The Israeli raid of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla,

Monday 31 May 2010

A review of media sources

Richard Lightbown

31 August 2010
 CONTENTS

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT ............................................................ 3

SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... 4
PROLOGUE ................................................................................................... 5
1.0 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................... 6
2.0 BACKGROUND ........................................................................................ 6
3.0 IHH ........................................................................................................ 9
4.0 LEGALITY OF THE BLOCKADE AND ISRAELI ACTIONS ON 31 MAY .........13
4.1 The San Remo Manual ........................................................................... 13
4.2 The Fourth Geneva Convention ............................................................. 14
4.3 Effects of the closure on the civilian population of Gaza ....................... 15
4.4 Piracy.................................................................................................... 16
4.5 The right of self-defence ....................................................................... 16
4.6 The U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA) ............................................. 17
5.0 THE FLOTILLA RAID ..............................................................................17
5.1 Accounts by flotilla personnel: M.V. Mavi Marmara ............................... 18
5.2 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Sfendoni ......................................... 32
5.3 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Challenger I .................................... 34
5.4 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Gazze I ........................................... 35
5.5 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Defne Y ........................................... 35
5.6 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Eleftheri Mesogeio ......................... 36
5.7 Israeli accounts of the raid ................................................................... 36
6.0 THE AFTERMATH OF THE RAID ..............................................................46
6.1 Casualties ............................................................................................. 46
6.2 Care of the injured and detainees on board the captured ship .............. 49
7.0 TREATMENT OF THE DETAINEES ............................................................53
7.1 Treatment of journalists ....................................................................... 60
7.2 Activists’ property................................................................................. 61
8.0 THE SEIZURE OF THE RACHEL CORRIE ..................................................63
9.0 THE SHIPS AND CARGO .........................................................................64
10.0 CENSORSHIP AND DISINFORMATION .................................................66
11.0 REACTIONS IN THE KNESSET ..............................................................69
12.0 INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE RAID .......................................................70
12.1 The Israeli commission of inquiry (the Turkel Commission) ............... 71
12.2 UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 2 June 2010 ............... 72
12.3 IDF team of experts under Maj-Gen (Res.) Eiland ............................... 73
12.4 The investigation by Israel’s State Comptroller .................................. 74
12.5 The UN Panel of Inquiry ...................................................................... 74
12.6 The UN Human Rights Committee ....................................................... 75
12.7 Legal proceedings ............................................................................... 75
12.8 U.S. Freedom of Information request .................................................. 76
13.0 COMMENTARY .....................................................................................76
14.0 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................88
15.0 EPILOGUE ............................................................................................89
APPENDIX 1 Humanitarian relief items in the flotilla ..................................90
APPENDIX 2 Israel’s notification of the blockade .......................................91
APPENDIX 3 Position paper on the easing of the closure of the Gaza Strip .92
APPENDIX 4: Due to Gisha's Petition: Israel Reveals Documents related to the
Gaza Closure Policy .....................................................................................93
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................95

2
 ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT

AI Amnesty International
ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross
IDF Israel Defence Forces
IHH Turkish-based Humanitarian Aid Foundation (Insani Yardim Vakfi)
ITIC Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
MEP Member of the European Parliament
MK Member of the Knesset (the parliament in Israel)
MP Member of Parliament
MV Motor Vessel
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
NIS New Israeli Shekel
PR Public relations
UN United Nations
UNRWA United Nations Relief and Works Agency
UNSCO United Nations Special Co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process

3
 SUMMARY

An international flotilla comprising the cruise ship Mavi Marmara, three cargo ships and two smaller
passenger craft sailing to Gaza with humanitarian aid was attacked in international waters by a
large Israeli naval force on 31 May 2010. Nine passengers were killed and many injured by live
fire. The main partner in the coalition has been alleged to have had terrorist links. These
allegations are considered in the light of information on the main accuser.

The legality of the raid is considered according the San Remo Manual and the Fourth Geneva
Convention. The report concludes that the International Committee of the Red Cross declaration of
a „dire situation‟ in the Gaza Strip renders the raid unlawful.

A small number of passengers on the Mavi Marmara planned active and lawful resistance, contrary
to the philosophy of the Free Gaza Movement and the ship‟s captain. The first assault, beginning
around 04:00 with firing from zodiac inflatable craft was repelled. A second assault by helicopter
began with live fire causing lethal casualties. Commandos rappelling onto the deck were then
attacked and injured; three were detained but well treated. Accounts from both side of the
confrontation are considered separately.

Casualties were sustained on both sides. The report considers some of the contentious issues,
including when the attack started and whether the defenders used firearms. The other vessels were
seized and there was brutal and disproportionate force against a non-violent response on three of
them. During Israeli control there was considerable maltreatment of detainees, particularly on the
Mavi Marmara. Some of the injured were flown by helicopter to Israeli hospitals, but many activists
reported ill-treatment, abuse and humiliation, including cruel and sadistic acts against injured
persons.

All cameras, recording equipment, phones, computers and personal possessions were seized. Most
possessions and all of the cash were not returned. Seized credit cards have been fraudulently used.
Despite Israeli attempts to seize all photographic evidence a small amount was smuggled out. The
ships were taken to Ashdod where many detainees were beaten, while access to consular services
and lawyers was obstructed or denied. Crew members and journalists were generally well treated
but there was a total blackout on news services. All detainees were deported following Turkish
diplomatic activity aided by American influence.

On 5 June the cargo ship Rachel Corrie was seized in international waters without violence and
taken to Ashdod where all on board were quickly deported.

Most of the cargo will probably reach Gaza, aided by the UN. Activist‟s belongings and some aid
has gone to landfill while cement and steel is reported to remain on the ships now at Haifa. The
three Turkish ships have been released but there has been no announcement on the five ships
currently held by Israel owned by the Free Gaza Movement and its partner organizations.

Israeli disinformation and suppression of evidence is considered. Knesset Member Hanin Zoabi‟s
treatment in the Israel parliament is described.

Israel defied a UN Security Council call for an international inquiry and appointed its own committee
of inquiry which has been condemned for lacking transparency and credibility. The subsequent
decision to cooperate with the UN Panel of Inquiry is considered in the Commentary. The UN
Human Rights Council has appointed a fact finding mission. Information released with regard to the
IDF‟s own inquiry is discussed. Many activists have started legal action.

The sequence of events is described in the Commentary, which also considers the definition of
terrorism in the context of the raid, and matters of responsibility. The report reasons that the raid
was premeditated state terrorism.

4
 PROLOGUE

We have had governments, we have had the United Nations, we have even had
President Obama call for the lifting of the blockade on Gaza and the allowance of
the delivery of humanitarian aid and reconstruction materials to […] the
Palestinians of Gaza and yet not a single government has taken action. And so it
is up to us as civil society, as the real international community […] to take
action and to expose Israel‘s policies to the world and to also try to break the
blockade on our own.

Adam Shapiro, Board Member of the Free Gaza Movement 1

This is a clear case of self-defence. Israel cannot allow the free flow of
weapons, rockets and missiles to the terrorist base of Hamas in Gaza. It‘s
already fired thousands of rockets on Israeli cities [and] it seeks to smuggle in
thousands more. And this is why Israel must inspect goods that come into
Gaza. It‘s also a clear cut [case] of self-defence because as our soldiers were
inspecting these ships they were attacked, they were almost lynched. They
were attacked with clubs, with knives, perhaps with live gunfire, and they had
to defend themselves [because] they were going to be killed. Israel would not
allow its soldiers to be lynched; neither would any other self-respecting country.

Israel‟s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu2

5
1.0 INTRODUCTION

The following is a review of all media sources located by an internet search of

newspapers, journals, websites and videos into the events of 31 May 2010 when elite
members of the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) attacked six civilian ships intending to
breach the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. Information has also been used from the
book „Midnight on the Mavi Marmara‟ (Bayoumi, 2010). Data containing Israeli and
activists‟ testimonies and other information relating to legality, timeline, the physical
confrontation at sea, the detention of activists, and some related events in the
aftermath have been assessed and edited into an account intended as a basis for
understanding this tragic and controversial incident.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The Gaza Strip has been under siege since 2006 from the neighbouring countries of
Israel and Egypt which have tightly restricted the movement of people and goods in
and out of the Palestinian Territory. No air traffic is allowed to fly to the Strip and its
coastline with the Mediterranean Sea is also blockaded by the Israel Navy which
prevents all shipping from going to or from Gaza. The siege has received widespread
condemnation from the international community and on 8 January 2009 the UN
Security Council passed Resolution 1860 calling for a ceasefire of the hostilities then
occurring, and the unimpeded provision through Gaza of food, fuel and medical
treatment. Neither Israel nor Egypt has complied with the resolution and the siege has
continued unabated. In August 2008 two boats belonging to the Free Gaza Movement
sailed with 44 peace activists from Cyprus and were allowed to pass with little
interference to become the first international vessels in 42 years to visit Gaza. Four
successful voyages followed, but three subsequent attempts were prevented from
reaching Gaza by violent and illegal intervention from the Israel Navy.3 In May 2010
the Free Gaza Movement joined with five other organizations

 IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation,

 The European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG),
 The International Committee to End the Siege on Gaza,
 The Greek Ship to Gaza Campaign,
 The Swedish Ship to Gaza4

to send a flotilla of eight boats carrying 10,000 tonnes of supplies and almost 700
passengers to assist and support the people of Gaza. The government of Israel said
that the mission was provocative and declared that it would be stopped before it could
reach the territory. The flotilla organizers responded that they were not going to be
deterred and the boats set sail. For Robert Fisk the attempt to take food and
medicines to Gaza struck a parallel with American and British airlifted aid to the
starving people of Berlin blockaded by Soviet forces 62 years earlier.5

Eight vessels were originally planned to be in the flotilla which intended to form up
near Cyprus. Two of them, Challenger I and Challenger II, had been travelling from
Agios Nikolaos in Crete and were both forced into port in Cyprus on 29 May with
broken steering systems. The bilge pump on Challenger II also stopped working with a
fault that was considered to be „very suspicious‟ and the vessel started to take in
water. In this condition it had gone through a sizeable storm and had limped into port.
Both vessels had been forced to radio distress signals. Israeli sources later boasted of
having committed the sabotage.6 Following the breakdown the MV Challenger II was

6
unable to continue7 8 while the Cambodian registered MV Rachel Corrie, which was
travelling from Dundalk in Ireland, was also a victim of sabotage and fell behind
schedule. (An Israeli source said disabling the Mavi Marmara had been considered but
had been discounted because it might have caused the ship to sink, or require days to
tow it to shore.9)

It was decided to leave the Rachel Corrie to follow, so that on 31 May the flotilla
heading for Gaza consisted of the 4,140-ton Comoros-flagged cruise ship, MV Mavi
Marmara and Turkish-flagged cargo vessel MV Gazze I, the Greek-flagged MV Eleftheri
Mesogeio, the Togolese MV Sfendoni, the American-flagged Challenger I and the
Kiribatian MV Defne Y.10 The cargo on the seven ships amounted to more than 10,000
tons (a comprehensive description of the cargo is given in Appendix 1). The
participants included members of parliament, academics, journalists, religious leaders
including the 89-year-old archbishop of Helarion Capycci along with the one-year-old
son of the chief engineer of the Mavi Marmara. Forty-two nationalities were
represented. In an interview on Press TV the night before the raid president of the
Humanitarian Aid Foundation (IHH) Bülent Yıldırım said that there were no
circumstances under which the ships would turn back and stated that if Israel attacked
they would defend themselves.11

Huwaida Arraf, the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement, told journalists that the flotilla
had hired independent security to verify that the boats were weapons free. 12 The
inspection was in accordance with all applicable rules for passengers and cargo and
everything was filmed.13 Passengers also had to sign a four-page document pledging
that they would not engage in violence and possessed no weapons, and all baggage
was subjected to x-ray inspection for weapons prior to boarding. (Kevin Neish had his
pocket knife confiscated by the organizers who threw it in the sea. 14 David
Schermerhorn was also relieved of his sheath knife. He said the security was just as
careful as that at a U.S. airport.15) The security was not so strict for passengers on
other vessels, and Jan Línek said he was not searched before joining the Sfendoni,16
although all cargo had been inspected before it was loaded. 17

The biggest proportion of the passengers had been volunteers from Turkey recruited
by the Turkish charity IHH. The charity had posted an online advertisement for
volunteers for the flotilla which it said intended to show that Israel‟s
„embargo/blockade can be legally broken‟.18 Between 5,000 and 6,000 people had
applied but radical extremists had not been accepted. However there were radical
elements on board. A group of militants was filmed by Al Jazeera chanting an Intifada
battle cry ‘Remember Khaibar, Khaibar, oh Jews! Muhammad's army is returning‟;
recalling a victorious battle fought by the Prophet‟s army against the Jews.19 Several of
those killed had expressed the wish to become martyrs. 20 21 Richard Spencer explained

Such descriptions would be regarded by many Muslims as evidence that they

put religious duty before their lives, rather than an admission that they were
heading to battle.22

Henri Barkey, an analyst for the Carnegie Foundation, was perhaps unfair when he
inferred there was something untoward when some IHH members had prepared a last
will and testament before joining the boat. 23 Avoiding intestacy is a responsible act for
any household head, particularly one considering travel to a conflict zone. For similar
reasons all volunteers joining the flotilla had been required to supply details of their
next of kin.24

7
The decision to order the chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to carry out
the raid was taken by the Defence Minister Ehud Barak after briefly conferring with
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was visiting Canada at the time. Initial claims
that the inner cabinet and the deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon were not informed 25
26
appear to be unfounded.27 However it is certain that other people were also well
aware of the IDF‟s intentions. Israel is connected to NATO‟s electronic system and
cooperates fully with NATO in a wide range of sectors including counter-terrorism,
intelligence information and joint military manoeuvres. It is probable that NATO, and
especially the United States, was kept informed of what the naval operation planned to
do, including the option to open fire against the ships.28

At sea Huwaida Arraf had told the Israeli naval force by radio that

 the flotilla was carrying unarmed civilians,

 the cargo had been checked at the point of departure,
 the flotilla would be willing to submit to additional checks by a neutral body
such as the United Nations (UN) or the International Committee of the Red
Cross (ICRC). 29

Israel never asked to check the ships.

After the flotilla had set sail Israel announced that it had extended the military
exclusion zone from 20 to 68 miles, although this unilateral declaration had no
international recognition. Moreover the exclusion seemed to refer solely to the flotilla
since Bülent Yıldırım was able to report that other commercial ships were within the
zone at that time.30 The German international law expert Professor Norman Paech who
was on the Mavi Marmara said that such moves are only justified if states feel
threatened and said that the flotilla did not pose any threat to Israel as it was only
carrying humanitarian aid.31 At 00.30 on 31 May Israeli forces contacted the Mavi
Marmara telling the ship that it was entering a closed zone. The captain asked for the
coordinates of the zone but he was given no information in reply.32

At approximately 04.00 on 31 May Israeli commandos began „Operation Sea Breeze‟ to

take control of the flotilla. As news reports broke that morning with accounts of at
least 15 dead, worldwide condemnation of Israel followed from the United Nations,
governments and citizens.33 In Tel Aviv a large crowd gathered outside the Turkish
embassy that evening, waving Israeli flags while chanting and jeering. Passing cars
blew their horns in support.34 Having originally declared that it would prosecute the
Freedom Flotilla members who „attacked‟ its soldiers35 Israel‟s Interior Ministry later
announced that it would deport all foreigners aboard the flotilla. It reportedly said that
702 were deported of whom a total of 527 people were flown to Turkey and Greece36
and 124 were released into Jordan.37

During the raid the IDF is reported by activists to have extensively used high-powered
paint ball guns, stun grenades, smoke bombs, tear gas, tasers, rubber bullets, dogs,
semi-automatic pistols and automatic carbines with live ammunition, as well as
clubbing and kicking their victims. In a Jerusalem Post article of 1 June entitled „Next
time we‘ll use more force‟ a „top Navy commander‟ was quoted as saying

We boarded the ship and were attacked as if it was a war. That will mean
that we will have to come prepared in the future as if it was a war. 38

8
On 5 June the Rachel Corrie was boarded and seized by Israeli commandos without
any violence and the ship was forced to change course for Ashdod.

On 13 June Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon told CNN that Israel should not and
would not apologize for the raid.39 On the same day Deputy Prime Minister Dan
Meridor was more conciliatory but unrepentant when speaking to the Turkish
newspaper Haberturk

What happened is a tragedy. I am very sad, I regret it. No one wanted it or

expected it. These events should never have happened. But if some terrorists
got on the ship and attacked our soldiers, I think that they, not us, must
apologize.40

U.S. Navy vet Joe Meadors was on the Sfendoni and is also a survivor of the 1967
Israeli attack on the USS Liberty. He was not impressed by the explanations.

To me it‘s like a Chinese fire drill. They‘re purported to be the best in the
world but when you go up against them they‘re just a bunch of rag-tag people
who think they can do no wrong. Every time they speak they say they don‘t
break any laws they always abide by international laws, but they break them
with impunity and the U.S. government is not going to hold them accountable.
Nobody is.41

For Dr Fintan Lane the incident was not a success for the activists but a tragedy. But
he added it was a „game-changer‟.42 Just how much the situation had changed was
explained by Jessica Montell in an interview with Human Rights Watch. The Executive
Director of the Israeli human rights group B‟Tselem told how it had been impossible to
get any conversation in Israel about the Gaza closure. It was a very marginal issue
that the press and the Knesset would not talk about. „It was really mission
impossible‟. The flotilla had been a PR nightmare for Israel.

I mean by forcibly boarding this boat and killing Turkish activists put the Gaza
siege really front and centre on the agenda. Almost immediately you had
180° shift in the pubic conversation in Israel with mainstream commentators as
well as member of the Knesset as well as members of the government saying
this really is not in our interest.43

For the veterans of the flotilla the job remained unfinished. Shane Dillon epitomised
the feelings of a great many of them ten days after the attack. Asked by a journalist if
he would do it again he unhesitatingly replied „Yes……and again, and again‟.44

3.0 IHH

(A German organization with the same initials but a different name, Internationale
Humanitaere Hilfsorganisation – International Humanitarian Aid Organization, was
proscribed in Germany on 12 July because alleged links to Hamas. This organization
has no links with the Turkish charity of the same initials.45 A CIA report of 1996 on
terror links between the German organization is often wrongly cited as evidence
against its Turkish namesake organization.46)

9
IHH are the initials of Insani Yardim Vakfi (the Foundation for Human Rights and
Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief). The charity was founded in 1995 in response to
the Bosnian genocide and the war in Chechnya. IHH‟s purpose is to help people
distressed and victimized by war, disaster and famine by delivering humanitarian aid
and by working to prevent violations against basic rights and liberties. IHH provides
assistance regardless of religion, language, race and sect, primarily in the form of
social, educational, cultural and sanitary aid. The organization is a member of

 The Union of NGOs of the Islamic World

 Humanitarian Forum
 Organization of Islamic Conference Humanitarian Forum
 Consultative membership to the U.N. Economic and Social Council
 Turkey Voluntary Agencies Foundation (TGTV)
 Council of International Relief Organizations Aiding Iraq

The organization has won three awards from the Turkish General Directorate of
Foundations for best projects (for an orphanage in Pakistan, a women‟s education
institute in Somalia and a mobile hospital in Iraq), the 2005 award for efficient use of
resources, and the 2007 Turkish Parliamentary Award of Honour. 47

IHH works in more than 80 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and the
Caribbean.48 Income for the year ended 31 December 2008 was US$24.4 million49
(about two-thirds of the income of the UK charity Muslim Aid50). The charity has been
very active in Gaza where IHH representative Mehmet Kaya said it is

 renovating the port,

 funding a school,
 planning to build a hospital,
 building a $250,000 apartment block in Izbet Abed Rabbo for families still
homeless as a result of Israel‟s attacks in December 2008/January 2009,
 supporting 9,000 families with money and food parcels,
 organizing computer and sewing courses for women.

