa, who returned to Britain today, told how he witnessed some of the fatal shootings and claimed that Israel had operated a "shoot to kill policy".
He calculated that during the bloodiest part of the assault, Israeli commandos shot one person every minute. One man was fatally shot in the back of the head just two feet in front him and another was shot once between the eyes. He added that as well as the fatally wounded, 48 others were suffering from gunshot wounds and six activists remained missing, suggesting the death toll may increase.
The new information about the manner and intensity of the killings undermines Israel's insistence that its soldiers opened fire only in self defence and in response to attacks by the activists.
"Given the very disturbing evidence which contradicts the line from the Israeli media and suggests that Israelis have been very selective in the way they have addressed this, there is now an overwhelming need for an international inquiry," said Andrew Slaughter MP, a member of the all party group on Britain and Palestine.
Israel said tonight the number of bullets found in the bodies did not alter the fact that the soldiers were acting in self defence. "The only situation when a soldier shot was when it was a clearly a life-threatening situation," said a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London. "Pulling the trigger quickly can result in a few bullets being in the same body, but does not change the fact they were in a life-threatening situation."
Protesters from across the country will tomorrow march from Downing Street to the Israeli embassy to call for Israel to be held to account for its actions.
Earlier this week, William Hague, the foreign secretary, said the government would call for an inquiry under international auspices if Israel refuses to establish an independent inquiry, including an international presence.
The autopsy results were released as the last of the Turkish victims was buried.
Dr Haluk Ince, the chairman of the council of forensic medicine in Istanbul, said that in only one case was there a single bullet wound, to the forehead from a distant shot, while every other victim suffered multiple wounds. "All [the bullets] were intact. This is important in a forensic context. When a bullet strikes another place it comes into the body deformed. If it directly comes into the body, the bullet is all intact."
He added that all but one of the bullets retrieved from the bodies came from 9mm rounds. Of the other round, he said: "It was the first time we have seen this kind of material used in firearms. It was just a container including many types of pellets usually used in shotguns. It penetrated the head region in the temple and we found it intact in the brain."
An unnamed Israeli commando, who purportedly led the raid on the Mavi Marmara, today told Israeli news website Ynet News that he shot at a protester who approached him with a knife. "I was in front of a number of people with knives and clubs," he said. "I cocked my weapon when I saw that one was coming towards me with a knife drawn and I fired once. Then another 20 people came at me from all directions and threw me down to the deck below …
"We knew they were peace activists. Though they wanted to break the Gaza blockade, we thought we'd encounter passive resistance, perhaps verbal resistance – we didn't expect this. Everyone wanted to kill us. We encountered terrorists who wanted to kill us and we did everything we could to prevent unnecessary injury."
Tonight the Rachel Corrie, an Irish vessel crewed by supporters of the Free Gaza movement, remained on course for Gaza. Yossi Gal, director general at the Israeli foreign ministry, said Israel had "no desire for a confrontation" but asked for the ship to dock at Ashdod, not Gaza.
"If the ship decides to sail the port of Ashdod, then we will ensure its safe arrival and will not board it," he said.
Nine Turkish men on board the Mavi Marmara were shot a total of 30 times and five were killed by gunshot wounds to the head, according to the vice-chairman of the Turkish council of forensic medicine, which carried out the autopsies for the Turkish ministry of justice today.
The results revealed that a 60-year-old man, Ibrahim Bilgen, was shot four times in the temple, chest, hip and back. A 19-year-old, named as Fulkan Dogan, who also has US citizenship, was shot five times from less that 45cm, in the face, in the back of the head, twice in the leg and once in the back. Two other men were shot four times, and five of the victims were shot either in the back of the head or in the back, said Yalcin Buyuk, vice-chairman of the council of forensic medicine.
The findings emerged as more survivors gave their accounts of the raids. Ismail Patel, the chairman of Leicester-based pro-Palestinian group Friends of al-Aqsa, who returned to Britain today, told how he witnessed some of the fatal shootings and claimed that Israel had operated a "shoot to kill policy".
He calculated that during the bloodiest part of the assault, Israeli commandos shot one person every minute. One man was fatally shot in the back of the head just two feet in front him and another was shot once between the eyes. He added that as well as the fatally wounded, 48 others were suffering from gunshot wounds and six activists remained missing, suggesting the death toll may increase.
