Barak On Gaza Flotilla: Israeli Commandos Were Attacked With Knives, Rods And Live Ammunition

Posted by Geronimo Boosh on May 31, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Israel Defence Minister Ehud Barak said today that Israeli commandos were attacked with iron rods, knives and live ammunition last night immediately after boarding the leading vessel of the flotilla that sought to break through Israel’s sea blockade of the Gaza Strip. He said the Israeli troops opened fire only after it became clear their own lives were in danger. Ten activists were killed and about 40 were injured and helicoptered to Israeli hospitals. About a dozen Israeli soldiers were also injured and flown to hospitals

At a press conference in Tel Aviv, Barak said that the violent resistance was limited to the Turkish flagged Marmara which carried the largest number of anti-Israel activists, reportedly some 600 persons. On the other five ships of the small flotilla the commandos were met with passive resistance.

Barak said the flotilla leaders repeatedly refused Israeli appeals to alter their route from Gaza to the Israeli port of Ashdod to unload their shipments there. Israel had offered to transfer the supplies overland to Gaza, after security checking.

Barak said the flotilla was not a humanitarian effort as its sponsors claimed, but a deliberate provocation against Israel.