IHH can work more effectively than UN aid agencies in Gaza because it is prepared to
face the realities on the ground. Unlike UN organizations it can buy goods brought in
through the tunnels under the Egyptian border and it is prepared to work with the
government of Hamas.51 Despite this impressive record of achievement in adversity
the charity does not always get a good press in western countries. British journalist
Richard Spencer described it as a „radical Islamist group masquerading as a
humanitarian agency‟ on 31 May.52 (Mr Spencer gave no details to explain this
assertion.)

Facing the reality of the need to work with the government of Gaza in order to carry
out urgent humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip has brought criticism of IHH from
Israel. Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor is quoted as saying

The IHH is[ ...] known as a group implicated in terrorist operations. Their close
ties with Hamas are an avowed policy of this group.53

This vague accusation avoids facing the reality that the principle works of IHH in Gaza
address a humanitarian disaster well attested to by respected international NGOs and
bodies. This disaster is largely the product of Israeli aggression and the illegal siege
imposed by Israel, aided and abetted by Egypt and the United States. That IHH is

10
doing work that few other organizations are sharing is not an indication of IHH
extremism but an indictment of the international community for its failure to face up to
the hardship in Gaza and work effectively to alleviate the suffering of the population
there.

The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC) has been described as an
Israeli think-tank, but is renowned for its close ties to Israel‟s Defence Ministry and
routinely acts as a mouthpiece for the latter organization. On 6 July ITIC produced a
publication which declared as its heading

Most of the injured in the confrontation on board the Mavi Marmara have
been positively identified as activists of IHH and Turkish organizations
collaborating with it, most probably Islamist by nature. The findings are
consistent with our inquiry into the identity of the nine people killed on board
the Mavi Marmara.

The principle allegations of this report are that the dead and wounded from the illegal
raid were mostly Turkish, Islamic, active in IHH, and in a number of cases were first
aid medics. The report also complains that about 10 per cent of all Turkish passengers
were media people.54 There is no reference in the report to the undeclared assault by
Israeli forces after morning prayers which sparked this confrontation, and no
explanation as to how so many passengers were killed or wounded (23 of them
seriously). Of particular concern is the apparent inference that there is something
nefarious about being Islamic, and something subversive about being Turkish, a first
aid medic, a journalist or an activist with IHH. The Israeli commandos were attacked
because they had initiated an illegal and violent assault, not because of some
inherently barbaric disposition on the part of Turkish Islamic activists and journalists.

The ITIC report contains a curious footnote at the bottom of page 3. Referring to
Indonesian cameraman Okvianto Emil Baharuddin who suffered a gunshot wound to
his hand, the footnote ends

There were also reports about two other Indonesians injured in the
confrontation […] It is unclear why the Indonesian activist (or activists) were
injured. To the best of our knowledge, the Indonesian delegation consisted of
humanitarian aid activists who did not take part in the violence initiated by
IHH.

One of the other Indonesians referred to was cameraman Sura Fachrizaz, who was
shot in the chest, possibly with a 9mm bullet.55 Why the IDF should have shot any of
them is a question that Israel should be addressing very seriously.

Another ITIC report released on 26 August quotes a report in the Turkish newspaper
Hürriyet which detailed the involvement of Erdinç Tekir in an attack on the Russian
ferry Avrasya in the BlackSea in 1996. The armed raid had been for the purpose of
releasing Chechen prisoners held in Russia and had ended without harm to any of the
captives, although Russian passengers on the ferry had been extremely scared during
the hijack.56 Mr Tekir had been sentenced to eight years in prison for his part in the
raid, but had been released after three and a half years. On the Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Mr Tekir had been an IHH operative and first aid worker, and had been wounded
during the course of the raid (although no details were found). ITIC acknowledged
that there was nothing to link IHH with the raid on the Avrasya.57

11
Reuven Erlich, the head of ITIC, has also said of IHH that „in the past [it] has provided
at least logistical support to Islamic jihad organizations‟ including funds and arms.58
This claim is probably based on statements made by Jean-Louis Bruguière, the former
head of the French judiciary‟s counterterrorism unit. On 2 June M Bruguière told the
Associated Press that IHH had contact with Al-Qaeda during the 1990s, and had been
involved in helping to organize the plot to blow up an airliner at Los Angeles
International Airport in December 1999. The former judge said that several members
of the bomber‟s network worked for IHH as cover, and that it was too systematic and
too widespread for the NGO not to know their true intentions. Referring to the
organization‟s activities in the late 1990s M Bruguière said

It was clearly proven that some of the NGO's work was not charity; it was to
provide a facade for moving funds, weapons and mujahedeen to and from
Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Omer Faruk Korkmaz, a member of the IHH board of directors, strongly denied any
connection between IHH and any illegal organization.

During his telephone interview with the Associated Press, M Bruguière, who is currently
coordinator for the European Union terrorism finance tracking programme, did not
indicate that IHH had any current links with terror. 59 Also on 2 June Philip Crowley,
Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Bureau of Public Affairs said IHH had not been
designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States, and that the U.S.
could not validate any connections to Al-Qaeda.60 (On 26 July Roger Cohen wrote in
the New York Times that a State Department official had denied to him that the U.S.
planned to designate IHH a terrorist organization.61)

[Despite notable successes against terrorism such as his successful hunt for Carlos the
Jackal, Judge Bruguière remains a controversial figure in France. Le Figaro recalled
how he was regarded by some as a „voyou judiciaire‘ (judicial lout). In a judicial
inquiry into the 1994 assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana of Rwanda, the
judge had accused the president‟s successor, Paul Kagamé, of ordering the killing to
deliberately provoke the Tutsi genocide and so gain worldwide sympathy for his coup
d‟état. François Schlosser described this as the same line of argument adopted by the
Hutu perpetrators who, at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, had denied
the existence of the genocide and presented themselves as the victims of external
aggression. M Schlosser accused the judge of overlooking recriminating evidence
against French military complicity in the genocide, relying heavily for his findings on
evidence already discounted as false by a French parliamentary commission of inquiry
in 1998, and linking hypothesis with fact. (Le Figaro also accused the judge of denying
the existence of Rwandan army missiles described in detail in the same commission‟s
report.62) In so doing M Schlosser said that M Bruguière had exonerated the real
perpetrators of the massacres while easing the conscience of French officialdom which
had for many years supported the ethnic and racist policies of the Habyarimana
regime.63

Similar controversy is attached to M Bruguière‟s investigations into the bombing on 17

September 1989 of an aircraft belonging to UTA which exploded in mid-flight over the
Sahara Desert. The bomb technology was similar to that used by a Palestinian
terrorist organization and early clues indicated involvement from Syria and Iran. But
with escalation of the Gulf crisis in 1990 and the inclusion of Syria and Iran in the anti-
Iraq coalition it was decided by the U.S., and subsequently by M Bruguière, to drop
this line of enquiry and to concentrate on the Libyan connection, based on extremely

12
flimsy evidence provided by the FBI. Despite the doubts of police Commissioner
Claude Calisti (then considered one of the best explosive experts in the world) who
could find no trace of explosive on the piece of timer retrieved by the FBI, both the
bureau and M Bruguière continued to insist that this provided incontrovertible proof of
a Libyan link to the bombing.64]

The allegations against IHH activities in the 1990s are serious, but they have never
been proven in a court of law. M Bruguière continues to harbour doubts about the
charity,65 but his eccentric history of investigation and selective use of facts coupled
with a failure to produce any reliable evidence to substantiate his assertions leave
them unproven and unreliable. At present they provide inadequate reason to besmirch
radical aid workers intent on fulfilling a humanitarian mission whose need is well
attested to by the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross
amongst many other august institutions. Those who consider radical Islam to be
fanatically racist would do well to consider the words of IHH president Bülent Yıldırım.
When asked about allegations that the flotilla had an Islamist nature Mr Yildirim had
replied

Had it been Muslims killing Jews, I would again go with a flotilla. We are against
all cruelty.66

4.0 LEGALITY OF THE BLOCKADE AND ISRAELI ACTIONS ON 31 MAY

4.1 The San Remo Manual

The Free Gaza flotilla was trying to deliver a cargo of certified humanitarian aid to
Gaza in keeping with UN Security Council Resolution 1860. On 31 May it was attacked
by forces of the state of Israel 73 miles from the coast of Gaza in international
waters.67 Israel claimed the operation was legal, quoting the San Remo Manual on
International Law Applicable to Armed Conflict at Sea, of which Article 146 allows the
interception of shipping on the high seas if a blockade has been legally applied. 68 (The
UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian human rights, Professor Richard Falk has
explained that the San Remo Manual is not a legal document but a kind of „soft law‘
that could become customary international law over time.69) The Israeli interpretation
is questionable on several points

i. Anthony D‟Amato, professor of international law at the Northwestern University

School of Law, believes that since the Manual only applies to „belligerent states‟
and „neutral states‟ (as indicated in Section IV) it does not apply in the case of
Gaza which is occupied Palestinian territory and is not recognised by the United
Nations as a state. The Geneva Conventions apply.70 Prof Falk has declared the
same opinion.71
[In putting the legal basis for Israel‟s blockade Prof Ruth Lapidoth explained on
18 July that Israel‟s Supreme Court had passed various judgements which
demonstrated that in its opinion the Israeli conflict with Gaza is an international
conflict. However Prof Lapidoth did not demonstrate any international
recognition of this opinion, and it would appear from her commentary that Gaza
is not a full self-governing state.72 In which case Profs D‟Amato and Falk‟s
statements would appear to remain valid.]

ii. Articles 36-42 emphasise the obligation of any maritime attack to be solely at
military targets for the purpose of gaining a military advantage. Precautions

13
 must be taken to ensure that civilians are not harmed. Merchant vessels are
declared to be civilian objects.

iii. Article 47 exempts vessels from attack if they are

engaged in humanitarian missions, including vessels carrying supplies

indispensable for the survival of the civilian population.73

iv. Dr Douglas Guilfoyle, who is a legal specialist on shipping interdiction and the
Law of the Sea, has questioned whether the blockade had been legally notified,
and indicated that it appears to be officially unrecognised by other maritime
nations.74

v. The declaration of a blockade must specify the duration. It is not clear whether
„until further notice‟ is sufficiently specific.
(Israel‟s declaration of the blockade can be read in Appendix 2 below.)

vi. Article 102 prohibits a blockade if

(a) it has the sole purpose of starving the civilian population or denying it other
objects essential for its survival; or
(b) the damage to the civilian population is, or may be expected to be,
excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated
from the blockade.

vii. Article 103. If the civilian population of the blockaded territory is inadequately
provided with food and other objects essential for its survival, the blockading
party must provide for free passage of such foodstuffs and other essential
supplies, subject to:

(a) the right to prescribe the technical arrangements, including search, under
which such passage is permitted; and
(b) the condition that the distribution of such supplies shall be made under the
local supervision of a Protecting Power or a humanitarian organization which
offers guarantees of impartiality, such as the International Committee of the
Red Cross.75

viii. Article 119 declares that a neutral merchant vessel may be diverted „with its
consent‟ while Article 124 says that neutral States are encouraged to enforce
certification procedures to avoid the necessity for visit and search.
[This presumably describes the measures of certification undertaken by the
flotilla. Note the wording here is ‟visit and search‟ and not „attack and forcefully
divert‟.]

[Adalah reported that during a court hearing at Ashkelon Magistrate‟s Court on 3 June

The state prosecution was unable to respond to the question of what the legal
authority of the Israeli military was to attack the boat in international waters. 76]

4.2 The Fourth Geneva Convention

Above all Israel is a party to the Fourth Geneva Convention of which Part 1 Article 55
and Article 56 apply to it since it maintains „effective control‟ of the Gaza Strip through

14
the control of the borders, air space and sea lanes. These articles describe the duties
of the Occupying Power of ensuring the food and medical supplies of the population if
the resources of the occupied territory are inadequate, along with maintaining the
medical and hospital establishments and services, public health and hygiene in the
occupied territories.77

4.3 Effects of the closure on the civilian population of Gaza

A number of Israeli and pro-Israeli sources have claimed or implied that there is not a
humanitarian problem in Gaza. The Israel Foreign Ministry‟ expert on maritime and
humanitarian law, Sarah Weiss Maudi said that Israel supplies vital humanitarian goods
on a daily basis.78 While this assertion is generally correct (Israel does, at its sole
discretion, entirely close the border on occasions so the assertion „on a daily basis‟ is
not strictly fair) Ms Maudi avoids any assessment of the reasonable requirements of
the population in comparison with the quantities officially permitted to enter by Israel.
The Head of operations for the Middle East ICRC said on 14 June

…people are surviving thanks to the external assistance coming/comes in, but
it is a trickle compared to what is needed in Gaza.79

In a document by Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center on the confrontation

on the Mavi Marmara on 7 June, an unnamed journalist is reported to have stated

...he had visited the Gaza Strip as part of a humanitarian delegation and his
impression was that there was no distress or lack [of commodities] in the
Gaza Strip. He added that "everything is propaganda"80

The real propaganda was exposed unequivocally a week later.

On 14 June the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) published a news
release which unreservedly called for Israel to lift the closure of Gaza. It said

As the ICRC has stressed repeatedly, the dire situation in Gaza cannot be
resolved by providing humanitarian aid. The closure imposed on the Gaza Strip
is about to enter its fourth year, choking off any real possibility of economic
development. Gazans continue to suffer from unemployment, poverty and
warfare, while the quality of Gaza's health care system has reached an all-time
low.

The whole of Gaza's civilian population is being punished for acts for which they
bear no responsibility. The closure therefore constitutes a collective punishment
imposed in clear violation of Israel's obligations under international
humanitarian law. (Emphasis added.)

The news release called on the international community to ensure that the closure was
lifted, stated that under international humanitarian law Israel must ensure the basic
needs of Gazans are met, and said that all States have an obligation to facilitate rapid
and unimpeded passage of all relief consignments, equipment and personnel.

The ICRC also called on those detaining Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit to grant him the
regular contact with his family to which he is entitled to and ensure that he is well
treated and provided with humane and dignified living conditions.

15
Some of the conditions of life under the closure were detailed

 80 types of goods are currently allowed into Gaza (twice as many as in the
previous year) compared with 4,000 items that could be brought in before the
closure.
 50 square kilometres amounting to nearly one third of Gaza‟s farmland was
unusable because of the buffer zone imposed by Israel.
 As a result of the fishing limit of 3 nautical miles imposed by Israel nearly 90%
if Gaza‟s fishermen are considered either poor or very poor.
 The power supply is disrupted for seven hours a day on average which has a
devastating effect on the primary health-care system.
 The situation in the hospitals is set to worsen as fuel reserves for hospital
generators run out. Excessive delays and restrictions in transferring medical
equipment and supplies (some of which are the result of non-cooperation
between the Palestinian authorities in Ramallah and Gaza) are threatening the
lives and health of patients. The ICRC‟s health coordinator for Gaza said „The
state of the health-care system in Gaza has never been worse‟.
 The inability to obtain enough suitable materials to carry out sanitation projects
has resulted in the vast discharge of raw sewage into the Wadi Gaza
jeopardizing the health of communities living on its banks, and the over-
exploitation and pollution of Gaza‟s aquifer. Most of the drinking water in Gaza
is unfit for consumption.
 U.S. $4.5 billion pledged by donor countries for the reconstruction of Gaza
cannot be put to use because of the closure.81

This was the first time that the ICRC has explicitly stated that the blockade constitutes
a violation of international humanitarian law.82

In the light of this publication from the ICRC there can no longer be any doubt of the
illegality of the Gaza closure or about Israel‟s blockade to enforce it, of which the raid
on the Freedom Flotilla was a part. The violent actions of the Israel Navy on 31 May
and the ensuing detention of the passengers on board were totally unlawful under
international humanitarian law.

4.4 Piracy

Many people have described the actions of the Israel Navy as piracy. According to
Diakonia

Illegal attack by warships or state agents of civilian ships cannot be regarded

as piracy as piracy [sic] is an act for private gain.83

There are at least three independent reports that credit cards taken by Israeli
commandos from passengers on the high seas have since been used for private gain
(see Section 7.2 below) In addition considerable sums of money were forcible taken
from passengers on the flotilla, with none of it returned. This appears to raise the
question of whether piracy also occurred during the illegal assault on the flotilla.

4.5 The right of self-defence

According to Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights

16
 Since the initial boarding of the ship was likely illegal, the civilian passengers
did had [sic] the right to act in self-defence against the invading soldiers.
However, lawful self-defence on the part of the civilians was limited to
reasonable force in the circumstances.[…] However, given that the Israeli
commanders [sic] were displaying firearms and the response appears to have
been through the use of ‗sharp objects‘ including ‗sticks‘ and in some cases,
‗bladed weapons‘, it is arguable that the response by the civilians was indeed
proportional to the threat they faced, especially if evidence emerges that
Israeli commandos had used their weapons on any civilians prior to their
actions against the commandos.84

4.6 The U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA)

The use of weapons supplied by the United States is governed by the AECA which
prohibits the use beyond security within the recipient‟s own borders or direct self-
defence.85 As such an illegal lethal assault on civilian shipping in international waters
using weaponry made and supplied by the U.S. (such as Apache and Blackhawk
helicopters and M4 carbines) contravenes U.S. domestic law.

5.0 THE FLOTILLA RAID

The flotilla sailed in formation after dark led by the Mavi Marmara, with Eleftheri
Mesogeio abeam and Sfendoni astern followed by Gazze I, Defne Y and Challenger I at
the rear. The speed was dictated by the Eleftheri Mesogeio which could only reach 7.5
knots.86 At the time of the attack Challenger I had come ahead and was off the port
beam of the Mavi Marmara before taking off in a vain attempt to transmit information.
The raid began with almost simultaneous attacks on the Mavi Marmara, Sfendoni and
Eleftheri Mesogeio.87 88

The unit selected for the raid was the Shayetet 13 commando, considered one of the
top units in the Israeli army. (This secretive special force unit has been linked to many
undercover operations. In 1988 it allegedly sank a ship belonging to the Palestine
Liberation Organization in Limassol harbour.89) Vice-Admiral Eliezer Marom (Mr Marom
is also referred to as Maj-Gen) was on a Shaldag-class fast vessel alongside the Mavi
Marmara. Detailed planning by the IDF had allowed for the use of force if the ships
refused to turn around and ultimately for the use of live fire if there was danger to the
soldiers.90 Although many sources had assumed that Mossad would have had at least
one agent on the ship, members of Israel‟s investigative Eiland Committee have
complained about poor intelligence, including the failure to secure an informant on
board.91

Taking control of such a large civilian vessel presented many problems and there have
been criticisms of the planning for the raid. The commando has trained extensively for
taking control of hijacked vessels but apparently had not adjusted its tactics for ships
that were under legitimate civilian control.92 Israeli intelligence had not anticipated that
resistance would continue despite the IDF‟s shoot-to-kill approach.93 Commandos
boarding at the stern first needed to overcome activists who were intent on repelling
them and then climb two flights of stairs and pass the length of the ship through
hundreds of passengers to get to the bridge. In the event they were denied access by
this route until after the bridge had been seized by commandos landing on the upper
deck. This meant that the soldiers landing on the upper deck were initially
unsupported94 and only gained control after widespread use of live fire. In the wake of

17
the public relations disaster brought about by such an excessive use of force some
former police inspectors-general have claimed that the raid could have been carried
out more effectively by Yamam, the police‟s elite counter terror unit.95

It is perhaps fortunate that some of the more fanciful proposals were not employed.
Former Mossad agent Victor Ostrovsky told an interviewer that commandos could have
easily sneaked up on the ships in „wet submarines‟ and disabled the propellers. He
said „eventually they‘d run out of food and water and they could be towed to shore‟.96
The lessons of the Exodus when Britain attracted worldwide opprobrium for mistreating
and denying entry to a shipload of Jewish immigrants trying to get to Palestine appear
to have escaped Mr Ostrovsky.