The new information about the manner and intensity of the killings undermines Israel's insistence that its soldiers opened fire only in self defence and in response to attacks by the activists.
"Given the very disturbing evidence which contradicts the line from the Israeli media and suggests that Israelis have been very selective in the way they have addressed this, there is now an overwhelming need for an international inquiry," said Andrew Slaughter MP, a member of the all party group on Britain and Palestine.
Israel said tonight the number of bullets found in the bodies did not alter the fact that the soldiers were acting in self defence. "The only situation when a soldier shot was when it was a clearly a life-threatening situation," said a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London. "Pulling the trigger quickly can result in a few bullets being in the same body, but does not change the fact they were in a life-threatening situation."
Protesters from across the country will tomorrow march from Downing Street to the Israeli embassy to call for Israel to be held to account for its actions.
Earlier this week, William Hague, the foreign secretary, said the government would call for an inquiry under international auspices if Israel refuses to establish an independent inquiry, including an international presence.
The autopsy results were released as the last of the Turkish victims was buried.
Dr Haluk Ince, the chairman of the council of forensic medicine in Istanbul, said that in only one case was there a single bullet wound, to the forehead from a distant shot, while every other victim suffered multiple wounds. "All [the bullets] were intact. This is important in a forensic context. When a bullet strikes another place it comes into the body deformed. If it directly comes into the body, the bullet is all intact."
He added that all but one of the bullets retrieved from the bodies came from 9mm rounds. Of the other round, he said: "It was the first time we have seen this kind of material used in firearms. It was just a container including many types of pellets usually used in shotguns. It penetrated the head region in the temple and we found it intact in the brain."
An unnamed Israeli commando, who purportedly led the raid on the Mavi Marmara, today told Israeli news website Ynet News that he shot at a protester who approached him with a knife. "I was in front of a number of people with knives and clubs," he said. "I cocked my weapon when I saw that one was coming towards me with a knife drawn and I fired once. Then another 20 people came at me from all directions and threw me down to the deck below …
"We knew they were peace activists. Though they wanted to break the Gaza blockade, we thought we'd encounter passive resistance, perhaps verbal resistance – we didn't expect this. Everyone wanted to kill us. We encountered terrorists who wanted to kill us and we did everything we could to prevent unnecessary injury."
Tonight the Rachel Corrie, an Irish vessel crewed by supporters of the Free Gaza movement, remained on course for Gaza. Yossi Gal, director general at the Israeli foreign ministry, said Israel had "no desire for a confrontation" but asked for the ship to dock at Ashdod, not Gaza.
"If the ship decides to sail the port of Ashdod, then we will ensure its safe arrival and will not board it," he said.
Sorry, George, you're absolutely correct, it was the Liberty not the Missouri.
Let me go back and read the entire official report. I just skimmed it at first.
Well, I read the entire report, and though there is ample reason to believe the Liberty was attacked, there is no mention at all that American forces tried to contact Israel during the 8-9 hours preceding the attack, and the Liberty was less than 12 miles away (and heading toward) the Egyptian Coat where battle was in effect.
Still and all, I have to agree with you. There WAS some sort of cover-up.
I stand corrected.
Let me go back and read the entire official report. I just skimmed it at first.
Well, I read the entire report, and though there is ample reason to believe the Liberty was attacked, there is no mention at all that American forces tried to contact Israel during the 8-9 hours preceding the attack, and the Liberty was less than 12 miles away (and heading toward) the Egyptian Coat where battle was in effect.
Still and all, I have to agree with you. There WAS some sort of cover-up.
I stand corrected.
This is a link to the article I read.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident
It's rather long for posting here.
George: Perhaps we're both correct on the President in charge. The incident occurred in June of 1967. That LBJ. Nixon did not take office until January of 1968. In May of 1968 was when Israel paid compensation to the families of the dead and wounded.
I do think it's notable that no Congressional inquiry has ever been held.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident
It's rather long for posting here.
George: Perhaps we're both correct on the President in charge. The incident occurred in June of 1967. That LBJ. Nixon did not take office until January of 1968. In May of 1968 was when Israel paid compensation to the families of the dead and wounded.
I do think it's notable that no Congressional inquiry has ever been held.
Agreed. I just read the entire report filed in 2008. Israel should be held accountable, at LEAST to the survivor's and their families of that "attack."
