Demonstrators Use Violence Against Israeli Navy Soldiers Attempting to Board Ship

Early this morning, IDF Naval Forces boarded six ships attempting to break the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip. This happened after numerous warnings from Israel and the Israeli Navy that were issued prior to the action. The Israel Navy requested the ships to redirect toward Ashdod where they would be able to unload their aid supplies which would then be transferred over land after undergoing security inspections.

During the boarding 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, as well as live fire.

According to initial reports, these events resulted in the deaths of nine demonstrators and seven naval personnel were injured, some from gunfire and some from various other weapons. Two of the soldiers are moderately wounded and the remainder sustained light injuries. All of the injured, Israelis and foreigners have been evacuated by helicopter to hospitals in Israel.
Reports from IDF forces on the scene are that it seems as if part of the participants onboard the ships were planning to lynch the forces.

The interception of the flotilla followed numerous warnings given to the organizers of the flotilla before leaving their ports as well as while sailing towards the Gaza Strip. In these warnings, it was made clear to the organizers that they could dock in the Ashdod sea port and unload the equipment they are carrying in order to deliver it to the Gaza Strip in an orderly manner, following the appropriate security checks. Upon expressing their unwillingness to cooperate and arrive at the port, it was decided to board the ships and lead them to Ashdod.

IDF naval personnel encountered severe violence, including use of weaponry prepared in advance in order to attack and to harm them. The forces operated in adherence with operational commands and took all necessary actions in order to avoid violence, but to no avail.

Early this morning, IDF Naval Forces boarded six ships attempting to break the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip. This happened after numerous warnings from Israel and the Israeli Navy that were issued prior to the action. The Israel Navy requested the ships to redirect toward Ashdod where they would be able to unload their aid supplies which would then be transferred over land after undergoing security inspections.
During the boarding 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, as well as live fire.
According to initial reports, these events resulted in the deaths of nine demonstrators and seven naval personnel were injured, some from gunfire and some from various other weapons. Two of the soldiers are moderately wounded and the remainder sustained light injuries. All of the injured, Israelis and foreigners have been evacuated by helicopter to hospitals in Israel.

Reports from IDF forces on the scene are that it seems as if part of the participants onboard the ships were planning to lynch the forces.

The interception of the flotilla followed numerous warnings given to the organizers of the flotilla before leaving their ports as well as while sailing towards the Gaza Strip. In these warnings, it was made clear to the organizers that they could dock in the Ashdod sea port and unload the equipment they are carrying in order to deliver it to the Gaza Strip in an orderly manner, following the appropriate security checks. Upon expressing their unwillingness to cooperate and arrive at the port, it was decided to board the ships and lead them to Ashdod.

IDF naval personnel encountered severe violence, including use of weaponry prepared in advance in order to attack and to harm them. The forces operated in adherence with opera. by idfnadesk

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• IDF
• Israel
• Gaza
• Flotilla
• Israeli
• Navy
• Sea
• Ship
• Freedom
• Demonstrators
• Violence
• Soldiers
• Injured
• Attack

[jimh3768]

You can see that the intent of the passengers on this ship was to inflict harm on these Israeli soldiers, they are not peace activists when they're hitting with metal pipes, grenades & throwing one soldier overboard. It's just the Jihad M/O to hide behind the guise of innocents. Clearly seen in the video is the Israeli soldiers using paint ball guns. Let's face the facts people, especially you haters.

[meytal]

please see the videos from the NAVY OF ISRAEL Thank you for all the ppl that see that and understend what happend there, i hurt me so much that all the world see the news from the side of the Palestinian even if it's news from Europe, and now you can see the true... how it can be called aid humanitarian when they act in such violence and have weapon and Molotov cocktail... howwww??? ufff it's hurtful

[tmpq1lzy]

@67jedi67

how can you say that "Israel scared you too much of the terrorists" after 9.11?

if anything - Israel was right! and if it wasn't for Israel you would have to face that terror alone!

[67jedi67]

most people know what is right and wrong. they carry on supporting this travesty because they have been convinced that it is in there interests. when america (and the rest of the world) realises how they have been lied to, so that through fear (of the 'terrorists') they would support perpetual conflict, the proverbial shit will hit the fan. so change that outcome while there is still the chance of peace. stop your rulers from commiting these heinous crimes in your name. make peace

[ClansmanKerr]

Israel has to be vicious. The minute they show any sign of weakness, the Arab nations around them will move in for the kill.

But right now, Israel is alot stronger than her larger neighbours. That isn't saying much though, as the Arab nations can't even control their own populace.

[bswain1000]

@ClansmanKerr be just at least for yourself if you have consience. These fully armed soldiers boarded without permission a foreign vessel that was in international waters. What the passengers did to them was what anyone would do if you enter forcefully his territory fully armed. And you are making martyrs of this soldiers? They were the trespassers. If it had happened with israeli ship and other country's soldiers, Israel would declare them war and blow 'em all.laws should be equal for all.

[bswain1000]

There is one truth.The international laws never apply to Israel, they are made for all the other countries but not for Israel. If the ship was Israeli and the attackers where other country's soldiers in international waters as happened, Israel would declare war to that country. But in the case we have in the video the conclusions where that Israel did not broke any international law??!!??!!??!!??!!??!! All the people are equal, Israelis are more equal ! - Obviously this is the ultimate law.

[bswain1000]

@jimh3768 if I board your ship in international waters and I am fully armed soldier coming down from helicopter how would you meet me, maybe you will prepare a buffet for me and meet me with flowers and kisses.This is pirate type of boarding of a ship in international waters!!! I am sure that if it was Israeli ship with israeli passenger and the soldiers where turkish soldiers, Israel would declare a war to Turkey.

[shakeystevensVIII]

@theanticlaus So the one occupation you support is the special exception because they were FORCED to do it? I didn't know this before, but now that I do I think Israel should be made exempt from international law immediately forthwith. There's one thing I still don't understand - were they also FORCED to colonise the illegally held land?

[theanticlaus]

@shakeystevensVIII I believe any occupation by anyone is counter-productive. It inevitably leads to injustice as there is going to be a power disparity between occupied and occupier. I do not condemn Israel because they were FORCED to occupy this land in a defensive war. In return for TRUE peace, Israel has repeatedly stated it is willing to exchange land. It is the Arabs who refuse. Remember all the bus bombings during the Oslo process? That ended Israeli peace camp. Listen to HAMAS words

[shakeystevensVIII]

@theanticlaus I agree. All such occupations should be condemned. What about Israel's occupation then? I assume you condemn that also? Or do you hold them to a lower standard than other countries?