Sources are agreed that physical force was used by both the attackers and defenders
on the Mavi Marmara which resulted in casualties on both sides. The accounts from
both sides are almost unanimous that the resistance on the other five vessels, and
subsequently on the Rachel Corrie, was entirely non-violent. The only dissenting
version is on the IDF videos released in connection with the Eiland report on 12 July
which allege a violent resistance on these other ships but provides no evidence in
support. The use of violence has been consistently denied by all the passengers and
crew that were on these vessels.97 There would appear to be no reason to grant
credibility to Gen Eiland‟s uncorroborated assertions.

Israel‟s Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that activists on these five vessels
escaped without a scratch98 while Benjamin Netanyahu said on 5 June that

…in five of the six vessels in the previous flotilla [the boarding] procedure
ended without casualties.99

There is widespread testimony to refute these statements from Israel‟s leaders.

5.1 Accounts by flotilla personnel: M.V. Mavi Marmara

Passengers on the ship spoke of a relaxed spirit of camaraderie before the attack.
Maryam Luqman Talib described how

We had people that we could not communicate with, but our hearts could
communicate. And we had people from different colours, religions, languages
and races. Everyone knew that whatever we were going to get through, we
would get through together. There was so much unity, so much love. There was
just peace.100

Action against the flotilla began with interference on the ship‟s satellite
communications starting at around 21:30 on 30 May. Israeli warships were first
spotted by the flotilla at about 23:00 on 30 May. They demanded that the cruise ship
change course and head for Ashdod but Captain Mahmut Tural responded „Negative.
Our destination is Gaza‟101 and explained that Israeli forces had no right to issue such
an instruction. (At the time the ship was in international waters, not in the waters that
Israel had defined as a restricted-entry zone, and not on course for Gaza.) To avoid
confrontation the ship altered course around 23.30 from 222° to 185° heading for a
point west of El Arish.102 The flotilla organizers wished to enter the closed military zone
during the daytime when they would have a better opportunity to plan and negotiate
their situation.103 IHH staff had formed a good relationship with Captain Tural and

18
members of the organization had been just as concerned as the crew to avoid any
provocative actions on board the ship. At that stage the radar showed that the
warships were about 3-4 miles away. The captain said the Israelis did not tell him to
stop and that between 02:00 and 04:00 hours the ship did not receive any calls or
warnings. The frigates approached from the starboard bow and closed in, attempting
to force the flotilla to return to Israeli waters.104

IHH has described the hostile fleet as comprising four warships, two submarines, 30
zodiac light inflatable craft and three helicopters.105 Hanin Zoabi recalled

I thought to myself that this is not the kind of forces that‘s to stop us. We are
600 passengers. Maybe less than a quarter of these forces, maybe less than
tenth of these forces, can just prevent us very, very easily. And I was—I
actually—maybe for the first time, I think, in my life, I was very afraid. And I
thought to myself, this will not—the end of this will be a tragic [inaudible]
end. It will not end without dead bodies. 106

Former U.S. Marine Ken O‟Keefe said that the IHH leadership had a pre-arranged plan
to defend the ship107 when it became apparent that Israeli forces were preparing to
board.

[There would seem to be two separate agendas. A non-violent response (but allowing
for the use of fire hoses) had been agreed amongst the coalition of organizations108
(and referred to below by Captain Tural). Independent of this there was a planned
defence by a group of militants with the foreknowledge of IHH leaders.]

The IDF spokesperson blog reported on 7 June that crew members of the Mavi
Marmara had found militants using a disc cutter to cut railings on the ship on the
evening of 30 May for use as clubs.109 110 Jamal Elshayyal confirmed that activists had
done this when they saw the Israeli forces approaching.111 Steel rods were also
removed from the ship‟s lifeboats,112 along with chains from the access points.113
Captain Tural sent ship‟s officers to investigate this activity. They retrieved some of
the cut rods which he ordered to be dropped into the sea and confiscated the grinding
gear which was put in the radio room on the bridge. He said that it had been
discussed many times that there should be no violence.

Nobody will fight, nobody will kick them. I said many times, because I know
the end.114

Although not seen in the footage released by Cultures of Resistance a disc cutter can
be heard during prayers on deck shortly before the Israeli attack began. This suggests
there may have been another disc cutter not confiscated by the captain.

Dr Hasan Nowrah said that many activists had trained in Crete for one and a half
weeks in non-violent resistance and boat handling. All persons and baggage then
boarding the Mavi Marmara at Antalya had then been given a rigorous search.115

Israeli claims that a hard core of 40 volunteers joined the ship at Istanbul without
security clearance would appear to be valid. Photos showing the MP Abdul-Khaliq Bin
Shihon holding his cultural Yemeni knife (probably taken on board at Istanbul)
appeared widely in the Israeli media, courtesy of the IDF. In the videos released on
12 July he is filmed displaying the knife and putting it back in its sheath. The knife

19
would not have been permitted to board at Antalya although it was not used in the
fighting. It was again featured amongst the array of kitchen knives that was displayed
by Israeli sources after the raid, all of which appeared to be clean and unused.
Although catapults and the angle grinders came on board there is no evidence that any
specialized weaponry did. The use of makeshift weapons such as chairs116 suggests
that a serious battle was never envisaged and certainly not seriously prepared for.

Prof Richard Falk has observed that the claim that peace activists broke their own
pledge to one another not to resist in the event of an Israeli attack is of no legal
relevance to the right of self-defence.117]

An Israeli allegation that the president of IHH, Fahmi Bülent Yildirim, gave orders to
beat back the soldiers and throw them into the sea 118 is refuted by Ken O‟Keefe who
said they were instructed to arrest the soldiers.119 There is also photographic evidence
backed by the testimonies of Murat Akinan and Dr Uysal (below) to show that captive
soldiers were honourably treated on the orders of Mr Yildirim (in contrast to the
treatment widely meted out by the IDF, described below).

[Israeli sources cite a video apparently filmed on the ship before departure from
Istanbul. In this Mr Yildirim is quoted in translation as saying

If you send the commandos we will throw you down from here and you will
be humiliated in front of the whole world.120

In the 12 July videos the translation is changed to a more hostile version which
suggests the precise meaning of Mr Yildirim‟s rhetoric is open to interpretation. Yet
during the battle when he probably knew that passengers had already been shot dead
and there were mounting casualties around him he gave orders to treat the injured
commandos under his charge with honour and respect. These orders were then
diligently followed by Mr Akinan.]

About 90 activists slept and patrolled on the upper deck in readiness to defend the
ship.121 When the attack began they manned positions along the rails ready to throw
back sound bombs and tear gas canisters.122 Many can be seen in photographs
carrying steel bars. Israeli claims that the upper deck was sealed off to non-militants
does not accord with testimonies of non-violent activists and journalists who witnessed
some of the shooting there. Jamal Elshayyal had been allowed complete freedom of
movement and had filmed „every single centimetre of the ship‘ in Istanbul, Antalya and
less than 24 hours before it was attacked. He said that most passengers had been
asked to remain below by the organisers and only journalists and leading activists had
remained above deck.123

The large majority of the passengers were not involved in the fighting. Kevin Neish
observed

They were humanitarian aid workers is what they were. A lot of them were
pot-bellied fellows, balding, glasses, looked a lot like me. They weren‘t
fighters.124

He had seen the militants preparing for battle with gas masks, catapults (slingshots),
pieces of wood and metal pipes. At this point he had found it all silly because he did
not believe the Israel Navy would attack a large ship full of civilians on the high seas.

20
He was disabused when stun grenades went off on the deck about 4.5 metres from
where he was sitting.125

The Israeli operation began by cutting all satellite communications to the flotilla around
04:00126 and the Mavi Marmara was attacked without warning from zodiacs at around
04:30127 shortly after completion of Fajr Salah, the morning prayer.128 The unprovoked
attack began with fire from high-powered paint ball guns followed by stun grenades,
tear gas, and fire from rubber-coated steel bullets.129 130 The summary report by IHH
also refers to the use of machine guns at this stage 131 although there is no testimony
to corroborate this and this weaponry cannot be seen or heard in any of the video
material available.

[Stun grenades or percussion grenades are designed to create panic and can cause
permanent hearing damage. (The commandos had foam ear plugs in their ears). They
were employed within the first minute of the attack (see 5.1.1.1 below). Their use of a
civilian passenger ship carrying many old people was extremely reckless.]

The paintball weapons employed are military variants specifically adapted for use in
close quarter assaults by special forces. The pellets contain not only „paint‟ but are
usually filled with compressed gases and other chemical irritants to debilitate human
targets at a localised level.132 (Captain Tural and others have said the pellets are glass
marbles.133) They are intended to sting sharply and shock the recipient, not to cause
long term harm, and so give assailants the initiative, in this case to then gain control
of the ship.134 The weapons should correctly be considered less-lethal rather than non-
lethal: at least one fatality resulting from this type of weapon is on record. Victoria
Snelgrove died in Boston U.S.A. on 21 October 2004 after a „303 blunt trauma/pepper
spray projectile‘ fired by police hit her in the eye and fragmented as it entered her
brain.135 At least three injuries appear to have resulted from paint ball canisters
during the flotilla raid. The Turkish forensic team examining the dead activists found
one wound containing pellets similar to a shotgun cartridge.136 Also on the Mavi
Marmara Fatih Kavakdan required a bandaged dressing on his chest after being injured
by a paintball.137 One passenger on Challenger I was also hit on the nose by an
unknown projectile (see section 5.1.4. below.]

Commandos carried information on every boat with names and photos of the leaders
and dignitaries on board (who presumably were not to be harmed in order to avoid
negative PR).138 The intelligence was of a high quality but not entirely accurate. (For
example it included information on Challenger II which had not joined the flotilla
following sabotage but did include photos of three parliamentarians who had only
boarded the ship 24 hours before.) Israeli intelligence had very quickly obtained
photos and film footage from the meetings on board ship at Istanbul. With access to
this level of intelligence it is reasonable to assume that the Israeli high command was
aware that there were no firearms on board.139

Shane Dillon was on the Challenger I which was sailing less than a cable length (200
yards) on the port side of the Mavi Marmara when the attack started.140 He said the
fire fighting defences on the Mavi Marmara were activated, „as was normal during a
pirate attack‟, and that rubbish bins had been thrown from the deck at the zodiacs.141
IDF-supplied film footage confirms Mr Dillon‟s account.142 Abbas Al Lawati reported that
some of the commandos were thrown into the sea by the pressure hoses which also
briefly pushed away the zodiacs,143 but this is uncorroborated by either video or verbal
testimony. Kevin Neish confirmed that the fire hoses worked and forced the zodiacs to
back off.144 Andre Abu-Khalil saw about „twenty Turkish resistance guys throwing

21
tomatoes, anything‘145 at the attackers and threatening soldiers with catapults, water
pipes and sticks.146 Bottles were also thrown at the attackers.147 Militants wearing gas
masks picked up the smoke bombs and tear gas canisters and threw them over the
side, into the sea or into the zodiacs.148 Attempts were made to board the ship from
the zodiacs using grappling hooks, but defenders prevented this. A lot of bullets were
fired: Fatima Mohammad said at some stage before the commandos boarded the use
of rubber-coated bullets changed to live fire.149 Jamal Elshayyal said the live fire
started after about five minutes.150 Ewa Jasiewicz on Challenger I was able to hear the
screams as shooting started from the helicopter.151

Many testified that the Israelis fired before the commandos rappelled onto the deck:

 Captain Tural said the soldiers launched gas grenades and opened fire before
boarding the ship. He told IHH

We had losses because of the live fire opened [sic] from a helicopter on
our passenger ship, decks of which was packed with unarmed
civilians…152

He had watched it from the bridge and saw the soldiers open fire without any
warning. He said the passengers only attacked after they had been fired
on.153
 Arab-Israeli Member of the Knesset Hanin Zoabi said commandos fired from the
zodiacs before the helicopters were over the ship.154 155
 News producer Jamal Elshayyal saw live fire from the helicopter before the first
commandos boarded.156 He said one of those killed was clearly shot from
above. Soldiers pointed their guns down through some sort of hatch in the
helicopter and fired live ammunition indiscriminately. Most of the fire from the
sea was initially tear gas and sound grenades but it became live fire moments
after shooting occurred from the helicopter.157 According to Mr Elshayyal
„As far as I am concerned, it‘s a lie to say they only started shooting on
deck.‘158
 Prof Mattias Gardell said that four helicopters launched the second assault
which began with firing from the air.159
 Ken O‟Keefe saw snipers firing from nearby helicopters and not just from the
helicopter from which the commandos descended.160
 Ismail Patel said that firing of live ammunition began as soon as the first
helicopter appeared above the ship without any warning being given. 161
 According to Fatima Mohammadi

…there was live ammunition being shot onto deck at the volunteers
even prior to commando soldiers being dropped onto the ship. The
insinuation, the suggestion in the media that the commandos came on
board and at that point they responded to force with force is absolutely
untrue; absolutely untrue. We are, we had one to two casualties
before the commandos came on deck… 162

 Othman Battiri said firing with live ammunition started when the helicopter was
unable to download soldiers.163
 Kuwaiti MP Waleed Al-Tabtabaei said the killing of two unarmed Turkish men
provoked the attack on the first soldiers rappelling on board.
 According to Kuwaiti lawyer Mubarak Al-Mutawa

22
 Israeli commandos started shooting from the air without warning.
They killed a number of volunteers even before landing aboard the
ship.164

 Journalist Muna Shester described

...a helicopter deployed men in black, armed from head to toe, who
asked no questions and killed two Turkish men immediately. 165

 Alex Harrison and Huwaida Arraf were on the upper deck of the Challenger I
o Ms Harrison saw commandos first trying to board the Mavi Marmara
from the zodiacs but they were repelled with fire hoses. A helicopter
then arrived and sound bombs and bullets were fired from it at the ship
before the first commandos descended onto the deck. She is unsure
whether live or rubber-coated bullets were used.
o Ms Arraf confirmed that shooting began before soldiers boarded the boat
but is also unsure what type of ammunition was used. 166
 Fiachra Ó‟Luain who was on the bow of the Challenger I said

…there was live gunfire straight away from below and from the
helicopters. One of the men was shot in the head. Another man was
shot with a bullet right between his eyes at point blank range.167

[It is doubtful if Mr Ó‟Luain actually witnessed this at night 180 metres away
from and 13 metres below the upper deck where it happened.]

(Dror Feiler has said there is unreleased film from the Eleftheri Mesogeio, which was
abeam of the Mavi Marmara when the attack started, in which shots and stun grenades
can clearly be heard before any soldier is on the cruise ship.168

Not all agree: Al Jazeera reporter Mohamed Vall said the first soldiers to land were
captured and when the second helicopter arrived the Israelis killed as many as they
could to take control of the ship.169 This is at variance with the other statements
particularly Ken O‟Keefe‟s first hand statement that two activists were already dead
when he helped to disarm the first two commandos that boarded the Mavi Marmara.170
(He later added that by the time he got to the cabin area where the three commandos
were taken this had risen to four dead and many injured.171) Certainly the first
casualties occurred during the early phases of the attack since Jerry Campbell and
Maryam Luqman Talib interrupted their morning prayers to help nurse four gunshot
victims.172 173

[It is possible that Mr Vall was unsighted when the first live fire occurred, since the
rest of his testimony corresponds with that of the other witnesses.]

In response to the Israelis‟ lethal fire a mêlée of perhaps 30 to 40 militants attacked

and seized the first commandos rappelling onto the upper deck from a helicopter.174
The militants were particularly keen to stop the commandos from disabling the ship‟s
transmission antennae situated on that deck.175 Ken O‟Keefe helped to disarm two
commandos who had been rolled off the upper deck and dropped onto the fourth deck.
One was deprived of an assault rifle that was thrown overboard and the other of a
pistol. Mr O‟Keefe removed the live 9mm lead bullets which he gave to another
activist and intended to keep the pistol as evidence.176 He said one commando was
trying to reach his weapon. „I had no doubt that if he got to it before I did I‘d be

23
dead‟.177 178 179 IHH president Bülent Yildirim confirmed that activists used non-lethal
force to grab weapons from the commandos and corroborated that the weapons were
thrown into the sea.180 (On the Israeli video footage objects which could be weapons
can be seen being thrown overboard.181) Calling it „civil resistance´ Mr Yildirim told
Hürriyet Daily News

…it would have been self-defence even if we had used those weapons. Still,
we threw the weapons into the sea.182

One of the IDF pistols was left on the floor in the lounge where many of the wounded
were taken and where it was disregarded. Soldiers later found it there and put it in
one of the bags and then staged a discovery which they filmed.183 (This may have
been a pistol, emptied of bullets, that Ken O‟Keefe had hidden, hoping to be able to
submit it later as evidence in a criminal trial for murder against the Israeli
authorities.184 It is unclear why this staged film has not been released.)

Cevdet Kiliçlar was photographing the helicopters when he was shot in centre of the
forehead. Nicola Enchmarch was standing next to him on the fourth deck and
confirmed that he was photographing at the time. She knelt down next to him, put her
hand under his head, then held his hand while he died. Ms Enchmarch said that the
draught from the helicopter was whipping things about on the deck and it was difficult
to see where the gunfire came from. 185 Mr Kiliçlar‟s body was taken to the press room
which explains the erroneous account that he was summarily executed there at point
blank range.186

Al Jazeera cameraman Andre Abu-Khalil was at the stern of the fourth deck where he
saw militants with catapults, water pipes and sticks, banging pipes on the side of the
ship to warn the Israelis in the zodiacs not to approach. This standoff lasted about ten
minutes until the Israelis used live fire shooting one man directly in the head (which
may have been Mr Kiliçlar) and another in the neck.187 [This was not a life threatening
situation for the soldiers, at this stage they were merely denied access. Othman Battiri
(see above) has said that live fire began from the helicopters after the commandos
were unable to download soldiers, presumably by people milling on the upper deck (no
video footage has been released of this time frame). Denied the ability to board the
ship it is possible that a senior officer in one of the command boats nearby gave the
order to use live fire from the helicopter and the zodiacs for the sole purpose of gaining
access.]