One MUST however take into account that Israel was at war at that time, and did not plan months ahead to attack the American Navy, as was done at Pearl Harbor. There is and can be no comparison.
Ah, well...this has gone way off topic. Let's just nuke Israel.
One MUST however take into account that Israel was at war at that time, and did not plan months ahead to attack the American Navy, as was done at Pearl Harbor. There is and can be no comparison.
Ah, well...this has gone way off topic. Let's just nuke Israel.
Personally I was in elementary school when this occurred. I do need to read more on it. If the facts are as presented, and I have no reason to believe they are not, Israel should have been condemned for this act. LBJ was at the helm at that time. Small wonder it was covered up.
It may be of import to note that the incident referred to as Israelis killing 34 and wounding 173 was from 1967, almost half a century ago.
How many American's have been killed by terrorists since 1967?
How many American's have been killed by Israeli soldiers since 1967?
The U.S.S. Missouri was a "state-of-the-art" intelligence and communications vessel, observed by over nine hours by a country that had just one week before been attacked from all sides by all the nations surrounding Israel, and I find it odd that such a state of the art communications vessel would not attempt any communication with the airborne observers for nine hours. Maybe maintaining radio-silence wasn't the greatest of military responses, and could have averted such a horrible tragedy.
How many American soldiers were killed by "friendly fire" by our own military in the Gulf? Do we renounce our own troops as evil-doers? I certainly don't, even though we have killed more of our own than Israel ever has, I consider our troops to be courageous men and women.
Maybe we could try focusing our attention on our enemies instead.
How many American's have been killed by terrorists since 1967?
How many American's have been killed by Israeli soldiers since 1967?
The U.S.S. Missouri was a "state-of-the-art" intelligence and communications vessel, observed by over nine hours by a country that had just one week before been attacked from all sides by all the nations surrounding Israel, and I find it odd that such a state of the art communications vessel would not attempt any communication with the airborne observers for nine hours. Maybe maintaining radio-silence wasn't the greatest of military responses, and could have averted such a horrible tragedy.
How many American soldiers were killed by "friendly fire" by our own military in the Gulf? Do we renounce our own troops as evil-doers? I certainly don't, even though we have killed more of our own than Israel ever has, I consider our troops to be courageous men and women.
Maybe we could try focusing our attention on our enemies instead.
Personally I believe the entire situation could have been avoided by taking Egypt up on their offer. Had the IDF descended with Uzis drawn, that would be a horse of a different color. That is not what happened.
In my opinion, this was nothing short of a terrorist group attempting to break a blockade. A terrorist group that has vowed to destroy Israel.
Just my opinion Folks!
In my opinion, this was nothing short of a terrorist group attempting to break a blockade. A terrorist group that has vowed to destroy Israel.
Just my opinion Folks!
On June 8, 1967 Israeli Armed Forces cowardly attacked the unarmed United States Intelligence vessel Liberty in International waters, murdering in cold blood 34 American sailors and wounding, blinding and paralyzing 174 more. The men were machine-gunned to neath while waving the United States flag begging for their lives.
An attack no different from that by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor.
The perpetrators should have been hunted down by United States Special Forces, but instead there was a cover-up. The classified reports have never been released.
An attack no different from that by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor.
The perpetrators should have been hunted down by United States Special Forces, but instead there was a cover-up. The classified reports have never been released.
Well, despite my clearly stating that I was not attacking anyone in the first thread posted about this, it was deleted. Apparently free speech is not recognized.
I was watching the news when it was "Breaking News" and saw apparently the same video of the IDF rappelling down to the boat that was intent on breaking the blockade. I saw the soldiers attacked with long iron clubs, and then disappearing under a crowd of weapons-wielding "peaceful activists" prior to any return fire.
I suppose the commander of those troops should have been more concerned with public opinion than allowing his men to protect themselves. Then again, I guess the fact that despite being consistently attacked over and over again, that blockade which has allowed thousands of tons of food, medical supplies and other aid to reach the very people who keep attacking them should be simply dismantled and NOT inspect cargo for weapons of war.
Hmmm...I wonder if that ship had simply not attempted to break the blockade and allowed their cargo to be inspected (as hundreds of other ships have) if this tragic situation would have developed. No...the Israeli soldiers who are so much more bloodthirsty savages than the fundamentalist terrorists would have probably just slaughtered everyone aboard all those ships.
