As the MV Rachel Corrie, the last boat in the Free Gaza Movement’s Flotilla, is being dragged to Israel’s Ashdod port after being boarded and taken over in the early hours of Saturday, Israel continues to react to its Flotilla attack. Protests have been taking place throughout Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories. In the meantime, The Real News’ Lia Tarachansky investigates how Israel prepared for the Flotilla attack, and how the media repeatedly portrayed a connection between the activists and terrorism. After the attack, Israel went on the offensive to prove there was indeed a connection to terrorism. The IDF published a press release saying the activists on board the Mavi Marmara ship that was the site of at least 9 deaths on Monday morning were actually al Qaeda mercenaries. When Tarachansky and journalist Max Blumenthaul questioned the IDF for evidence of this allegation, the IDF said it didn’t have any and changed the title of the press release to “attackers of the IDF soldiers found without identification papers.”
The reported killing of at least 10 people by Israeli forces during a raid on ships seeking to break the Israeli and Egyptian blockade on the Palestinian Gaza Strip has provoked public and diplomatic anger from Turkey, which has recalled its ambassador to Israel.
(Via Voice of America News)
A flotilla of aid ships heading to the Gaza Strip has been delayed for another day. The ships are now in the Mediterranean Sea, near Cyprus, with hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists on board. They are waiting for some European politicians to join them. There are also reports that the Cypriot authorities are preventing the politicians from leaving land to join the ships further out to sea. Mohamed Vall has been hearing why the campaigners are so determined (29 June, 2010).
(Via Al Jazeera)
Ghassan Bannoura interviews Audrey Bomse, the legal Advisor of the Free Gaza flotilla, giving PNN the latest updates from the group media office in the Greek part of Cyprus.
(Via Palestine News Network)
The Challenger 1, Free Gaza passenger boat among the Freedom Flotilla, while holding for the other boats to join, close to Cyprus waters, has been contacted via radio by a Cypriot Police Helicopter. This video is recording the converstation. May 28th, 2010
Shane Dillon (Mate on Challenger 1 commented: “It is rather shocking that an EU Country refused to let members of another EU Country’s Parliament into its port on a humanitarian mission.”
Images by Scott Hamann, passenger and Fiachra O Luain, crew on board.
(Via Free Gaza Movement)
Turkish ships, carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians, are joining the eight-ship flotilla bound for Gaza despite Israeli warnings of preventing the international ship convoy to enter the Gaza border.
(Via Voice of America News)
While boats battle to get through the siege of Gaza, Gazans can eat out in fancy restaurants and have no need of aid. That’s what Israel has been telling journalists, at least. Sherine Tadros picks apart the media campaign.
(Via Al Jazeera)
Nonviolent activities continue in the West Bank as the Free Gaza boats or on the way to Gaza shore and Palestinians and Israelis meet with U.S. President separately, these stories and more, coming up, stay tuned.
(Via IMEMC)
Ewa Jasiewicz, Free Gaza Movement volunteer, talks about the siege of Gaza and the emergency to act, that we, citizen of the world, are feedling deep in our heart. Track the boats at Witness Gaza.
(Via Free Gaza Movement)
Huwaida Harraf, Free Gaza Chair, talkes about the Freedom Flotilla, already on its way to Gaza. Track the progress of the boats at Witness Gaza.
(Via Free Gaza Movement)