Some of the non-violent activists have supported the defence on the Mavi Marmara
against disproportionate and lethal violence initiated by the IDF. Swedish historian
Matthias Gardell said

It is not as if Israel is a police officer who no human being has the legitimate
right to defend him or herself against. If you are attacked by commando troops
you of course must have the right to defend yourself [...] Many people on this
ship thought they were going to kill everyone. They were very frightened [...]
It's strange if people think one should not defend oneself. Should you just sit
there and say: 'Kill me'? 188

German Parliamentarian Annette Groth told the Free Gaza Team

The Israeli claim that its commandos acted in self-defence was ridiculous. It
was like war. They had guns, taser weapons, some type of teargas and other

24
 weaponry, compared to two-and-a-half wooden sticks we had between us. To
talk of self-defence is ridiculous.189

Captain Tural observed

Just like anyone is subjected to live fire would, the passengers on the ship tried
to defend themselves.190

Paul Larudee practised non-violence but wrote

A number of passengers aboard the Mavi Marmara […] responded with their
hands, feet, and whatever objects were at hand. I admire them for doing so;
they knew that Israel has a reputation for disproportionate response. 191

Kevin Neish told an interviewer

I saw dead bodies, I saw captured Israeli soldiers and I saw men fighting
machine guns with three foot lengths of chain. 192

[The Israelis] were outraged that these Arabs and Turks had dared to fight back
with nuts and bolts and fire hoses, sticks, pipes and chains and held the mighty
Israeli army at bay for half an hour on that ship and forced them to kill. They
were outraged that they were not in control.

(One of the Turks had told him that it was worth it, that they had won because the
world would see what was really happening.193)

Dr Mahmut Coskun was less sympathetic and later rebuked one of the militants for
boasting of having beaten an Israeli, telling him

Just because you wanted to flex your muscles and drag three soldiers down,
nine people ended up dead.194

Israeli claims that the commandos were fired on are rejected.

 Captain Tural said the weapons seized by the passengers were thrown into the
sea. They were never used against the soldiers.195
 Ken O‟Keefe flatly denied that anyone from the ship fired any Israeli weapon. 196
 Mubarak Al-Mutawa told a reporter

I assure you that no one from the aid volunteers had any firearms. We
had no other weapons, except kitchenware, and the volunteers did not
start any resistance.197

 Jamal Elshayyal had filmed the entire ship three times before the attack and
was convinced there were no firearms on board.198
 Al Jazeera crew member Othman Battiri testified

There was not [sic] firing by the activists on the soldiers. As media we
stand witnesses on that.199

25
  Andre Abu-Khalil who was on the fourth deck as an Al Jazeera cameraman said
the militants did not have guns, only catapults, water pipes and sticks.200
 Jamal Dajani has pointed out that the helicopter‟s infrared cameras would have
easily recorded the flashes caused by gun discharges, but such evidence has
never been released.201

(No details of the commandos‟ injuries have been released. If commandos have
suffered gunshot wounds this could have been from Israeli friendly fire.) One soldier is
reported to have been almost thrown into the sea, but this was prevented by other
activists.202 IDF video footage does show at least one soldier (Kevin Ovenden reported
two) being pushed over the side of the upper deck and dropped to the deck below
(which is the third deck and the drop is about 3.5 metres at that point).203

Three commandos captured by the militants had feared for their lives.204 Ahmet
Sarikurt said the soldiers had bruises and one had a swollen face. Another seemed to
have had a nervous breakdown.205 Abbas Al Lawati said one soldier had the fear of
death in his eyes,206 while Kevin Neish saw one carried in with „eyes as big as saucers,
yabbering and yelling‟. His guns had already been taken off him and Turkish aid
workers took off all his equipment: backpack, ammunition belt, knife and helmet. A
big Turk tried to hit the commando but he was pushed off by the aid workers who
shouted and pinned him against the wall while their colleagues rushed the soldier past
and onto the medical aid area.207 Murat Akinan said that he had been directly ordered
by IHH president Bülent Yildirim to take responsibility for the wellbeing of the
commando. The two other soldiers were subsequently brought in and Mr Akinan had
ensured that they were not harmed despite the reactions of some of the people around
them. He said these reactions were understandable when people had seen friends
killed and injured, but he had told them that their religious beliefs required that the
soldiers should be treated and taken back.208 During his interrogation at Ashdod
officials admitted that he had acted „with goodwill‟ towards the captive in his care.209
Paveen Yaqub had seen one of the soldiers being bandaged, and seeing he was „very
panicked‟ she reassured him that he would not be attacked.210 The second captive
soldier was traumatised. To Laura Stewart it showed that „if you take the gun from an
Israeli soldier, he is just a coward hiding behind the gun‟.211 Photographs show medical
aid was administered by Dr Hasan Huseyn Uysal.212 Dr Uysal explained in a telephone
interview

…the Israeli soldiers were brought to me to check their medical situation and
treat them properly. I had our dead bodies and injured people lying in front of
me and I was treating the soldiers that actually killed and wounded them.
None of our friends in the centre approached to harm or hurt them. 213 214

Dr Uysal said the commandos „were very startled and very scared‟. One had suffered a
cut which reached his stomach membrane but not the organ itself. Dr Uysal had been
unable to stitch it because he had no stitching material with him. After medical
attention the soldiers were taken below to the women‟s deck (the first deck) where
they were out of sight and protected.215 They were freed when the Mavi Marmara
surrendered,216 at which point their colleagues are reported to have opened fire on
their escort wounding a doctor in the arm.217 One of the captives said that the guard
was hit by a projectile from a stun gun.218 (Israeli sources say the three captives were
taken to the bow of the ship and that their colleagues used non-lethal fire which
caused the captors to run back into the ship.219 Since there is no evidence of ill intent
towards the captives it is reasonable to assume they were taken forward to be
released.)

26
A second wave of 15-20 commandos arrived in a Black Hawk helicopter, firing as they
descended.220 221 222 223 Fatima Mohammadi who was still on the upper deck said a
cameraman about two metres from her was shot twice in the arm. 224 He was wailing in
pain and lost a profuse amount of blood so she applied a tourniquet. Below on the
fourth deck „soldiers were just showering [bullets]. They were just shooting in every
direction‟.225 Iara Lee said

We expected them to shoot people in the legs, to shoot in the air, just to
scare people, but they were direct. Some of them shot in the passengers'
heads. Many people were murdered – it was unimaginable.226

When someone in the press room asked Hanin Zoabi what was going on she replied
„War is going on.‘227 Most of the deaths and injuries occurred before the boarding and
during the 30 minutes it took for the soldiers to go from the upper deck to the lower
deck. At that time they were firing on the lower decks from above228 as the Israelis
shot at everyone that was outside on the deck. 229 One man was shot in the leg one
metre in front of Kevin Ovenden him and another immediately to the right of him was
shot in the abdomen. The shooting had come from above and there was no way that
the perpetrator could have felt threatened by their presence. 230

In the main stairwell a stream of bodies came in. Kevin Neish saw blood dripping
down the stairs. „It was not a cliché‟ he later recalled. Two of the bodies had twin
bullet holes in the sides of their heads which Mr Neish immediately thought was an
execution. In a radio interview he said

And there was blood, blood all down the stairs, blood everywhere, I got blood
on my pants and boots and [trailed off] It was terrible.231

The floor was covered with dark red footprints. Three corpses were placed in front of
the cafeteria window, their blood drenched clothes were removed and the bodies were
draped in clean Palestinian and Turkish flags.232

Soldiers beat people with batons. Moroccan MP Abdelqader Amara said soldiers hit
victims with their rifle butts before shooting them dead. 233 Rifat Audeh was thrown on
the deck by four commandos, blindfolded and had his hands tied behind his back while
a soldier‟s knee was digging in his ribs. A commando searched his pockets and
demanded to know where his phone was.234 On the bridge deck, Fahmi Bülent Yildirim
took off his shirt which was waved outside as a white flag of surrender, but according
to Nurfitri Moeslim Taher the shooting did not abate.235 (Idris Simsek said the person
waving the white flag was shot,236 but this is unconfirmed.) Jamal Elshayyal and Sarah
Colborne confirm that shooting continued after the white flag was raised (Mr Elshayyal
said with live ammunition).237 238

The bridge was taken when ten commandos rushed in with guns at the ready. All the
crew were made to lie down and handcuffed, but the captain refused to lie down and
was told to sit in a chair and not to move. He was not handcuffed at that stage. 239 All
documents including the ship‟s certificates were seized. 240 [According to an activist
named Sabrina241 and Abdul-Khaliq Bin Shihon242 commandos took control of the boat
by threatening to kill the captain‟s infant son. This appears to be incorrect: there was
only one infant boy on the ship along with his mother, Nilufer Cetin the wife of the
chief engineer. Mrs Cetin was released promptly from detention and was one of the
first activists to arrive in Istanbul on 1 June.243 She did not complain of maltreatment

27
and she did not refer to any threat to her son. Captain Tural also did not mention this
threat.]

Resistance from the ship ceased immediately after the captain announced over the
tannoy that the invaders had taken over the bridge. The activists had been fighting to
get the aid to Gaza. After the bridge was taken they knew this was no longer possible
so they put down their weapons and walked quietly to the lounges. There was no
further sense in anyone getting hurt.244

During the raid the control board of the ship was damaged and the crew prolonged the
repairs in the hope that as they were in international waters help might come.
Passengers on the lower deck had told the bridge by radio that they needed immediate
emergency medical aid. The captain had asked several times for medical assistance
for these passengers from the unit commander and had eventually been told that no
medical aid would be provided unless the engines were restarted and the ship set sail
on a bearing of 130° for Ashdod. Captain Tural said that the ship‟s doctors had not
been allowed to use emergency aid facilities on the ship to treat the injured. 245 Fatima
Mohammad said that continuous appeals over the public address system for a cease
fire in Hebrew, Arabic, Turkish and English had gone unheeded for one and a half
hours.246

Victims reported atrocities and widespread shooting by the soldiers. Many were shot
at close range.

 Mehmet Yildirim reported that a friend with a bullet wound to his hand was
lying on the deck. Soldiers went over to him and fired two bullets in his back,
turned him over and put two more rounds in his chest. The victim moaned in
pain for two hours.247
 Soldiers realised that Muharren Güneş was not wounded and had shot him at
close range in the left cheek. He has lost six teeth on that side and the bullet
had exited his neck.
 Mustapha Batuman had been shot from a range of about one metre.
 Sadreddin Furkan who was in the control centre on the bridge said the soldiers
were shooting in all directions. He felt a deep pain in his leg which began
bleeding. He had been shot behind, three times in the leg and once in the
foot.248
 Osman Çalık was shot in the knee and was lying on the deck where the soldier
was about to shoot him a second time. At this moment Hanin Zoabi shouted to
the soldier in Hebrew and he did not shoot.
 Ali Buhamd saw a soldier shoot a wounded Turk in the head.249

(The preliminary Turkish autopsy reported five of the deceased were shot in the head
at close range. 250)

Journalists had given the soldiers a clear explanation of how to get into the press
office, but they had deliberately broken down one of the locked doors instead. Inside
the office they had aimed the laser sights on their guns at the journalists‟ eyes for
about 45 minutes in order to intimidate them. 251 The journalists had been ordered out
one at a time, with their hands up. When it was his turn Marco Lucas had looked into
the eyes of one of his captors which had caused the soldier to become nervous, and his
hand to tremble, apparently afraid of defenceless unarmed people who they held at
gunpoint.252

28
In the lounge a soldier gestured with his gun for everyone to lower their heads. Most
did and the rest were threatened with a laser beam pointed in the centre of the
forehead. A large Bahraini man sat on a sofa comfortably facing the nervous young
soldier who gestured for him to lie down. The man did not move. The soldier
continued gesturing, thumped on the window and then pointed the laser beam at the
man. A few moments later the man got up and moved across to the other side of the
sofa with his back to the soldier. The soldier abandoned his demands.253

Laura Stuart was tending some of the seriously wounded when soldiers arrived and
told her that she had to leave her charges and go with them immediately or she would
be shot. She was then searched and handcuffed.254

After the soldiers took control of the ship Dr Uysal was treated like all the other
passengers. He was handcuffed tightly and made to kneel for three hours. Because
his shoulder hurt he shouted to the soldiers who ignored him at first. They later
released his hands but not those of the captives with him. He was not allowed to go to
the toilet. 255

5.1.1 Cultures of Resistance film of the attack on the Mavi Marmara256

The most important evidence of the attack on the Mavi Marmara currently available in
the public domain is the film smuggled out by Iara Lee‟s team. This amounts to just
over one hour of raw footage taken on the ship immediately prior to and during the
Israeli assault. The film contains no commentary or analysis and is simply the record
by one camera crew of some of the events seen from the second, third and fourth
(bridge) decks. The following points are particularly pertinent

Film time:
10:31 Jamal Elshayyal reported

At which point we could see that we were flanked on either side of the
ships by Israeli naval vessels in the distance. A short while after that
we also saw some sort of aircraft, it‘s not clear what type of aircraft,
whether it was a helicopter or a drone on [sic] the distance. This has
led the organizers to issue life jackets to all the passengers on board;
it also led them to redirect or re-route the vessels. They say they
don‘t want any form of confrontation with the Israeli army, especially
not by night. So they have re-directed the route of these vessels
hoping that they would avoid such a confrontation. We await
daybreak Monday to see what would [sic] happen. ‗Til then the mood
on board is quite tense. There are organizers scattered across all the
decks on every floor monitoring every minute as it goes by.

16:33 An unseen conversation

- They get chucked off. They get thrown off.

- What [indecipherable] be like landing with helicopters?
- There‘s people everywhere. These guys, these guys [indecipherable]
they‘re not like us, come from the easy life [indecipherable]
they‘re ready for these things.
- So they‘re ready to fight, huh?
- Whatever, whatever happens.

29
20:16 Iara Lee looking into the sky observed „they have drones‟.

22:51 As men join in the morning prayer on the third deck the sound of an
angle grinder can be heard in the background.

23:40 Unknown man talking to Lubna Masarwa

They are going [sic] towards us. One is behind the Defne Y and there
are three coming this way and one further away. OK. […] They are
not pressing us they are just coming closer and closer. No, no
contact, no verbal contact. On radar, we see them on the radar, but
we see also the lights now. Three from that side, ya, from the western
side, one a bit further and one behind us. But they are closing.

24:30 A fire hose is seen laid out on the third deck.

32:03 During morning prayers some film crew suddenly get up and start
preparing their equipment. The rest of the faithful continue with their
prayer.

32:52 A zodiac appears on the film heading north off the port side.

33:16 Prayer finishes and the faithful scramble. Two men solemnly hug.

35:55 The first zodiac comes alongside the stern on the starboard side.
Lights from the ship are directed on it.

36:02 The first sound of firing from paintball guns on the zodiac, the firing
continues rapidly from then on.

36:13 The first stun grenade goes off accompanied by a low scream.
Five stun grenades are used in the first minute of the attack.

37:05 The first zodiac moves away, but commandos on board continue firing
paintball guns.

37:22 A projectile from the ship, probably from a catapult, hits the front of
the zodiac.

39:40 A laser light is seen on the bridge deck, presumably from a rifle
sight in the helicopter that can be heard but not seen.

40:05 Cevdet Kiliçlar comes onto the fourth deck. He is only carrying a
camera.

40:28 A Black Hawk helicopter appears overhead. (Note: This is the second
helicopter to land commandos)

40:29 A shot is heard, followed by a much heavier sound, perhaps a stun

grenade four seconds later, and another lighter shot five seconds after
the second.

30
 41:29 The first rope is dropped, followed by a second rope three seconds
later.

41:38 The first commando descends, followed rapidly by five more in the
space of 18 seconds. The commandos come down on two ropes (unlike
the first helicopter where one rope was tied up and made unusable).

42:05 Catapults fire at the helicopter from the bridge deck.

42:30 The helicopter leaves.

43:30 A casualty is carried past. The injured man is inert and may be dead.

There then follows a period of confusion when shots are heard, casualties are carried
past and there is an indecipherable message on the ship‟s tannoy.

44:20 Kevin Neish discovered a waterproofed booklet amongst the kit of one
of the injured commandos taken into captivity. The six page booklet
in Hebrew and English has photographs of all the ships in the flotilla
(including the Challenger II which had been left behind because of
sabotage). Specific passengers on each ship are named, often with
accompanying photographs. Those discernable in the film are Dror
Feiler, Henning Mankell and two others on the Eleftheri Mesogeio; Raed
Salah, Archbishop of Jerusalem in exile Hilarion Capuddi , Paul Larudee
(who was actually on the Sfendoni) and Greta Berlin (who was not on
the flotilla) on the Mavi Marmara; Annette Groth, Inge Höger and four
others who had originally been on the Challengers I and II.

Various activists are seen with metal rods, wooden staves, catapults and gas masks.
No activist is seen anywhere in the film carrying a firearm. One man opens a package
with a pocket knife. There are blood smears on the wall of the stairwell where
militants wait apprehensively with their makeshift weapons while shots are heard
outside the door.

53:27 Heart compressions are given to a casualty who is lying on the floor
among life jackets and medical gear, while people step over him.

54:06 The first aid has failed and the dead body is removed.

54:13 Medical staff tend to cameraman Sura Fachrizaz, who is lying on the
floor of a corridor. He had been shot in the chest below the right
shoulder (he survived). He is conscious but appears not to be in
serious pain, although concerned. The medics have no knife and cut
away his clothing with a small sharp object. They appear to have no
other equipment to use.

56:00 The dead body of Cevdet Kiliçlar is brought down onto the third deck on
a stretcher.

58:32 There is an announcement over the tannoy from the captain asking all
the brothers to go back to the cabins, to stop the resistance because
live ammunition is being used, to take their seats and to be very calm.

31
In the final scenes of the film the ship‟s alarm bells are ringing and people are making
their way slowly to their seats. There is no panic. (There was no sign of panic
anywhere in the film.) In the computer lounge people are sitting, lying, smoking,
drinking, talking (one person even smiles). A female voice calls over the tannoy
announcing that all the passengers are sitting down and appealing to the Israeli forces
for no violence against civilians.