Yep, we should definitely believe those who harbor, train and equip terrorism over all other sources. None of those countries would ever lie...they never have, right?
I was watching the news when it was "Breaking News" and saw apparently the same video of the IDF rappelling down to the boat that was intent on breaking the blockade. I saw the soldiers attacked with long iron clubs, and then disappearing under a crowd of weapons-wielding "peaceful activists" prior to any return fire.
I suppose the commander of those troops should have been more concerned with public opinion than allowing his men to protect themselves. Then again, I guess the fact that despite being consistently attacked over and over again, that blockade which has allowed thousands of tons of food, medical supplies and other aid to reach the very people who keep attacking them should be simply dismantled and NOT inspect cargo for weapons of war.
Hmmm...I wonder if that ship had simply not attempted to break the blockade and allowed their cargo to be inspected (as hundreds of other ships have) if this tragic situation would have developed. No...the Israeli soldiers who are so much more bloodthirsty savages than the fundamentalist terrorists would have probably just slaughtered everyone aboard all those ships.
Yep, we should definitely believe those who harbor, train and equip terrorism over all other sources. None of those countries would ever lie...they never have, right?
George: I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one. The images I saw were of a group of militants chanting Death to Israel prior to the departure of the flotilla. I saw passengers arming themselves with pipes and bats prior to the IDF rappelling down to the ship. I saw IDF members armed with paintball guns attacked with pipe, slingshots and knives. I saw IDF thrown down to levels 30 feet or more. It was after this that the IDF asked for and received permission to use deadly force. Apparently you saw something different.
I find it significant that the other ships in the flotilla were boarded and inspected without incident. These ships were then allowed to go on their way, their cargo offloaded and delivered by truck.
I also find it significant that Egypt offered to allow the flotilla to dock at an Egyptian port to offload their cargo for delivery. This very reasonable offer was refused.
Just my opinion George. I'm sure yours is different.
I find it significant that the other ships in the flotilla were boarded and inspected without incident. These ships were then allowed to go on their way, their cargo offloaded and delivered by truck.
I also find it significant that Egypt offered to allow the flotilla to dock at an Egyptian port to offload their cargo for delivery. This very reasonable offer was refused.
Just my opinion George. I'm sure yours is different.
Netanyahu: I regret Gaza flotilla deaths, but Israeli troops had right to self-defense
PM cancels meeting with Obama, promises to keep him updated on developments in aftermath of incident; Barak: Organizers of Gaza flotilla to blame for deadly clashes.
*
* Published 09:42 31.05.10
* Latest update 14:31 31.05.10
Netanyahu: I regret Gaza flotilla deaths, but Israeli troops had right to self-defense
PM cancels meeting with Obama, promises to keep him updated on developments in aftermath of incident; Barak: Organizers of Gaza flotilla to blame for deadly clashes.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Gaza flotilla Gaza IDF
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he regretted the loss of life sustained by international activists after Israel Navy commandos stormed a flotilla bringing aid to the Gaza Strip, but said the Israeli troops who opened fire were justified for defending themselves.
Gaza flotilla ship
The Mavi Marmara cruise ship, part of the Gaza aid flotilla.
Photo by: Reuters
"They were mobbed, they were clubbed, they were beaten, stabbed, there was even a report of gunfire. And our soldiers had to defend themselves," he said.
Netanyahu, who earlier in the day canceled his planned visit to Washington where he was to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama, said that Israel was prepared to bring all humanitarian aid carried on the ship to civilians in Gaza.
"Our policy was and will continue to be that Israel would let humanitarian aid, any kind of goods that are meant for peace, to the civilian population of Gaza," he said.
"We have no problems with the people of Gaza. We do have a conflict with the terrorist regime of Hamas, supported by Iran. We want to maintain a situation where we prevent weapons and war materials from coming into Gaza, and allowing humanitarian aid to go to the population of Gaza."
Netanyahu was in Ottawa when the incident took place early Monday, and announced that he would return to Israel following his meeting with Canadian President Stephen Harper.
Netanyahu spoke by telephone with Obama prior to his departure to explain why he had decided to cancel their meeting, The two planned to coordinate another date for their talks, and Netanyahu promised to keep the U.S. president updated as developments unfolded with regard to the Gaza flotilla incident.
Obama voiced deep regret over the deadly raids, but expressed the importance of "learning all the facts and circumstances" surrounding the incident involving aid ships seeking access to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
He said he understood the prime minister's decision to return immediately to Israel to deal with today's events, the statement said.
