BLOODSHED AT SEA AS AID FLOTILLA ATTACKED

by Natalie Heng


KUALA LUMPUR (May 31, 2010): An Israeli warship attacked a Turkish ship leading a convoy of six vessels carrying aid to blockaded Gaza, killing about 15 people and injuring many more. At press time, the fate of 12 Malaysians who, according to Lifeline 4 Gaza crises management team Malaysia chairman Zulkifli Mohd Nani, were on the lead ship Mavi Marmara was not known.

Samsulkamal Abdul Latip

Ashwad Ismail

They comprise volunteers from the Malaysian Institution of Higher Education Graduates (Haluan) and two journalists from Astro Awani.


Astro Awani journalist Ashwad Ismail, 26, and cameraman Shamsulkamal Abdul Latip, 43, were on board the Mavi Marmara that was boarded by Israeli commandos early this morning, near Gaza, the station's vice-president/general manager Rozina Aziz confirmed.


She said the news crew left Kuala Lumpur for Istanbul at 2am on May 23 en route to Antalya Port, Turkey to join the flotilla led by the Mavi Marmara which departed for Gaza on May 30. She said they have been unable to contact them since the attack took place.


No names of the dead had been released at press time.
Six other Malaysians on board another ship, Rachel Corrie, are safe, according to a Bernama report.
Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO) representatives Shamsul Akmar Musa Kamal, Matthias Chang and Ahmad Faizal Azumu, Parit MP Mohd Nizar Zakaria, TV3 reporter Halim Mohamed and cameraman Mohd Jufri Judin were on board the ship.


Shamsul, in an SMS to the PGPO, said they were about 1,000 miles from Gaza.
"We have heard about (pro-Islamic Turkish aid organisation) IHH. The plan now is to go ahead and turn back if there is warning from the Israeli army," he said.
According to the PGPO, the vessels are carrying 5,000 tonnes of reconstruction materials, school supplies and medical equipment to the Gaza Strip.


This is the largest coordinated effort to directly confront Israel’s blockade of Gaza and take in basic supplies.
The flotilla is under the coordination of the Free Gaza Movement, numerous human rights organisations, including the Turkish Relief Foundation (IHH), European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza, and the Swedish and Greek Boat to Gaza initiatives.


A Reuters report quoted Israel's private Channel 10 television as saying that about 15 people were killed when the Israeli navy intercepted the convoy.
France24 television aired video of a woman in a Muslim headress holding a stretcher with a large bloodstain on it. Below her lay a man, apparently injured, in a blanket.


CNN showed pictures of a commando apparently rappeling down a rope and clashing with a man wielding a stick. Other TV images showed what appeared to be rubber boarding launches.

A television grab made on May 31, 2010 from the Turkish TV channel shows an Israeli Army boat approaching the Turkish aid boat "Mavi Marmara," carrying aid to the Gaza Strip on May 30.

As a diplomatic furore took shape, especially with long-time Muslim ally Turkey whose flag some of the ships were flying, an Israeli minister said: "The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at all the fatalities."


Israeli Trade Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer gave no details of what Channel 10 said were 14 to 16 deaths. But he told Israel's Army Radio: "I can also understand ... how soldiers are coming down and are set upon with batons and tools.


"The moment someone tries to snatch your weapon, to steal your weapons, that's where you begin to lose control."


The bloodshed thwarted Israel's hopes of avoiding casualties – which could hurt its diplomatic relations, especially with Turkey, where media reported ministers were meeting. Israel's Western allies have also been critical of its Gaza embargo.


Turkey said it "strongly protested" against the military action, calling the interception of the ships unacceptable and cautioning in a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry that "Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behaviour".


Israel has said it was absolutely determined to maintain its blockade of the Islamist-controlled Palestinian territory of 1.5 million, citing fears that arms supplies could reach Hamas by sea. It has previously halted such activist ships, although some others have reached Gaza before.


Greta Berlin, a spokeswoman for the Free Gaza Movement which organised the convoy, said: "How could the Israeli military attack civilians like this? Do they think that because they can attack Palestinians indiscriminately they can attack anyone? This is not going to stop us." --theSun