5.2 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Sfendoni

The ship was sailing about 300-400 metres astern of the Mavi Marmara and was
attacked simultaneously with the cruise ship by paintballs fired from zodiacs on either
side.257 The captain stopped the ship and disabled the engines258 and about 15 to 20
masked commandos had boarded.259 Yousser Benderbal said there were absolutely no
weapons on board. Passengers had sat down very close to one another outside the
bridge and engine room and had tried to establish dialogue. In response he had seen
a Frenchman punched on the jaw, another passenger was hit on the head, another in
the eye and a fourth was slightly injured in the body and the arm. The captain had a
torn ear and injuries to his neck and one leg. 260

 Bilal Abdulazziz described the violence as „unbelievable‟, with soldiers using

stun guns and batons against activists who were merely locking arms. He had
been tasered to the head, legs and back and he had seen older people
beaten.261
 Dimitris Gielalis saw commandos using plastic bullets and tasers and had
beaten people.262 He said a cameraman was hit in the eye with a rifle butt,263
(although it may have been Mr Alharati he saw, attacked see below).
 Al Mahdi Alharati was hit with rubber bullets in the leg, beaten in the groin and
over the head, hit with the back of a gun in the eye and hit with the butt of a
machine gun on the back of the head.264
(As well as the injuries he suffered Mr Alharati has a heart condition and
diabetes, and was taken to hospital in Ankara upon his arrival in Turkey. He
was able to return to his home in Ireland on 8 June.265)
 Gene St Onge was thrown to the deck a couple of times. He then tried
repeatedly to protect Mr Alharati who was writhing in pain on the deck while
still being continuously kicked. Mr. St Onge who was kicked and hit with a „rifle
or something‘ suffering a gash on his head. He was then restrained with
handcuffs. He said their captain, who was pulled and hit, sustained a punctured
ear drum along with neck and back injuries.266
 Ulf Carmesund saw the captain hit on the head with a rifle butt. Apart from this
assault Mr Carmesund did not think the soldiers used excessive force. 267
 Ed Peck said that as a result of the non-violent resistance outside the
wheelhouse some people had been roughly treated by the commandos. Some
had needed crutches, bandages and arm slings, while the captain had needed a
neck brace.
 Dr Hasan Nowarah was below deck with Edward Peck, where a young Israeli
had hit the 81-year-old former U.S. Ambassador on the back of the head
knocking him to the floor. In response Dr Nowarah had hit the soldier across
the chest with his flat palm, and because the boat was rocking with the fracas
above deck the soldier had fallen down. Two others then knocked Dr Nowarah
to the floor with their M16 rifles where they had kicked him and hit him on the
legs with the rifles. He had almost fainted with the pain and gave up. Four
muzzled dogs then came in. Dr Nowarah thought the struggle on the upper
decks had lasted about three-quarters of an hour.268

32
  Cameraman Jan Línek had not been touched. He thought the struggle on board
lasted about five minutes. Once they had control of the ship he considered the
Israelis behaved well.269
 Joe Meadors said the action was „fairly swift‟. He added that the soldiers were
fairly polite,

…it was always please and thank you, but those words take on a
different meaning when they are said at the point of a gun. 270

 Television journalist Manolo Luppichini saw two people hurt by tasers. The
soldiers seized two cameras, microphones, a stand and equipment belonging to
him along with his wallet, passport, bag and all his personal effects. 271
 Yousser Benderbal said they had been kept in the sun until 1 or 2 pm. 272

[Tasers give out pulses of electricity at up to 50,000 volts that can penetrate thick
clothing. They cause muscle spasms and inflict a lot of pain often causing the victim to
fall over, and have been associated with heart irregularities, miscarriage and eye
damage.273 Although considered a „non-lethal weapon‟, tasers have been associated
with sudden deaths and other fatalities in North America. Between September 1999
and late 2005 167 cases of death following police taser strikes were recorded in the
U.S. and Canada. In 27 cases medical examiners said tasers were a cause, a
contributing factor or could not be ruled out.274]

Sixty-four-year-old Dr Paul Larudee pursued a determined non-violent resistance

throughout his detention, despite having to endure considerable physical violence in
response.

I felt that I needed to do non-violent resistance. That consisted of not following

orders, not walking to the places that they wanted me to walk, they were forced
into carrying me for example. But they thought they could get me to do what
they wanted me to do by applying pain and they beat me, essentially, six times
in two and a half days275

On the Sfendoni he helped in the attempt to block the wheelhouse, getting tasered
twice in the left arm in response, and suffering pain and hearing loss after two stun
grenades exploded two feet from his right ear, possibly puncturing his eardrum. He
was also struck on the left leg with a baton. He was then restrained with a plastic tie,
but refused to be subdued.276 If they told him to stand he would sit, if they told him to
sit he would stand. The soldiers tied his feet and hands with plastic cuffs and put him
in a chair on the deck.277 Every passing soldier hit him.278 At this point he had blood
coming from his nose and from his wrists where the tie had cut in.279 After other
detainees complained that he was losing circulation the soldiers cut his hand tie and he
calmed down. But when an Israeli mechanic had managed to start one of the engines
Dr Larudee had jumped overboard from the upper deck as an act of defiance.280 The
Sfendoni then stopped and a naval vessel arrived after ten minutes. Dr Larudee
refused the life preserver thrown to him and then instead of taking a grappling hook
that was proffered he tied it to the rope ladder. The commandos next tried to catch
him with a pole and hook but he swam away and continued to avoid the vessel‟s
manoeuvring. Eventually a zodiac was lowered which despite engine trouble managed
to get alongside him.281 A soldier then punched him twice, grabbed his hair and pushed
him under water, pulled him out and punched him again, and then pushed him back
under the water.282 He was finally dragged onto the zodiac where he was punched
again and his head was slammed onto the deck inflicting a black eye, after which his

33
wrists and ankles were tied. From there he was hauled onto the larger vessel by the
ties and his arms, so that the ties cut into his wrists and his arm sockets were
strained. He was then blindfolded and tied to a pole in an uncomfortable position
where the wind on his wet clothes caused him to shake uncontrollably. The soldiers
gave him dry clothes and eventually, after he promised not to cause further problems
they took him below and gave him a sandwich. But they would not allow him to use
the toilet despite repeated requests, and only relented when he threatened to foul the
ship.283

Passengers had been told to take only their passports and medicines when leaving the
ship at Ashdod. All personal belongings were left on board and despite assurances
that the property would be forwarded none of it has been returned.

5.3 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Challenger I

The Challenger I had taken off from the flotilla at 22 knots in an attempt to break free
and transmit information on the raid but had been unable to do this because the radio
was jammed. It had been forced to slow down by loss of oil pressure to the engines.
Israeli corvettes followed and approached using a spotlight and illumination flares. 284
One of the warships approached as though it was going to ram, reminding Alex
Harrison of the ramming of the MV Dignity in December 2008. (A resume of that
attack is given in section 6 of the commentary below.) She said rubber bullets were
fired before they were boarded, and many passengers were hit.285

On 3 June Shane Dillon gave testimony to Ireland‟s Foreign Affairs Committee. He

testified that there was no resistance on the boat and unlike the Mavi Marmara they
did not turn their hoses on the commandos. The commandos had used stun guns, hit
people with their rifle butts, pushed people onto the deck and stood on them, used
high-powered paintball guns and smashed windows. (Israel‟s Ambassador to Ireland,
Dr Zion Evrony, declined to go before the committee to answer questions. Sein Féin
President Gerry Adams called for Dr Evrony to be expelled from Ireland in
response.)286 At a press conference Mr Dillon had said that after boarding the
Challenger I the soldiers had initially focussed their attention on the journalists in order
to seize any evidence.287

 Fintan Lane had tried to reason with the soldiers but had a gun pointed in his
face by a screaming commando causing him to genuinely fear for his life. He
had seen Fiachra Ó Luain dragged around the deck.288
 Photographer Kate Geraghty described the attack as „pretty full on‟.289 She was
trying to take photographs when she was tasered on the upper arm during the
boarding,290 which caused her to be thrown a metre and a half and collapse
vomiting on the deck.291 She yelled that she and Paul McGeough (also on the
Challenger I at the time) were from the Sydney Morning Herald and was
answered by a commando speaking English with an Australian accent saying
„We know you‘re from the Herald‟.
 Shane Dillon was tasered in the left arm, but said he was treated better than
most activists because he was a member of the crew. Calling the commandos
„terrorists‟ not „soldiers‟ he said

They beat some of the girls and pushed them around the deck. They
weren't friendly with them at all.292

34
  Huwaida Arraf told CNN that her head had been banged on the deck after which
she was handcuffed and hooded.293 (Shane Dillon said that as Chair of the Free
Gaza Movement, Ms Arraf seemed to have been picked out for special
attention.294) On BBC Newsnight she said the soldiers had beaten many people
on the ship and one volunteer ended up with a bloody face. 295 The door to the
main body of the boat was locked and activists were attempting to block the
way. The soldiers beat people out of the way and kicked in the glass door. 296
 Theresa McDermott saw a Belgian woman named Margarita (apparently,
 Griet Deknopper297) hit in the face by a projectile which burst her nose causing
heavy bleeding. She also saw Huwaida and a Dutch woman, who tried to block
the stairs, thrown to the ground, their hands cuffed with plastic ties that cut
into their wrists and their faces pushed on to the deck that was full of broken
glass. When Theresa shouted and tried to get to the two women a soldier put
his pistol to her head and said he would shoot her if she did not do as she was
told. 298
 Alex Harrison said two women who were hooded also had their eyes taped. 299
 Ewa Jasiewicz was told by a soldier „fuck you; fucking bitch, I‘ll kill you‟.300
 One Dutch academic refused to hand over her passport despite attempts by
four commandos to intimidate her.301
 Paul McGeough spoke of

…men with zip ties on their wrists, on their knees for hours, denied
permission to go to the toilet, forced to soil their pants, women
pleading to be able to give drinks to men… 302

 An 80-year-old man was not allowed to go to the toilet and was forced to
urinate in his clothes.303

All the passengers were eventually put in the lounge where their handcuffs were
removed. At this point when everything was calm and the activists were allowed to
drink water an IDF soldier started filming. When the vessel arrived at Ashdod the
soldiers wanted the activists to be escorted gently off but they refused to go because
they had been taken to Israel against their will. They were threatened with tasers to
make them disembark, but in the end they had been carried off. 304

5.4 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Gazze I

The ship was surrounded by zodiacs and helicopters around 06:00 and the Israeli
forces ordered everyone to move to a visible place or they would open fire. The
captain ordered everyone to comply after which fully armed troops came aboard. The
detainees were kept on the hatches and then transferred to the galley where they were
searched and taken for individual questioning. They remained in the galley until
Ashdod.305

5.5 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Defne Y

The attack occurred at 06:10 when helicopters landed soldiers on the ship. Everyone
was ordered to remain on the hatches for an hour before being transferred to the
galley. The 20 persons were kept in this 15 square metre unventilated area until
arrival at Ashdod.306

35
IHH reported that Israeli operatives swore in Turkish and English over the maritime
radio to the crew of the Defne Y on the evening of 30 May. The abuse continued until
about 04:00 on 31 May.307 Similar abuse was heard over the radio on the Gazze I.308

5.6 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Eleftheri Mesogeio

The ship was carrying 1,400 tons of prefabricated houses, two water treatment plants,
hundreds of electric wheelchairs and medicines. There were 29 people on board
including a parliamentarian, chaplain, professor, doctor, musician, writer and three
journalists who had stuck large signs saying „PRESS‟ to their jackets. The head of
mission on board was Vangelis Pissias.309

Italian journalist Marcello Faraggi saw the attack start on the flotilla at 04:30. He
described it as „like something in a movie but it was real. Real as in war.‟ Repeated
attempts by the Greek captains in the flotilla to contact the Greek Foreign Ministry
were not answered.310 Soldiers boarded their ship at about 06:30. Captain Mihalis
Grigoropoulos said commandos came on board from helicopters and zodiacs firing tear
gas and live ammunition.311 Activists who refused to surrender were hit, targeted by
the rifle laser sights and handcuffed with plastic straps. Sr. Faraggi had been filming
but the soldiers stopped him and took the camera along with the cassettes, telling him
that he could have it back later. (One cassette was later returned to him at Ashdod.)
312
Mario Damolin, who was filming, was hit in the chest and the camera was torn from
his hand.313

People trying to form a human shield were attacked with rubber bullets and tasers.314
63-year-old Vangelis Pissias had hung onto the wheel where he was beaten and kicked
causing him a lot of pain afterwards. Dror Feiler suffered a bleeding ear. 315 Henning
Mankell saw the Israeli forces attack sleeping civilians.316

After the arrests the captives were mistreated, not allowed to use the toilet and
videoed by their captors contrary to international conventions.317 Medicines were taken
away from doctors on board.318 Swedish parliamentarian Mehmet Kaplan‟s protests for
his right to immunity were ignored. Dror Feiler is a former IDF paratrooper who
refused to serve in the occupied territories. To the annoyance of the soldiers he
quickly translated everything they said in Hebrew. 319 He said he had tried to talk with
the Israeli soldiers but was beaten up.320 Some passengers refused to hand over their
passports for which they were beaten. Capt Grigoropoulos said they were given no
food or water, whereas Mario Damolin said they were offered food and water but
rejected it, apart from one Greek who accepted a sandwich and scornfully threw into
the sea.321

The soldiers then checked the boat and one soon returned saying they had found
weapons, producing a fruit knife from the galley and Henning Mankell‟s disposable
razor which caused the passengers to laugh loudly.322

While disembarking 65-year-old Michalis Tiktopoulos was shot by a taser because he

did not move fast enough323 while another passenger was shot with a rubber bullet for
the same reason.324

5.7 Israeli accounts of the raid

5.7.1 On the day of the raid the IDF released its own video of infrared footage taken
during the attack. Significantly the footage does not show the sequence before the

36
first commandos rappelled onto the deck from a helicopter (when activists say that live
fire from the helicopters killed at least one victim and injured others). The film stops
just as one of the commandos on deck is about to start shooting live ammunition from
a pistol. No excuses have been provided for these apparently deliberate omissions. In
many versions the film from the naval boats begins with a sequence taken on board
the Mavi Marmara before it was boarded and it has been edited by the IDF to highlight
features it wishes to emphasise. The film shows two fire hoses giving the soldiers in
the zodiac a drenching, and effectively preventing them from installing their ladder.
The highlighting emphasises

(video time)
0:05 „box of plates thrown at soldiers‟
0:10 „stun grenade thrown at soldiers‟
0:13 „activist waving metal bars later used for hitting soldiers‟
0:15 „metal chain‟ [this was used by an activist trying to deflect
or control the grappling hook commandos were attempting to use
to scale onto the ship].

[It is important to note that the no stun grenades were ever found on activists or
amongst their belongings. Abbas Al Lawati described how tear gas canisters and stun
grenades were picked up by activists wearing gas masks and thrown back at the
soldiers.325 The film does not highlight Israeli guns which were later used to shoot
civilians.]

The video continues with infrared footage taken from a naval boat starting from when
the first commando starts to rappel down a rope onto the deck. At this point there are
a large number of militants on the upper deck who first of all tie up one of the ropes to
make it unusable, and then attack the soldiers as they land individually on the upper
deck by punching, pushing and beating them with metal bars and staves, while one
commando is also thrown over the parapet onto the next deck below (about 5m drop).
[Kevin Ovenden said two commandos were thrown off the upper deck. 326]
Also of note in the video are the following

(video time)
 0:27 Object being thrown overboard on the starboard side, unclear
but possibly a pistol.
 0:33 A second object, possibly a pistol, is also thrown overboard on
the starboard side.
 0:44 A further object is thrown over the port side.
 1:00: Object, possibly a pistol thrown overboard on the port side.
 1:05: A commando fires a paintball gun at an assailant.
 1:10: Two commandos are stood side by side, one with a pistol and
the other with a paintball gun. Both weapons are held in a firing
position.
 1:12: As the commandos are about to fire into the crowd this footage
stops and cuts to show a pocket saw apparently found on the
ship. This has a folding single blade about 5 cm long with a
single saw-toothed edge. It is new and has not been used.
There is also a small bottle which has just been taken out of its
wrapping (also shown) apparently containing some
mace-like self-defence spray.
 In the background behind this primitive weaponry the door to
the ship‟s bridge is open through which can be seen an Israeli

37
 commando holding what is probably a submachine
gun while outside the door another commando handles a
semi-automatic carbine.327

5.7.2 A second infrared video filmed from a helicopter is very difficult to distinguish
amongst the mêlée occurring on the upper deck. Israel has never chosen to provide a
zoomed in version of this footage which would give a clearer view of what is actually
happening on the deck. The following can be discerned

(video time)
 0:30 object thrown overboard on starboard side.
 0:47 Object described as „Stun grenade thrown at soldiers‟ is actually
thrown into the sea on the port side.
 0:55 Object described as „Firebomb thrown at soldiers‟. It is not
possible to see by whom or at what this is thrown but the way
the crowd disperses suggests that it has been thrown by a
commando.328 329

5.7.3 Ron Ben Yishai was told by commandos that they were to verbally convince
activists to give up and only use paintballs as the next resort. This suggestion does
not accord with the events that actually transpired and in consequence it is
unreasonable to accept Mr Ben Yishai‟s uncorroborated account that the commandos
were fired on by an activist with a rifle. His account that one commando was thrown
onto a lower deck (Mr Ben Yishai suggests a fall of 30 feet, but examination of the
photos suggests 12 feet, or about three-and-a-half metres is more likely) is verified by
IDF video footage. His report that after this, permission was sought and granted to
use live fire needs further consideration.330 (The commencement of live fire is
described in section 2xiv of the Commentary below and further considered in the
section 18.)

5.7.4 A BBC report of 3 June records Israeli soldiers describing the early events on the
Mavi Marmara as a „lynch‟. One anonymous soldier said

At this point, I didn't even have a weapon in my hands. Any soldier coming
down the ropes did not have a gun in his hands. We were empty-handed; our
guns were on our backs.
It's important to clarify that the weapons were riot dispersal means, we had
paintball guns.
They just came prepared for battle. We came prepared to straighten things
out, talk to them, convince them to unboard [sic] the ship.331

[Whatever their orders it is clear that at no stage did the commandos make any
attempt to convince anyone to do anything by verbal persuasion. The raid began with
an undeclared assault on the Mavi Marmara using paintball guns and stun grenades.
Within a very few minutes live ammunition was employed and the first victim had been
shot in the head. On the next three vessels attacked the boarding parties were
uncompromising and violent, and attempts at reason by passengers provoked brutal
responses. Only on the last two ships where the occupants were ordered out onto the
deck was violence eschewed by the boarding parties. The civilised concept of
persuasion parroted by Mr Ben Yishai and by the BBC was in reality nothing more than
a figment.]

38
5.7.5 Amos Harel wrote up an IDF version of the boarding in Haaretz on 4 June. The
account is based on testimony from unnamed naval commandos employed in the raid,
along with the Lt. Colonel said to be in charge of the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit
involved, and Navy commander Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom who was also present at
the time of the attack. (The unnamed Officer-in-Charge of the commando unit went
on board the Mavi Marmara after the attack.) In this version the attack began at
04:30 when four commandos rappelled on deck where they were attacked by militants
with bars, axes and knives. One militant who was holding a gun to the head of a
commando was shot by the fourth commando to land on the deck. Three commandos
had lost consciousness and were dragged into the passenger halls below deck where
they were held for several minutes, but they escaped upon regaining consciousness.
An unnamed navy officer said of the militants

They were terrorists - hired killers who came to murder soldiers, not to assist
the residents of the Gaza Strip.

The commandos reported that they had been fired upon and that „at least two‟ had
suffered gunshot wounds.332 (It is incredible that four days after the event the senior
naval commanders responsible apparently did not know how many of their soldiers had
sustained gunshot wounds.) The Israeli Consul General in the U.S. repeated the story
the same day and specified that two commandos were shot.333 Nine millimetre bullet
casings were later found on the deck but the commandos deny using this ammunition
and imply that it was used against them.