Israeli officials over the course of Monday defended the Navy's decision to open fire on the activists during the interception of the boat.
At least nine of the left-wing activists were killed in the incident, and several more wounded. Seven of the Israeli soldiers were wounded during the clashes, two of them seriously.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said earlier Monday that the organizers of the Gaza aid flotilla were to blame for the violent events aboard the ship.
In a press conference hours after the incident, Barak said that Israel was prepared to accept the consequences of its actions and would continue to protect its autonomy.
Barak voiced regret for the deaths, but called the flotilla a political provocation and said the sponsors of the flotilla were violent supporters of a terror organization.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, meanwhile, said the soldiers were forced by violent activists to respond with live fire.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said earlier Monday that the organizers of the Gaza aid flotilla have connections to international terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Al-Qaida, and called the aid convoy a violent and provocative attempt to break the blockade on Gaza.
Ayalon, speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry, said that Israel found weapons aboard the Gaza flotilla, which were used against IDF troops.
The deputy foreign minister said that the Gaza flotilla did not heed Israel's calls to halt its movement toward Gaza on Monday morning, and stressed that no sovereign country would have allowed such a provocation to take place.
"We couldn't allow the opening of a corridor of smuggling arms and terrorists," said Ayalon.
The deputy foreign minister told reporters that Israel does not want to fight with any country, but that the incident on the Gaza flotilla is not yet over.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his imminent trip to the United States, in wake of the deaths of at least 10 people after Israel Navy troops boarded a flotilla of ships heading to the Gaza Strip carrying aid.
Netanyahu, who was in Ottawa at the time of the incident, had planned to travel to Washington at the invitation of President Barack Obama.
Trade and Industry Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer voiced regret Monday morning for deaths aboard the Gaza-bound ships.
"The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities," Ben-Eliezer told Army Radio.
PM cancels meeting with Obama, promises to keep him updated on developments in aftermath of incident; Barak: Organizers of Gaza flotilla to blame for deadly clashes.
*
* Published 09:42 31.05.10
* Latest update 14:31 31.05.10
Netanyahu: I regret Gaza flotilla deaths, but Israeli troops had right to self-defense
PM cancels meeting with Obama, promises to keep him updated on developments in aftermath of incident; Barak: Organizers of Gaza flotilla to blame for deadly clashes.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Gaza flotilla Gaza IDF
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he regretted the loss of life sustained by international activists after Israel Navy commandos stormed a flotilla bringing aid to the Gaza Strip, but said the Israeli troops who opened fire were justified for defending themselves.
Gaza flotilla ship
The Mavi Marmara cruise ship, part of the Gaza aid flotilla.
Photo by: Reuters
"They were mobbed, they were clubbed, they were beaten, stabbed, there was even a report of gunfire. And our soldiers had to defend themselves," he said.
Netanyahu, who earlier in the day canceled his planned visit to Washington where he was to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama, said that Israel was prepared to bring all humanitarian aid carried on the ship to civilians in Gaza.
"Our policy was and will continue to be that Israel would let humanitarian aid, any kind of goods that are meant for peace, to the civilian population of Gaza," he said.
"We have no problems with the people of Gaza. We do have a conflict with the terrorist regime of Hamas, supported by Iran. We want to maintain a situation where we prevent weapons and war materials from coming into Gaza, and allowing humanitarian aid to go to the population of Gaza."
Netanyahu was in Ottawa when the incident took place early Monday, and announced that he would return to Israel following his meeting with Canadian President Stephen Harper.
Netanyahu spoke by telephone with Obama prior to his departure to explain why he had decided to cancel their meeting, The two planned to coordinate another date for their talks, and Netanyahu promised to keep the U.S. president updated as developments unfolded with regard to the Gaza flotilla incident.
Obama voiced deep regret over the deadly raids, but expressed the importance of "learning all the facts and circumstances" surrounding the incident involving aid ships seeking access to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
He said he understood the prime minister's decision to return immediately to Israel to deal with today's events, the statement said.
Israeli officials over the course of Monday defended the Navy's decision to open fire on the activists during the interception of the boat.
At least nine of the left-wing activists were killed in the incident, and several more wounded. Seven of the Israeli soldiers were wounded during the clashes, two of them seriously.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said earlier Monday that the organizers of the Gaza aid flotilla were to blame for the violent events aboard the ship.