Wounded activists are reported to have been airlifted to Israel for treatment, thereby
saving the lives of some of the seriously injured. (This was verified by several Turkish
casualties, although other casualties are reported to have bled to death unattended –
see section 6.2)

A „senior officer‟ is reported as saying

Under the circumstances, and I do not like the result, I think we did the best
we could. We took care of five ships without injuries. On the sixth ship, we
faced a harsh attack and killed nine saboteurs. No real peace activist was
injured. No soldier was killed, even though it came pretty close. In the end the
ships are docked at Ashdod. It was very complicated and the result is near
perfect. 334

[There are important discrepancies between these accounts and other data which need
to be carefully considered.

i. Statements by IDF personnel that the injured commandos lost consciousness

and were dragged away are refuted by good quality photographs of the three
men conscious in captivity. Two of them appear to be walking wounded.
ii. In the footage by Cultures of Resistance five commandos are seen to use two
ropes to descend onto the ship in the space of 18 seconds. Only one rope was
usable from the first helicopter, so the fourth commando could be expected to
have arrived on the deck maybe 30 seconds after the leader. According to the
Harel account, in that half minute three commandos had been knocked
unconscious and a pistol taken from one of them before they were spirited away
out of sight, one passenger has then held the pistol to the head of an extra
commando who has previously not been mentioned, and the passenger has
then been shot. Or alternatively the passengers drag three soldiers away after

39
 the fourth (or maybe the fifth) commando had just shot one of their brethren.
This absurd story given to Mr Harel does not work and is an obvious concoction.
iii. The unnamed naval officer quoted in Amos Harel‟s account has alleged that
there were terrorist mercenaries amongst the passengers of the Mavi Marmara.
No Israeli source has ever produced any evidence to back up the claim of
mercenaries, and it has been reasoned here in section 13 below that
international law does not support the widely touted Israeli claims of terrorism.
The argument used by Ken O‟Keefe is worth considering here as a reasoned
denial of the Israeli factoid.

If I wanted to, if I was a ‗terrorist‘, I would have surely turned that gun
on the commando I just disarmed. But I did not, nor did any of my
brothers on that ship. The terrorists on that night wore Israeli
commando uniforms, complete with Balaclavas, assault rifles and
pistols. They executed people in international waters, that is the truth
no matter how much propaganda spin is applied.335

iv. The claim by a „senior officer‟ that five ships were taken without injuries and
that „no real peace activist‟ was injured directly contradicts the many reports of
injuries caused by unprovoked Israeli violence. (These reports which were
dealt with in some detail in sections 5.1.2. to 5.1.6 above include the testimony
of a former U.S. Ambassador.) It also infers that all of the many casualties on
the Mavi Marmara were not real peace activists, while Mr Kiliçlar, who was
taking a photograph at the time he was shot dead, was in some way involved in
an act of sabotage.
v. The claim that commandos did not use 9mm ammunition is not credible
considering

 The Turkish council of forensic medicine reported that all but one of
the 30 bullets retrieved from the bodies of the victims were 9mm
rounds.336
 Ken O‟Keefe has also stated (see section above) that he removed 9mm
bullets from a pistol taken from one of the commandos.
 In the infrared footage taken from an IDF boat a commando can be seen
about to fire a pistol. According to Wikipedia all IDF standard issue
pistols use 9mm cartridges.337
 The BBC Defence Correspondent Mark Urban appeared on Newsnight on
1 June where he explained to the presenter Kirsty Wark that a
commando caught on CCTV footage at the stern of the Mavi Marmara
appears to be carrying a suppressed version of the Uzi submachine gun.
This weapon also fires only 9mm cartridges.338

The Israeli authorities have in their possession nearly all of the activists‟ photographs
and film footage from cameras and mobile phones, along with their own detailed and
sophisticated photographic material. Despite this wealth of material covering virtually
all events that happened during the seizure of the ships, these same authorities have
chosen to botch together a fantasy story totally lacking in credibility. The suspicion
that this is a cover-up cannot be avoided.]

5.7.6 On 4 June the Jerusalem Post carried an exclusive report of Staff-Sergeant S.

who was in the second group to rappel onto the Mavi Marmara where he was
immediately attacked by a „mob of mercenaries‟. At the same time S had seen his
three commanders lying on the ground and assessed that one had a gunshot wound to

40
the stomach, another had a gunshot wound to the knee, and the third was unconscious
with his skull fracture by „a devastating blow with a metal bar‟. S. had taken charge,
pushed the injured men against a wall and organised the commando into two
perimeter lines where they had opened fire. It was at this point that the nine fatal
injuries occurred, six of whom were killed by S.

The IDF, the report continued, had been attacked by a well-trained group of
mercenaries, most of whom carried no ID but who each had thousands of dollars in
their pockets. They all wore gas masks and ceramic bullet proof vests and were
equipped with Motorola communications devices.339

Much of the story regarding Staff-Sergeant S was repeated in the TIMESONLINE the
following day.

This preposterous story does not withstand scrutiny. It is particularly helpful to note:

 Photographic evidence shows that the three injured commandos were taken
below decks and were not lying on the upper deck when the second commando
group boarded.
 The same evidence shows that none of the commandos in custody was
unconscious.
 The Staff-Sergeant‟s lightening diagnosis is also at odds with the photographs
and with the report given to the Lede by Dr Uysal who attended the wounded
soldiers. There is no sign or suggestion to support the claim of gunshot wounds
or a fractured skull caused by a metal bar.
 The first fatalities had occurred before the second commando group appeared on
the scene and Ken O‟Keefe has recorded that there were two dead before the first
two commandos were disarmed (which was before S and his group had arrived).
If this group had indeed killed nine people then the death toll rises to at least
eleven and gives credence to reports that dead bodies were thrown over the side
of the ship.
 There is no photographic evidence to suggest that anyone wore a ceramic bullet
proof vest, although most passengers were wearing life jackets by this time.
 It is unclear how the Staff-Sergeant was able to discern so much information
about his assailants. Even if he was able to deduce this later there is no reason
to accept the assertion here that any of the defenders were mercenaries or that
they were not carrying identities. The factoid about mercenaries gains no
credibility from mere repetition or from the total absence of any evidence to
support the assertion.

5.7.7 Haaretz journalist Noam Sheizaf explained that since the Gilad Shalit kidnapping
there is a standing order in Israel not to allow any IDF soldier to be captured alive,
even if it means risking his life. This might explain the embarrassment of the IDF over
the capture of three of its soldiers and the variety of stories spun around the episode.
Mr Sheizaf quoted an unofficial account in which two of the injured commandos
escaped by jumping overboard.340 This was eventually verified by video footage
released by the Israel Foreign Ministry on 12 July.

5.7.8 A report by the Israeli NGO Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center (ITIC)
described a hard core of IHH operatives who boarded the ship at Istanbul without
security checks. It said the group wore ceramic vests and gas masks and armed
themselves with a large quantity of weapons prepared from equipment found on board
(including kitchen knives, fire axes and various items used as clubs) in preparation for

41
a violent confrontation with Israeli forces. [The only items that might be classed as
bona fide weapons mentioned in this report are one switch-blade knife and a number
of catapults.] The report alleged political motives for the support of the convoy by the
government of Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. It further alleged that exceptionally
large sums of money had been carried by many of the operatives which in all
probability was intended to be transferred to Hamas. 341 [There is no attempt to justify
the assumption that the presence of large sums of money inevitably means the holder
is intent on supporting the terrorism inferred here, and no „probability‟ that the
statement is true. Instead the assertions seem designed for the sole purpose of
defaming the owners of the money. For example Dr Hasan Nowarah‟s statement that
he was carrying a large sum of money destined for the Gaza medical service (see
section 7.2 below) has not been invalidated. Other volunteers also said they were
carrying money for charitable purposes in Gaza. Nevertheless all the money was
stolen by the Israeli authorities or individual soldiers and has never been accounted
for.]

5.7.9 The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a video on 16 June featuring film
footage taken from the security cameras on the Mavi Marmara together with footage
seized from activists along with some of the ubiquitous selected infrared footage taken
by the IDF. Important features shown are

(video time)
0:57 Group of activists all wearing life jackets, one of whom is using a disc
cutter to cut sections of steel rod from the ships railings.
1:12 Bundles of wooden staves are uncovered on the open area at the stern
of the second deck.
1:58 Gas masks are distributed.
2:35 Militants gather on the open area at the stern of the second deck.
2:45 A fire hose is unrolled and turned on, and is spraying over the stern of
the second deck.
This is followed by short sequences of a zodiac with commandos, probably off the port
side of the ship, and of commandos fast roping from a helicopter, although it is unclear
which helicopter. The commentary at this stage is saying

After all the navy‘s attempts to persuade the flotilla to change course were
rejected naval troops acted to take control of the six vessels attempting to
break the naval blockade. Five of [sic] Troops encountered extreme violence
from a well-organized and armed group of radical activists.

The video ends with footage of the fight on the top deck where the first commandos to
land being attacked with metal bars. One commando is seen trying to flee through a
door on the deck but before he can get to safety he is hit and stabbed. The
commando appears to be stabbed only once but the footage of this event is shown four
times in succession.342

[It is worth considering the hyperbole here. The term „extreme violence‟ is used to
describe a legitimate defence (in which nine of the assailants are injured, some
seriously) against an illegal assault by members of one of the world‟s elite special
forces. What words does this leave to describe the killing of nine civilians (including
two fatal injuries before the ragged defence had even begun to fight back) along with
the injuries, mostly gunshot wounds, to a further fifty or so civilians? Why is the poor
quality footage of a stabbing repeated three times other than to mislead by presenting
the assault as a frenzied attack?]

42
5.7.10 Another report by ITIC published on 20 June343 denounced most of those killed
in the raid as „thugs‟ and claimed that the „violent confrontation [was] initiated by the
IHH‟. Once again there is no attempt to justify the allegation that members of the
flotilla initiated the violence, which is contrary to the available evidence. The report
also carries an assumption that the IDF acted legally and properly throughout, contrary
to verifiable evidence.

5.7.11.1 Additional videos released with the Eiland report

On 12 July two videos were released describing the raid as understood by the Eiland
Team of Experts. (The Eiland report is not in the public domain.) The videos contain
infrared film taken by the IDF, including a small amount of previously unreleased
footage, but principally use diagrams and narration. Dramatic music and sound effects
intrude throughout. The narration is in Hebrew with English subtitles so that the
videos appear to have been prepared principally for a domestic audience.

The first video describes with diagrams the formation of the flotilla and uses maps to
illustrate Israeli forces exiting Haifa and Ashdod to confront it. It declares that the
commandos were instructed to use weapons in a gradual fashion, using first non-lethal
weapons only and were only to use live weapons in life threatening situations. The
video shows footage of the radio contact from the naval vessels to the flotilla but does
not play any recordings of replies, apart from excerpts of irreverent messages alleged
to be from the flotilla radios which have been consistently disputed and never proven.
(These messages are considered further in section 10 below.)

The narration says that the raid took place at night because there were several ships
with a large number of passengers. Electronic signal jamming took place before the
attacks began at 04:28. Militants can be seen on the decks of the Mavi Marmara some
wearing gas masks and spraying fire hoses at the zodiacs below them. It is alleged
that disc cutters are used to cut the IDF scaling ladders, but it is not possible to
discern this and it contradicts testimony from Fatima Mohammadi that the scaling
hooks and ropes were simply thrown back over the side.344 The narrative says that
bottles and rocks are being thrown at the zodiacs which withdrew slightly but remained
close to attract attention away from the Black Hawk helicopter which arrived at 04:30.
This dropped stun grenades, forcing activists to evacuate the upper deck. However the
account then contradicts itself by saying that the first rope then dropped by the
helicopter was tied to the deck of the ship by „people fooling around with the rope‟.
This rope was cast off from the helicopter and a second dropped down on which the
commandos descended. Each of these soldiers is attacked by activists with knives,
iron bars and axes, and the second one to descend is shot in the stomach. During the
battle five soldiers suffer stab wounds while three are thrown off the upper deck and
taken below. A second helicopter then arrives at 04:35 and repels attacks from the
militants with gunfire aimed at the attacker‟s feet. Meanwhile the zodiacs try again to
come alongside and are repelled.

[Other accounts describe the first helicopter as being smaller than the second, which
suggests that the first was an Apache and not a Black Hawk as described here.345 The
second helicopter was a Black Hawk and can be seen quite clearly in the footage
released by Cultures of Resistance.
The use of axes is often cited by Israeli sources, including Mr Netanyahu, but the use
of axes cannot be seen on any footage that is available and there is no information on
any injuries which may have been caused by an axe.]

43
The second video shows a fast rope descent by commandos. The subtitles then
narrate that the commandos took control of the upper deck and then moved onto the
fourth deck where they repelled activist‟s attacks by firing at the attacker‟s feet. It
declares that the soldiers were shot at several times as they attempted to go down to
the lower deck.

Simultaneously the Sfendoni and Challenger I are boarded where the soldiers meet
with violent resistance which is suppressed by crowd control techniques. (There is no
video footage shown of any of the events on these two ships.)

The subtitles relate that at 04:46 a third helicopter arrived at the Mavi Marmara.
There then follows five seconds of previously unreleased infrared footage in which
more commandos rappel down onto the upper deck on which no activist can now be
seen. Nevertheless the subtitle states that as soldiers descend from the helicopter
they „are attacked and they return fire‟. At 05:04 soldiers rush the bridge where they
take control and force the captain to instruct all activists to enter their cabins. The
captain added that he was no longer in command of the ship. In response most of the
activists assembled on the sides of the ship went back inside the ship. The zodiacs
then approached the ship for the third time. Those activists who remained on the
sides of the ship continued to resist by throwing iron pipes at the soldiers. Under
reduced live fire the activists withdrew and soldiers climbed up from the boats. The
three captive soldiers were brought out onto the bow of the boat by activists where
they were spotted by their colleagues who unleashed non-lethal fire which caused the
captors to withdraw. Two of the soldiers took the opportunity to escape by jumping off
the ship into the water and swimming to a nearby zodiac, leaving the other wounded
soldier in the bow where he was rescued by colleagues. While captive the soldiers had
witnessed disputes between passengers trying to protect them and others who wished
to further harm them.

By 05:17 the battle was over. A medical team on the upper deck attended to the
injured while other teams of soldiers controlled various parts of the ship. Post
operation analysis indicate that there were a number of shooting incidents by militants
against the soldiers including the shooting in the stomach of the second soldier to land
on deck which is described by the video as probably the first shot fired on the ship.
Soldiers in the zodiacs also identified activists shooting at them from the ship while
inside the ship an IDF pistol was found which contained no bullets.

Of the remaining three ships the Defne Y was seized by a fast rope unit landing on the
deck and the Gazze I and the Eleftheri Mesogeio were taken over by boarding parties
from the sea. There is no suggestion of violent resistance, and no footage is shown of
these operations.

After the battle on the Mavi Marmara was over the injured were taken onto the upper
deck where they were treated and from where they were evacuated. Two wounded
soldiers were evacuated by sea, while seven soldiers and 31 civilians were evacuated
by air. Three of the soldiers were seriously injured. All the evacuations were
completed by 12.30 pm. Nine activists were killed and 55 were injured, fourteen of
them seriously. In addition to those evacuated 24 passengers were sent for medical
treatment from Ashdod. Fourteen field surgeries were performed at sea. The dead
bodies were taken to Israel on a missile boat.

44
Eight of the deceased were members of IHH or associated organizations. Half of those
killed had informed their relatives that they wished to die as martyrs. The video
declared that there were no human rights activists amongst those killed (although it
admitted that the affiliation of Furkan Dogan was not known).

IHH members were prepared in advance for a violent confrontation with IDF forces and
the video shows a variety of weaponry including iron pipes, chains, catapults and
marbles, disc cutters, bottles of tear gas, Molotov cocktails, and commando and other
knives. [The same photograph has been used for both the Molotov cocktail and the
tear gas. It is unclear exactly what the bottle is as the description on it is in Turkish.]
In addition it is alleged that non-IDF ammunition was found on board the ship,
although no photographs are shown and no details are given. 346

5.7.11.2 Commentary on the Eiland videos

1) The assertion here of violent resistance to the Israeli forces on the Sfendoni and
Challenger I contradicts previous accounts from Israeli sources. In a statement on
5 June Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that on only one ship was there
what he called „extremist Islamic activists, supporters of terrorism, waiting for our
troops…‘;347 Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that of the six ships in the
flotilla the people prepared an ambush on one;348 spokesman for the Prime
Minister‟s Office Mark Regev told Channel 4 News on 1 June that five interceptions
had been carried out without violence;349 while in Amos Harel‟s account (above) „a
senior officer‟ said the IDF forces took five ships without injuries but faced a harsh
attack on the sixth ship. The Eiland video claim is contradicted by all the testimony
from passengers and crew who were on board the vessels. At the time of the
attack Kate Geraghty was photographing on the Challenger I while cameraman Jan
Línek and TV journalist Manolo Luppichini were on the Sfendoni. All of their film
passed to IDF control and the commandos were probably taking their own
recordings at the time. Despite all this evidence the Foreign Ministry can provide
no photographs or footage to support their claims of violent resistance on the two
boats. These serious allegations are therefore dismissed here as not credible.

2) The claim, stated twice, that soldiers fired at the feet of activists is disproved by
the photograph of the dead body of Cevdet Kiliçlar who it can be seen has been
shot in the centre of the forehead. Provisional Turkish autopsy reports (described
below in section 6.1.) found that five of the dead were shot in the head, some
more than once, while all of them had been shot at least once in the upper part of
the body. The claims on the IDF video are not credible. Since Israeli personnel
would have moved the dead bodies and been aware of the head injuries the claims
must be considered as deliberately false and intended to mislead.

3) The claims that activists fired live ammunition at the IDF forces are not
substantiated. Amongst six categorical denials listed above in section 5.1 the
statement of television journalist Jamal Elshayyal that he filmed the whole ship
three times over and found no armaments is particularly compelling. Without
firearms of their own the militants had access only to those taken from IDF
personnel and reports that most of these were thrown away appear to be
supported by IDF videos showing a number of objects being thrown overboard. At
44 seconds into the IDF infrared video three soldiers are known to be on deck and
three objects have been thrown overboard. At this stage the second man has
probably been knocked to the deck, and if the objects that went overboard were
pistols there has been no chance to shoot anyone. Meanwhile the ship‟s defenders

45
 have other armed assailants to deal with, one of whom seems to be set to fire into
the crowd at the point at which the film is cut at 1:07 seconds. Jamal Dajani‟s
assertion that the helicopters‟ infrared cameras would have easily filmed any gun
discharges is also pertinent. Once again the failure of the IDF to provide crucial
supporting evidence from all the material available to it undermines its claims,
which are not accepted here.

4) The claims that irreverent messages were made over the maritime radio by
persons on the flotilla were first made by the IDF on 4 June (but were first
published in an Israeli newspaper on 1 June350). Not only has the Free Gaza
Movement made a credible denunciation of these allegations (described in section
10 below) but it has pointed out that the all radio broadcasts from the flotilla were
recorded on the radio of the Challenger I and this material was seized by Israel. In
consequence the movement has challenged the IDF to produce this evidence that
will confirm of expose their claims. Significantly the IDF has failed to do so, and
yet five weeks later has the impudence to repeat this same claim which it has not
dared to substantiate.

5) It is unclear why the presence of a large number of passengers should justify the
raid being undertaken at night. It is much more likely that it was timed to take
place after dark so as to reduce the opportunities of press and photographers to
record the event. Similarly the electronic signal jamming serves no obvious
purpose other than to hide the illegal activities taking place on the high seas.

6) It had taken over seven hours to evacuate the 31 wounded civilians (after seven
soldiers were airlifted out), which suggests a lack of urgency on the part of the IDF.

7) The assertion that none of those killed were human rights activists is malicious and
untrue. The video admits that at least eight were associated with IHH which is a
human rights charity of honour and repute. An ITIC release of 20 June said that

 Ali Haydar Bengi was chairman of an Islamic charitable society which collected
equipment and food for IHH before setting sail.
 Ibrahim Bilgen had joined the flotilla as an IHH volunteer.
 Cengiz Songür was an activist in an Islamic association which provides aid to
Muslims worldwide
 Çetin Topçuoglu was a member of a humanitarian aid organization affiliated to
IHH.
 Cengiz Akyüz, Fahri Yaldiz, Necdet Yildirim and Cevdet Kiliçlar were all
operatives of IHH.351

It is illogical and contradictory to assert that the deceased were associated (and in
many cases worked for) the charity, but were somehow not connected with its raison
d‘être. To demean the reputation of the ninth victim, 19-year-old high school student
Furkan Doğan in this way (especially when the video admits it knows little about him)
is a base and despicable accusation.

6.0 THE AFTERMATH OF THE RAID

6.1 Casualties

Nine men are known to have been killed, eight of whom were Turkish citizens.

46
Cengiz Akyüz

Four gunshot wounds: back of the head, right side of face, the back and the left
leg.
Mr Akyüz was married and a 41-year-old father of three, and an employee of
IHH.

Ali Haydar Bengi

Six gunshot wounds: left chest, belly, right arm, right leg and twice in the left
hand.
Married, 39-year-old father of four who ran a telephone repair shop in
Diyarbakir, south-east Turkey. Mr Bengi was local chairman of an Islamic
charitable society. His wife and friends told of how he wanted to become a
martyr. His wife said he constantly prayed for this.

İbrahim Bilgen

Four gunshot wounds: the right temple, right chest, right hip and back.
Married, 61-year-old father of six, who worked as an electrical engineer. His
brother-in-law said he was an exemplary man and a philanthropist who desired
death as a martyr. As a member of the strongly Islamic Felicity Party he had
stood as a candidate for the Turkish parliament and as mayor of Siirt but was
not successful in either bid.352 A relative said that he had wanted to die as a
Shaheed.

Furkan Doğan

Five gunshot wounds: the nose, back of the head, left leg, left ankle and once
in the back, all from less than 45 cm range.
An American citizen, Mr Doğan was a 19-year-old high school student studying
social sciences who hoped to become a doctor. 353
In a poor quality video purporting to show the killing of Furkan Doğan it is
possible to discern a commando kicking something on the ground before
bringing up his automatic rifle and apparently firing it several times towards the
ground. The original clip was aired on the Turkish TV network Cihan.354 There
has been much debate on the internet about the veracity of this video. This
debate should not be allowed to obscure the essential facts: Mr Doğan was
unlawfully killed by five bullets fired into him at very close range. Regardless of
the authenticity of the video one can reasonably assume that his death was just
as ruthless and obscene as the events portrayed here, whether falsely or
otherwise.
Speaking in Turkey on the lack of attention his son‟s death had provoked in
America, his father said that having lived in America „I know what people do
there when a cat gets stuck in a tree‟.355

Cevdet Kiliçlar

Killed by a single distant shot to the middle of the forehead.

Mr Kiliçlar was a married 38-year-old father of two who worked as a reporter
and website manager for IHH.

47
Cengiz Songür

Single gunshot wound in the front of the neck.

Married and father of seven. A 47-year-old textile salesman who was active
with an Islamic association providing aid to Muslims worldwide.

Çetin Topçuoğlu

Three gunshot wounds: the back of the head, the hip and the belly.
Married and father of one, 54-year-old Mr Topçuoğlu was trainer for the Turkish
Taekwondo team and a member of the humanitarian aid organization AYDER,
which is affiliated to IHH.

Fahri Yaldız

Four gunshot wounds: left chest, left leg and twice in the right leg.
Married and father of four, 43-year-old fire-fighter and IHH operative.
Announced before his departure that he was going to be a Shaheed.

Necdet Yildirim

Two gunshot wounds: right shoulder and left back.

Married and father of one, 32-year-old employee of IHH.

(Sources:356 357 358

)

Five of the deceased are reported to have expressed a wish to become Shaheed or
martyrs. This needs to be understood in context. Shaheed is a Muslim who has been
killed during Jihad or has been killed by any person unjustly. Such a person will
deserve a great reward in the Hereafter. 359 Jihad has both violent and non-violent
meanings. The former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Bin Baaz, said of it

There are different kinds of Jihad - with one's self, wealth, supplication,
teaching, giving guidance, or helping others in good in any form. The highest
form of Jihad, however, is with one's life.360

The Grand Mufti did not say giving one‘s life although this could well mean risking
one‘s life while fighting injustice, oppression or tyranny, as the people on the flotilla
were doing.361

İdris Şimşek,362 Shaza Barakat,363 Yücel Köse (who was on the Gazze I)364 and Bülent
Yildirim365 said that bodies were thrown into the sea. This would appear to be incorrect
since everyone had been accounted for by 13 July. At that date (six weeks after the
raid) five very seriously injured passengers remained in hospital and two were not
expected to live.366

Six people had previously been unaccounted for,367 fuelling speculation that their
bodies had been thrown overboard or that they may have been Israeli spies.368

There has been no definitive casualty list but the following appear to roughly
correspond:

48
  The Eiland report of 12 July stated that 55 activists were injured, fourteen of
them seriously.369
 Ynet reported on 1 June that there were 37 activists in Israeli hospitals,370
although this was never officially confirmed
 An IHH press release dated 3 June reported that 19 people were „treated‟ in
Ankara, five persons had been in hospital in Israel and 31 had been discharged
from hospital in Istanbul.371
 Indonesian journalist Surya Fachrizal was reported to be in hospital in Jordan
on 9 June recovering from a bullet wound to the chest. 372
 Dr Fintan Lane saw an activist with a severe dog bite at Ashdod.373 It is not
known if this was treated.

(Several people sustained beatings and other injuries on the Sfendoni, Challenger I
and Eleftheri Mesogeio and it is not clear if these casualties are included in the above
figures.)

Nine soldiers were injured, three of them seriously374 (three soldiers were reported still
in hospital on 4 June.375) One of the soldiers was reported to have suffered a serious
head wound after having been dropped between decks.376 No official report has been
published detailing the injuries sustained by soldiers.

6.2 Care of the injured and detainees on board the captured ship

The doctors worked desperately to help the critically injured amid terrible scenes of
blood and chaos. The ship had been totally unprepared for the carnage and medical
staff had been forced to use equipment intended for Gaza. The most critically injured
had been laid out on the third deck where people had to step over them to get to other
casualties. An old man who had been shot in the head lay on the floor dying, while
someone held his hand.377 Dr Arief Rachman tried to treat a man who had been shot
between the eyes at close range while the bullet caused a large hole at the back of his
head through which parts of his brain had exited.378 Passengers used several towels to
soak up the blood from his injuries.379

As no medical equipment was available to treat the wounded requests for medical
assistance were made over the ship‟s public address system and by a hand written
sign in Hebrew which Hanin Zoabi, carrying a white handkerchief, took to the window.
There was no response from the soldiers. A British woman wrapped herself in a British
flag carried the same sign to different soldiers at a different window and was met with
a similar response.380 Sarah Colborne later told a press conference that requests to IDF
personnel for medical assistance were ignored and that medical personnel
accompanying the wounded were handcuffed and separated from their charges.381 An
activist who asked that medical staff could stay with the wounded was told to shut her
mouth.382 Three of the critically wounded died within three hours, having been refused
medical help from the IDF.383 Hanin Zoabi said two of them bled to death.384 The first
broadcast for urgent medical help was made over the ship‟s public address system at
about 5.15 am. The first critically injured were not allowed out until 7 am. 385
Meanwhile helicopters brought in troop reinforcements and dogs.386

Ahmed Luqman was just trying to get into his cabin when he was shot in the knee and
the upper leg, severing the femoral artery. He said he was left on the ground to „just
friggin‘ bleed‘. He was refused medical attention and made to walk unassisted up the
stairs, during which he passed out three or four times. After he was injured soldiers

49
kicked him and picked him up and dropped him.387 His condition was so bad as a result
of the high blood loss that he was one of the last activists to be deported.388 (There
was so much blood on the stairs that soldiers slipped on it on at least two
occasions.389)

There were 39 injured in one lounge with doctors operating on some without
anaesthetic while some casualties screamed in pain. Soldiers gave Osama Qashoo five
minutes to evacuate the lounge. He had tried to reason with them and managed to
get the time extended to ten minutes. The soldiers had said they would not enter the
room because they knew there were guns there but they would send in three dogs that
were trained to bite. Most of the patients were moved out one at a time but fifteen
remained who were carried out on sleeping bags and blankets when a request for a
stretcher was refused. Doctor Mevlüt Yurtseven vehemently protested about the
removal of a patient he was working on but the patient had been dropped screaming
into a blanket and taken to the helicopter. The doctor was given a thorough body
search, handcuffed and put with the rest of the detainees.390 The soldiers were very
rough when moving the wounded. They were not interested in the injuries but merely
looked at the faces and checked people against their papers to decide who should be
evacuated.391 Perween Yaqub had been helping in the medical room and had wanted to
go with one of the seriously injured but the soldiers had stopped her. She had pleaded
with the officer but he had pointed his gun at her and told her to go back.392

After the evacuation Mr Qashoo had been used as a human shield to open doors to
back rooms and to open bags.393

Matthias Gardel was horrified by the experience of seeing a badly wounded man in his
late 50s forced to remain on the open deck.

Suddenly, his right eye exploded in a gush of blood - and a blob of something
fell out of it.394

Some of the seriously wounded activists were taken out by helicopter, but many were
mistreated before arriving at hospital. Amongst those airlifted were

 Ismail Yeşildal who was wounded near his spinal cord, in the shoulder and in his
genitals.
 Revaha Gümrükçü who was shot in the leg.
 Kenan Akçil was shot in the knee. Turkish doctors were prevented from
attending to him and he had been left lying handcuffed on the deck for two hours
before the helicopter arrived.
 Adem Bakici had knee injuries.395
 Muharren Güneş who was shot in the mouth (the bullet exited his neck). He was
dragged on the deck and left there naked for a few hours under a helicopter
hovering over the deck which produced excessive noise along with constant spray
and the strong downdraft which left him wet and cold. The soldiers shouted
curses in English and Arabic. He was cuffed very tightly so that his hands turned
purple and swollen, causing him pain for days afterwards. He was kicked all
over. A medical officer anaesthetised him and he woke up in hospital in Tel
Aviv.396
 Mehmet Ali Zeybek was hit nine times by rubber-coated bullets, his blood stained
clothes were removed and he was left shackled and naked on the hot deck for an
hour before being air lifted to Haifa.397

50
  Mustafa Batirhan who was shot three times in the stomach also had to lie on the
deck for 3-4 hours. He said the water and draft from the helicopter were
„inhumane‟. Soldiers trod on his back.398
 Mehmet Ali Zeybek lost a lot of blood from the wounds caused by nine rubber-
coated bullets. He also told of being stripped naked and laid shackled on the
deck where he suffered the helicopter spray and his torn clothes were thrown at
him. His request for a cup of water was ignored.

Prof Mattias Gardel said some of the injured were hooded.399 Israeli photographs show
that even stretcher cases were transported with their hands tied.400

After the injured were evacuated the rest of the men had to go to the door one by one
with their hands on their heads where they were strip searched down to their
underwear in front of the women. All were handcuffed, some in front and some
behind. They were pushed and shoved by male and female soldiers shouting „yalla‟
and ordered onto the top deck. 401 The 89-year-old Archbishop of Jerusalem in exile,
Hilarion Capuddi was handcuffed and one of the soldiers attempted to throw him to the
ground.402 (The archbishop is lame in one leg.403) Nearby Muslims especially the
devout ones, tried to defend him because he is a holy man of God. 404 On the deck they
were made to kneel in rows facing the wall. They were forced to remain in this
position for at least six hours during which time some people passed out and others fell
on their sides.405 Women and the few Europeans were allowed to sit on the benches.406

One young Muslim from London, who Marco Lucas described as a „jolly-natured kid‟
confronted some of the soldiers. With a broad smile (despite the massacre) he had
asked them

„We do not hate you why are you doing this? Explain to me. Tell me your
history; tell me your version of history. Why are you doing this? We do not
hate you but you are making the world hate you.‟

None of them answered him. They were all ashamed in front of this small young
man.407

While repairs were underway to the ship‟s engines Captain Tural had been permitted to
go down to the lower deck to see the injured. On his way there soldiers ordered him
to take off his uniform top to do a search. They then attacked him and handcuffed him
and he was put with the other passengers who were suffering the cold spray stirred up
by the helicopters. He was kept there for hours and was only released when one of
the engines was started at about 9am, when he was taken back to the bridge. He was
handcuffed again after the ship docked at Ashdod.408

There were around 280 people on deck409 and everyone remained handcuffed at least
until Ashdod was reached nine hours later.410 Sarah Colborne said it was terrifying „if
you talked they pointed a gun at you‘.411 Many were forced to stay handcuffed for five
hours in the sun. One Malaysian passenger whose hands were tied so tight that they
had become brightly coloured asked politely for the bands to be loosened. In response
to his third request a soldier tightened them even more causing the victim to scream
with pain.412 The cuffs on Kevin Neish were so tight that they cut his wrists, his hands
swelled up and turned purple, and he suffered prolonged nerve damage. 413 Soldiers
only loosened the ties on another passenger after Sümeyye Ertekin had insisted. By
then the victim‟s hands had turned black414

51
Being forced to sit or kneel in the same position for hours eventually hurt and people
would move, causing the soldiers to yell and scream at them. Eventually two large
young men had taken enough of the humiliation and abuse and they stood up. The
soldiers rushed through the crowd with their guns up. At this point Kevin Neish also
stood up. The two young men were beaten with batons, but they had made their point
and they eased themselves down, at which point Kevin Neish dropped down quickly.415

Osama Qashoo lost the feeling in four fingers which a doctor said would take six
months to heal. His handcuffs had been applied to be intentionally painful and they
had been left on for sixteen hours. He had been made to kneel with two metal bars
under his knees and left near the door where every passing soldier would kick or spit
at him, pour water on him or step on his toes. A plastic bag had been put on his head
after he had started screaming.416

Exceptionally, Laura Stuart had her handcuffs removed and she was allowed to move
around the deck to attend to three casualties who were not considered to need an
airlift. At her request the handcuffs on her wounded charges were changed from
behind to the front, but they were not allowed to go to the toilet.417 Another request to
get a severely shocked casualty to hospital was ignored. An Israeli doctor had looked
at the injured man who had two drips installed. The doctor had insisted on taking
them out to put in one of his own which did not work, so he had taken his drip out and
declared that the patient did not need one.418 Bülent Yıldırım said Israeli doctors had
treated one casualty‟s injured leg without sedating him. He also declared that all the
injured could have been taken to hospital by helicopter, but the IDF had not wanted to
do so.419

Jamal Elshayyal was given no food and only three sips of water in a period of more
than 24 hours. He asked to use the toilet and was told to urinate in his clothes. Many
people were forced to soil their clothing in this way.420 421 Recai Kaya was hit with a
rifle butt after he tried to help an older man who could not pull his trousers up after
using the toilet because his hands were tied. The older man had been very
embarrassed.422 Heavily-armed soldiers, some with blood on their boots, stood guard
with dogs, sometimes exchanging jokes and lewd suggestions about female
detainees.423 Two women had to use the toilet while still in handcuffs.424 425 Some
women had to insist that they used the toilet unaccompanied.426 The Israelis told the
detainees to be quiet but at one point a Turkish imam stood up and started singing the
call to prayer. An officer strode through the squatting people, pointed a pistol at the
imam‟s head and yelled „shut up‟ in English. The imam looked at him and kept singing.
Fearful that the officer would shoot, Kevin Neish stood up and the officer turned and
pointed the pistol at him. The imam finished his song and they both sat down.427
Afterwards an officer spoke to the followers of the imam who were allowed to wash
their hands and conduct their prayers.428

Around 1 pm everyone was moved from the hot sun back into the lounge where the
windows were shut and the air conditioning was turned off. 429 Opened blood-stained
passenger‟s bags made a small mountain on the floor amongst scattered children‟s
letters written to other children in Gaza.430 Cameras, laptops and other electronic
equipment were strewn on the floor, most of it broken. 431 Elderly men who were
dressed for the early morning were unable to take their coats off because of the
handcuffs.432 With eight people squeezed onto four person sofas, they were all hot,
sweaty, smelly and hungry. Soldiers tried to stop people praying but this was ignored
and eventually tolerated. MK Hanin Zoabi defied the soldiers and freely marched
through the ship reminding passengers of their rights and telling them to act in a

52
unified manner.433 Several of the other passengers also expressed their defiance by
mocking the soldiers and shouting back at them.434

Even at Ashdod some people were kept on board in handcuffs until at least 6 am on 1
June.435 Jamal Elshayyal said his hands were not untied until after the medical at
Ashdod.436

7.0 TREATMENT OF THE DETAINEES

Captain Tural was part of the first group taken off the Mavi Marmara at Ashdod. After
processing he was taken for interrogation. He was held in a transfer vehicle for 4-5
hours and then taken to an isolated cell where, apart from interrogations, he was held
incommunicado until taken to the airport. He was not allowed to know where he was.
There were several interrogations and his examiners were trying to find someone to
blame for the brutal raid that had been broadcast throughout the world. All the
interrogations were in Turkish except the last one which was in English. The Israelis
were very interested in names, particularly of those involved in the organization of the
flotilla. Captain Tural referred them to the charity‟s website. The same questions were
constantly repeated. His interrogators were also interested in preparations for the
resistance against the raid and they repeatedly asked who cut the bars and who the
leaders were. He replied that it was individual efforts, that he had sent an officer to
check out the trouble, that IHH staff had collected the bars and thrown them in the sea
and then brought the cutting gear to the bridge. The interrogations were secretly
filmed and the video later released to the media was taken during the later sessions
after he had been asked the same questions many times. The footage had been cut
and edited and gave a misleading impression of what had been said. 437

At Ashdod Ministry of Interior officials took over. The officials who came on the ship
were very professional, spoke perfect English and were very polite.438 Once on the
quay the detainees were jeered and photographed by a large crowd of off-duty military
personnel.439 All the time they were filmed, especially when they were given food. All
the time they were humiliated, shouted at and whistled at.440 Any objections were
laughed at.441 Israeli doctors examined but never really treated them, dismissing
bruising on victims as mosquito bites.442 Everyone was accused with illegally entering
Israel, which most repudiated. Henning Mankell replied „That's absurd, you brought
me here‟. Dr Hasan Nowrah was hit on the back of the neck by someone behind him
for protesting the accusation.443 All were fingerprinted and photographed. Henning
Mankell said they were split up and not allowed to talk. He saw detainees periodically
knocked to the ground, tied up and handcuffed;444 and another man was beaten and
dragged off for refusing to be fingerprinted.445 Dr Finton Lane would not give up his
passport, telling the officials that he had been brought to a country he did not want to
go to. In response two men twisted his arm painfully behind his back for prolonged
periods and his passport was taken.446 The officials were confused by Farooq Burney
who is a Pakistan-born Canadian. Part of his interrogation concerned his intentions:

Q. What were you doing going to Gaza?

A. We were on a humanitarian mission.
Q. Do you believe in the state of Israel?
[No response]
Q. Well we‘re a humanitarian country can‘t you see that?
A. Yes I guess so.447

53
One Spanish journalist was asked who had paid for him to go on the flotilla. Having
used up all his savings to pay for the voyage he had laughed at his interrogator.448

All information was passed on to operatives of Shin Bet, the Israel Security Service,
who submitted selected persons to intense interrogation.449 IHH administrators
underwent repeated interrogations which lasted several hours. 450