In a press conference hours after the incident, Barak said that Israel was prepared to accept the consequences of its actions and would continue to protect its autonomy.
Barak voiced regret for the deaths, but called the flotilla a political provocation and said the sponsors of the flotilla were violent supporters of a terror organization.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, meanwhile, said the soldiers were forced by violent activists to respond with live fire.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said earlier Monday that the organizers of the Gaza aid flotilla have connections to international terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Al-Qaida, and called the aid convoy a violent and provocative attempt to break the blockade on Gaza.
Ayalon, speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry, said that Israel found weapons aboard the Gaza flotilla, which were used against IDF troops.
The deputy foreign minister said that the Gaza flotilla did not heed Israel's calls to halt its movement toward Gaza on Monday morning, and stressed that no sovereign country would have allowed such a provocation to take place.
"We couldn't allow the opening of a corridor of smuggling arms and terrorists," said Ayalon.
The deputy foreign minister told reporters that Israel does not want to fight with any country, but that the incident on the Gaza flotilla is not yet over.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his imminent trip to the United States, in wake of the deaths of at least 10 people after Israel Navy troops boarded a flotilla of ships heading to the Gaza Strip carrying aid.
Netanyahu, who was in Ottawa at the time of the incident, had planned to travel to Washington at the invitation of President Barack Obama.
Trade and Industry Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer voiced regret Monday morning for deaths aboard the Gaza-bound ships.
"The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities," Ben-Eliezer told Army Radio.
By Patrick Moser
Organisers of the Gaza flotilla said they lost contact with the Gaza-bound MV Rachel Corrie on Friday just as they are seeking to delay the latest bid to bust the embargo with an aid-laden ship.
The ship had been on course for arrival in the Palestinian enclave on Saturday, just five days after Israeli commandos killed nine activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in a botched raid that plunged Israel into a diplomatic crisis.
"The situation is we lost all contact with the boat. We assume this was sabotage by the Israelis," said Audrey Bomse of the Free Gaza Movement.
It was now unclear whether the Irish and Malaysian activists aboard the ship would turn around or steam on towards the Hamas-run Gaza which is under a crippling blockade Israel says aims at halting Palestinian rocket fire.
Monday's raid sparked worldwide outrage with more massive protests expected on Friday, particularly after weekly prayers in Muslim countries.
In Kuala Lumpur, some 5,000 Malaysians rallied outside the US embassy where the Israeli flag was burned
Some demonstrators burned the Israeli flag while others brandished posters that said "Destroy America, Destroy Israel -- Long Live Islam" and "Allah will destroy you Israel".
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah called for a mass rally in Beirut Friday evening where he said he would announce "serious measures."
In Jerusalem, police restricted access to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound and deployed in force in and around the Old City.
Angry anti-Israel protests have been staged across the Middle East and in major cities since Monday's deadly raid, with vast crowds taking to the streets to demand an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
A massive rally was staged on Thursday in Turkey -- a key Israeli ally -- whose activists played a major role in the six-ship flotilla and whose president warned that ties with Israel "will never be the same" after the attack.
Turkey sent two medical planes to Israel early Friday to bring back five of its nationals wounded during the assault on the flotilla in which eight Turks and a US national of Turkish origin were killed, the Anatolia news agency said.
Israel has warned it also will stop the blockade-busting bid by Rachel Corrie -- a 1,200 tonne cargo ship named after a US activist killed in 2003 as she tried to prevent an Israeli bulldozer from razing a Palestinian home.
"As a result of these threats, we're going to pull Rachel Corrie into a port, add more high-profile people on board, and insist that journalists from around the world also come with us," the Free Gaza movement said.
But Bomse later said the decision couldn't be communicated to those aboard the vessel, who include Irish Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Maguire, 66.
"We're hoping communications get turned back on so we can inform them of the decision," Bomse told AFP.
On Thursday afternoon, organisers said the Rachel Corrie was about 250 miles (400 kilometres) from the spot in international waters the six boats were boarded on Monday.
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has said that the ship must be allowed to reach Gaza and warned of "the most serious consequences" if Irish citizens are injured.
The US administration has so far refused to explicitly single out the Israeli government for blame.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas will ask President Barack Obama to make "bold decisions" on Middle East peace when the two meet in Washington on Wednesday. He will first travel to Turkey to pay his condolences.
The Israeli authorities and the activists had conflicting versions of what happened during Monday's pre-dawn raid.
Bulent Yildirim, head of the Islamic charity Foundation of Humanitarian Relief, which spearheaded the Gaza aid fleet, said Israeli soldiers fired indiscriminately when they stormed the Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara.
He said activists used iron bars against the Israeli forces "in self defence". They also seized the soldiers' weapons but threw them in the sea, he added.
Israel has said the commandos only opened fire after they came under attack with clubs, knives, guns and other weapons. It said two pistols taken from soldiers were found, their magazines empty.
Israel rejected a bid by the UN Human Rights Council to set up an investigation
Organisers of the Gaza flotilla said they lost contact with the Gaza-bound MV Rachel Corrie on Friday just as they are seeking to delay the latest bid to bust the embargo with an aid-laden ship.
The ship had been on course for arrival in the Palestinian enclave on Saturday, just five days after Israeli commandos killed nine activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in a botched raid that plunged Israel into a diplomatic crisis.
"The situation is we lost all contact with the boat. We assume this was sabotage by the Israelis," said Audrey Bomse of the Free Gaza Movement.
It was now unclear whether the Irish and Malaysian activists aboard the ship would turn around or steam on towards the Hamas-run Gaza which is under a crippling blockade Israel says aims at halting Palestinian rocket fire.
Monday's raid sparked worldwide outrage with more massive protests expected on Friday, particularly after weekly prayers in Muslim countries.
In Kuala Lumpur, some 5,000 Malaysians rallied outside the US embassy where the Israeli flag was burned
Some demonstrators burned the Israeli flag while others brandished posters that said "Destroy America, Destroy Israel -- Long Live Islam" and "Allah will destroy you Israel".
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah called for a mass rally in Beirut Friday evening where he said he would announce "serious measures."
In Jerusalem, police restricted access to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound and deployed in force in and around the Old City.
Angry anti-Israel protests have been staged across the Middle East and in major cities since Monday's deadly raid, with vast crowds taking to the streets to demand an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
A massive rally was staged on Thursday in Turkey -- a key Israeli ally -- whose activists played a major role in the six-ship flotilla and whose president warned that ties with Israel "will never be the same" after the attack.
Turkey sent two medical planes to Israel early Friday to bring back five of its nationals wounded during the assault on the flotilla in which eight Turks and a US national of Turkish origin were killed, the Anatolia news agency said.
Israel has warned it also will stop the blockade-busting bid by Rachel Corrie -- a 1,200 tonne cargo ship named after a US activist killed in 2003 as she tried to prevent an Israeli bulldozer from razing a Palestinian home.
"As a result of these threats, we're going to pull Rachel Corrie into a port, add more high-profile people on board, and insist that journalists from around the world also come with us," the Free Gaza movement said.
But Bomse later said the decision couldn't be communicated to those aboard the vessel, who include Irish Nobel Peace laureate Mairead Maguire, 66.
"We're hoping communications get turned back on so we can inform them of the decision," Bomse told AFP.
On Thursday afternoon, organisers said the Rachel Corrie was about 250 miles (400 kilometres) from the spot in international waters the six boats were boarded on Monday.
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has said that the ship must be allowed to reach Gaza and warned of "the most serious consequences" if Irish citizens are injured.
The US administration has so far refused to explicitly single out the Israeli government for blame.
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas will ask President Barack Obama to make "bold decisions" on Middle East peace when the two meet in Washington on Wednesday. He will first travel to Turkey to pay his condolences.
The Israeli authorities and the activists had conflicting versions of what happened during Monday's pre-dawn raid.
Bulent Yildirim, head of the Islamic charity Foundation of Humanitarian Relief, which spearheaded the Gaza aid fleet, said Israeli soldiers fired indiscriminately when they stormed the Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara.
He said activists used iron bars against the Israeli forces "in self defence". They also seized the soldiers' weapons but threw them in the sea, he added.
Israel has said the commandos only opened fire after they came under attack with clubs, knives, guns and other weapons. It said two pistols taken from soldiers were found, their magazines empty.
Israel rejected a bid by the UN Human Rights Council to set up an investigation
You must join this user group in order to participate in this discussion.
You are reading content posted in the Current Events . . . Group
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