After processing their hands were tied again. Farooq Burney‟s hands were tied very
tight and he asked a guard to loosen them as his hands were turning purple. The
guard refused, and then said „Enjoy yourself‟.451

Passengers on the Sfendoni had been told only to take passports and medicines when
they left the vessel. Bilal Abdulazziz had not removed the money belt he was wearing
(containing £3,500 for poor people in Gaza). In the detention centre he had been told
to lift up his clothes. When officials saw his money belt they ran away, thinking he
was a suicide bomber.452

Algerian MP Izzeddine Zahrour said the authorities

…deprived us of food, water and sleep, and we weren‘t allowed to use the toilet.
It was an ugly kidnapping, and subsequently bad treatment in Israeli jail. They
handcuffed us, pushed us around and humiliated us. 453

Yousser Benderbal said he had only been given bottled water at Ashdod in front of the
cameras. When he later asked for food he was told there was none and he was not
given food or water until the morning. There were frequent searches and he was held
incommunicado.454

Nur Choodhury said people were kicked, slapped, pinched and elbowed. 455 Laura
Stuart said many things were done to make the detainees as uncomfortable as
possible. After spending hours in the hot sun on the ship they were put in closed
prison vans with the air conditioning set very high to make it uncomfortably cold. The
vans were driven madly at speed with frequent heavy braking.456 Mario Damolin was
put in a van that was hot and stuffy, but reported that one policeman was courteous
and distributed water.457

Lawyers from Adameer, the Palestinian prisoner‟s support association, came in the
afternoon of 1 June, having been previously denied entry by official obstruction. On 31
May they were told Ashdod port was a closed military zone. The following day they
were told was for diplomats only, but were eventually allowed in at 1 pm, but then had
to wait for a further two hours.458

Detainees were required to sign Hebrew-only statements (which most did not
understand) saying they regretted attacking the state of Israel. People who refused
were beaten and threatened with prosecution. Some of those beaten were given
injections to calm them down if they began to shake, after which they were often
beaten again. Greek activists were eventually placed in cells without windows where
the light was constantly on and where they were given limited amounts of water but
no food. Israeli officials laughed at them when they asked to see Greek diplomatic
staff, and responded more aggressively. The only detainees they saw being visited by
embassy officials were American citizens,459 although Scott Hamman saw two
Americans beaten by Israeli officials when they refused to sign the deportation

54
documents without having access to a lawyer.460 Australian journalists also reported
being denied consular access and legal representation.461

While in Be‟er Sheva prison some detainees were told they were in Tel Aviv. 462 One
prison official told detainees they were guest not prisoners, to which Dr Evangelos
Pissias shouted „I am a political prisoner‟.463

British consular staff were kept waiting for hours before they were allowed to see
detainees.464 Alex Harrison saw this both as an insult from Israel to Britain in denying
British citizens their right, and as a sign that the British government did not have the
strength to stand up to Israel.465 (Several detainees have expressed dissatisfaction
about the inadequate attention provided by British diplomats compared with other
diplomatic corps. Most never saw a British consular official. The British official who
met Osama Qashoo only asked his name and contact number in the U.K. 466 467 468 469
470
Peter Venner did not see a representative until Istanbul where a British diplomat
offered him a loan of £100.471) The first time Kevin Ovenden had anything resembling
a meal was on the afternoon of the second day, which was timed to coincide with the
visit of British consular officials. Mr Ovenden said that the officials had to speak to him
through the prison door. On one occasion a junior prison guard who was stood in the
way refused to move and brought two more guards. When the official remonstrated
the junior guard said „Go to your international tribunals, go to your law, we don‘t
care‘.472 Jamal Elshayyal was not allowed to make a phone call and did not see a
lawyer or anyone from the British consulate during his detention of more than 24
hours. He was put in a cell roughly 3.6 m by 2.7 m with three others. They were
given one meal of frozen bread with some potatoes, but there was not enough food to
go round.473

British citizen Paveen Yaqub said she was kicked and mocked in Hebrew by two Israeli
policemen who also searched her, which she declined to talk about to reporters. She
had refused to sign the document in Hebrew and had gone on hunger strike for the last
few hours, saying that she had not slept for days and was exhausted. 474

Canadian Rifat Audeh said

They confiscated everything and then they took us to jail after that. They cut
us off from the outside world. We couldn't call a lawyer, our families, we
couldn't call anybody. Nobody knew whether we were dead or alive until we
were finally released.475

Israeli officials knew where Canadian citizens were located but did not tell Canadian
embassy staff who had to check all cells. While searching for Kevin Neish they
discovered the two other Canadian nationals who they had been told had been
deported that morning.476 This was Farooq Burney‟s only contact with them.477

After it was discovered that Lubna Masarwa is an Arab-Israeli citizen she was held in
isolation and subjected to strip searches four times a day. She was brought to court in
a small metal box inside a police car in which she was held for eight hours with her
hands and legs shackled. Detainees were charged with various activities from
attacking soldiers to carrying weapons, but following international pressure the Israeli
authorities decided to rapidly deport all foreign prisoners. All Arab Israelis were taken
back before the court which placed them under house arrest and forbade them to leave
the country for 45 days.478

55
(Israeli lawyers had challenged the legality of the capture in the Israel Supreme Court
which had raised the possibility that the court would order the IDF to release the
detainees and the ships, and allow them to proceed. The IDF rapidly deported the
detainees to forestall this.479)

Attempts at divide and rule were rejected by prisoners who maintained solidarity and
resisted. Fintan Lane was selected for a committee set up by the prisoners as
representatives.480 The loss of authority made the officials more aggressive and they
started to scream at prisoners.481

Libyan-born Irishman Al Mahdi al Harati was first able to contact his family on 3 June
from the Ataturk Hospital in Ankara. He had been beaten in the head and the groin
while in Israeli custody and was being treated in intensive care. 482 On the plane home
he suffered a diabetes related seizure.483 The Irish Ambassador to Israel said on 2
June that four of the five Irish prisoners held in Be‟er Sheva prison had been „roughed
up‟ in one form or another.484

Some Westerners noticed a clear distinction in the treatment of „white‟ and „brown‟
prisoners. Randi Kjos detected a clear prejudice against Arabs and said that
Palestinians who asked for anything were hit, pushed around and treated with
contempt. Turkish women were not allowed to use the phone because they were
required to speak in English so that the guards could understand.485 In contrast most
Western women were not handcuffed.486

Paul Larudee continued his passive resistance after disembarking. Referring to Dr

Larudee the Israel Consul General in the U.S., Akiva Tor, told abc7

Once he was in custody, I am certain he was not abused by Israeli forces.487

Although this hints at an acknowledgement that there had been abuse the reassurance
was worthless and the maltreatment continued in response to Dr Larudee‟s constant
refusal to cooperate. This involved him lying down and refusing to move, refusing to
answer questions, forcing his captors to allow him to use the toilet (or accept the
consequences), doggedly demanding replacement trousers for his own pair which were
torn at the crotch, demanding a better cell, and demands to exercise his rights for an
embassy visit, lawyer and telephone. He also persistently demanded writing materials.
His captors responded violently by frequently and painfully stressing joints, routinely
hitting him and, when enraged by his persistent refusal to acknowledge their authority
and bow to their control, gangs of officials would beat him. During one beating at
Ashdod Dr Evangelos Pissias had gone to his aid and was in turn badly beaten,
suffering a broken leg and at least one broken rib.

Despite the abuse and pain Dr Larudee did not submit and when leaving prison did so
without a shirt, in defiance of Israeli officials, so that his bruises were visible. At the
Immigration Detention Centre lawyer Gaby Lasky met him and he was able to sign
papers for her to file charges against Israeli government agencies. His final beating
occurred at the airport after he refused to sign a form and threatened to remove his
clothes so that the Turkish plane would not accept him. Ken O‟Keefe and some of the
Turkish contingent had tried to defend him and they were also attacked and some
were injured.488 Speaking to reporters afterwards Dr Larudee said

I was treated pretty rough. Basically any part of my body that could be hit was
hit; any joint of my body that could be twisted was twisted.489

56
Huwaida Arraf was pulled by her hair, hands and feet and beaten (including being
punched in the face and the jaw) to get her into a police van. Somewhere outside of
the port of Ashdod the van stopped and she was thrown out. She thinks she then
passed out but remembers a medic taking her to an ambulance and then onto hospital
from where she was discharged a few hours later. 490 On her eventual release she was
elbowed in the face by a police officer on her way out of prison.491

Kevin Neish spent three days in Israeli custody and did not sleep for a total of four
days during which time he lost 15 pounds. At one point he broke down and wept.
When one of the Turks asked what was wrong he replied „sixteen people died‟. The
Turk responded

No, they died for a wonderful cause. They‘re happy. You just go out and tell
your story. 492

Çigdem Topçuoglu‟s husband Çetin was killed in front of her eyes on the Mavi
Marmara.493 Before leaving the ship, the crew had been able to clean up his body in
preparation for the funeral and Çigdem had said her goodbyes with the body properly
wrapped. While in Be‟er Sheva prison under interrogation she was shown a
photograph of the dead body which had left in the sun to bloat so that she could only
recognize his mouth. Mrs Topçuoglu collapsed and was comforted by other women. 494
495

Jerry Luqman commented

Their treatment of us was just completely unacceptable. I've never met anyone
whose heart has become so hard and so black in my life. 496

Shane Dillon had been in the first group of detainees released. Needing to return to
Ireland Mr Dillon was faced with the dilemma of having to sign the deportation papers
to facilitate his release.

They asked me to sign and I signed numerous things, I signed Shane the Pain
and Mickey Mouse. They didn't really understand. They gave it to me in Hebrew
and I said, 'Well, I don't understand that' and they gave it to me in English
and I said 'Ní thuigim é sin‘.497

He said in the detention area at Ben-Gurion airport the officials had been „generally
unkind and unpleasant‟. The lights had been on and loud music was played to prevent
him from sleeping, and he had been denied access to the toilet.498

The New York Times suggested that the release of all the remaining activists followed
an offer of help by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Ahmet Davutoglu. The
Turkish foreign minister had demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all
the activists, and Israel had announced this several hours later. Turkey had rejected
Israel‟s offer to transport the detainees, and had instead sent six aircraft of its own.
Mr Davutoglu is reported to have said to Ehud Barak „You have just killed our people,
how can I trust you?‟499 The Turks had refused to leave unless all the detainees were
released. Lacking faith in their own consular services Jamal Elshayyal (British),500
Farooq Burney and Kevin Neish (Canadian)501 have all questioned whether they would
have been released so early without the solidarity shown by the Turks. In contrast the
Jordanian ambassador came personally to the prison and made sure all the Jordanians

57
were released along with all those whose countries did not have diplomatic
representation in Israel (Algeria, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan). (On their return
home the three Canadians had sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Harper asking why
the Canadian Government had allowed them to be mistreated. They never received a
reply.)502

Fiachra Ó‟Luain had tried to fight his deportation through the Israeli legal system.
(The Israel High Court of Justice only agreed to hear challenges to the deportation
orders two hours before the planned departure of the planes. Detainees were told that
they could appeal in absentia.503) In custody he had feared for his life and at one
stage had asked to see a Rabbi. He was told he would only see a Rabbi when they
killed him. On the way to the airport he was taken off the bus while still handcuffed
and kicked and punched on the ground by between 15 and 20 Israelis. They put his
arm in stress positions and tried to break his finger. On arrival in Turkey he was given
treatment in hospital although his injuries were not thought to be serious. 504 505

On the day of her deportation Theresa McDermott was crammed into a tiny cell in
high-security vehicle with two other women. They were kept in this for five hours,
including three-and –a-half hours waiting at the airport. One of the women in the cell
was pregnant. When they entered the airport they were jostled and jeered by soldiers,
while at least three men were beaten up. Unless the wounded could not physically
walk they were not helped to the planes, even if they had drip or drainage bags. 506
Blood stained and often in the same clothes since before the raid, many had been
wounded in the feet and had to hop to the plane. Anyone trying to help was shouted
at, pulled away and beaten.507 Some people were assaulted by hard slaps to the back
of the head as they went up a staircase. 508

Maryam Luqman Talib was one of thirteen women forced to wait in a van for perhaps
eleven hours at the airport. After being let out they were taken upstairs where they
asked for consular access which was ignored. They were surrounded by many soldiers
and police and were pushed. An aggressive fully armed soldier hit one of the women
three times and pulled her hair.509

The clearance process at the airport was slow and many detainees were subjected to
very slow strip searches by smirking airport staff. To get onto the plane everyone had
to walk through a wall of soldiers and there was a fleet of army and police vehicles
with flashing lights parked near the plane.510 Those processed first had to wait on the
planes for nearly 12 hours. The Turkish government had insisted that the planes
would not leave until all detainees and the bodies of the dead were loaded, correctly
anticipating that IHH president Bülent Yildirm, journalist Adem Özköse and two others
were kept under interrogation by Israeli authorities who simultaneously insisted that
no one had been left behind. Fifteen detainees still being processed staged a protest
when they realised that Mr Yildirim was still in custody and were attacked by security.
(Mohammed Bounoua said it was the third time he had been beaten in less than three
days.) The stand-off was only resolved when the Israeli authorities processed the
passports of the four remaining detainees and the planes eventually left after a final
check of names by the Turkish officials on board.511 512 The aircraft crews treated them
well; Marco Lucas ate three meals in one sitting, feeling good to be free of anxiety and
having people smiling at him. On arrival everyone was taken to hospital for a medical
examination.513

Many detainees were deprived of all their possessions. Gene St. Onge was released
with only the clothes he was wearing, his passport and his wallet.514 Even this was

58
more than Ken O‟Keefe who arrived at Istanbul airport on 4 June with only the blood
stained clothes he was wearing. There was a large lump on his forehead and dried
blood all over his face as well as on his clothes. (He had refused Israeli demands to
clean himself up after the assault.) On 2 June he had been transferred to Ben Gurion
airport but had refused deportation and had demanded to be sent to the occupied
Palestinian territories. The Israeli authorities refused to do this and a scuffle broke
out in which Mr O‟Keefe was badly beaten by officials and police, suffering a large gash
on the head and some bruised ribs. He had been put into a head lock until he nearly
passed out. As a result of the head lock he suffered a sore throat and was not able to
eat for a few days. He refused to accept medical attention, and was refused access to
phone calls or a lawyer. (Israeli authorities said the beating and the missed flight were
the result of „technical reasons‟.515)

On 3 June he was beaten again in his prison cell. He again refused treatment for his
injuries. On 4 June on the advice of his solicitor he agreed to leave Israel. Because
his face was bloody and he was dishevelled Israeli officials wanted to clean him up, but
he refused. The officials threatened to keep him in custody until he cooperated but
eventually allowed him to fly to Istanbul on 4 June.516 Of the time in detention he said

We were all treated like dogs from the first moment: denied access to water,
denied access to food, denied access to make a phone call to tell our family,
denied access to a lawyer, pushed, kicked punched, and otherwise abused in
any which way you can think of, lied to incessantly, and you know this was the
kind of treatment we got from beginning to end.517

Four Arab Israelis were released on 3 June by Ashkelon Magistrates Court

 Mr Muhammed Zeidan, Chairman of the High Follow-up Committee for Arab

Citizens of Israel.
 Sheikh Raed Salah, Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel.
 Sheikh Hamad Abu Daabe, Head of the Islamic Movement in Israel (southern
branch).
 Ms Lubna Masarwa of the Free Gaza Movement and Al Quds University.

Their release was on condition

i. That they remain under house arrest until 8 June 2010.

ii. That they do not leave the country for 45 days.
iii. That a bond for NIS 150,000 be posted by a third party.

Their legal team argued that they should all be released unconditionally since their
detention was illegal. The defence lawyers stated their intention to consider an appeal.

The state prosecution emphasized in court that its request for a remand was in
accordance with the state‟s policy of investigating and detaining citizens of Israel who
participated in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The defence team argued that they were
being detained because they are Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel.518

Sheikh Salah is reputed to have been the target of Shin Bet assassination attempts
and early reports in the aftermath of the attack suggested that he had been killed or
seriously injured because he had opened fire on the commandos. His wife was later
called to a hospital to identify a man undergoing surgery, who later turned out to be

59
someone else.519 The sheikh later confirmed that Israeli naval commandos had
intended to kill him but had killed someone closely resembling him in error. 520

Many of those hospitalised reported maltreatment from the soldiers.

 Mehmet Yildirim was shot in the leg, which he said was kicked several times.
 Revaha Gümrükçü said he had been fairly treated by Israeli hospital staff but
was not well treated by troops on the helicopter. Later there was psychological
pressure and he was told he would be imprisoned for ten years.
 Adem Bakici who was shot in the knee said that it was pushed to right and left
causing him great pain. In hospital he was handcuffed to the bed and the chair.
Soldiers guarded him 24 hours a day and he was not allowed to use the toilet
with the door closed.521
 Mustafa Batirhan was in Haifa hospital where the staff were kind but he neither
slept nor ate for the five days. For the last two days he was confined in a
stifling room where the lights were constantly on. The soldiers spoke
constantly but only in Hebrew and ignored his request not to smoke which he
feared would trigger his migraine. Access to consular staff was denied. He was
originally told he would be released at six, but at six they said he would be
released an hour later and this continued every hour until his final release at
five in the morning. Two drivers came to take him to the airport and they
amused themselves by driving aimlessly and erratically around the streets so
that he was thrown around the car.522

There is no comprehensive record of the total injuries sustained by detainees while in

custody in Israel.

7.1 Treatment of journalists

At least 60 journalists were on the flotilla, including film crews from Al Jazeera, Press
TV, TeleSur and Russia Today. The BBC, CNN and the mainstream European media
had no coverage and had been forced to syndicate the story. (The BBC had received
2,500 phone calls in two hours from people demanding coverage.) Prior to the raid
only one major British media outlet (the Guardian) had run any coverage of the
flotilla.523 There was no censorship by flotilla organizers, journalists were allowed to
film everything and were given complete freedom on what they outsourced via the
internet and satellite facilities. 524

Treatment of the press varied. Cevdet Kiliçlar was amongst those killed, Indonesian
cameraman Sura Fachrizaz was shot in the chest, while Issam Za‟atar was hit with a
stun gun while filming and suffered a broken arm. Despite his injury he had to endure
a long and exhausting interrogation.525 Cameraman Valentiv Vassilev‟s medication for
high blood pressure was taken from him.526 Paul McGeough described the treatment of
reporters as one of „absolute disrespect‟, 527 At Ashdod one photographer who criticised
the soldiers was taken to one side and beaten. All journalists‟ personal belongings
were seized and despite promises from officials none were returned. 528

Czech cameraman Jan Línek said he was not harmed during the attack on the Sfendoni
and that reporters were dealt with kid gloves. At first he had refused to sign papers at
Ashdod but had done so after a policeman told him he would then be released and be
able to speak with his embassy. After he signed the policeman had laughed and said
there would be neither phone call nor visit. He was detained for a further 20 hours. 529

60
Abbas Al Lawati had his hand ties removed because he was a journalist, and officials
were polite despite telling lies. He had refused to sign a green form saying he had
entered Israel illegally and a white form agreeing to leave. But he had been allowed to
make a phone call and was given a sandwich. He was searched down to his underwear
at least three times.530 Turkish journalist Mediha Olgun was given a full search which
discovered the photographs she had concealed in the heels of her shoes. Fellow Turk
Ayse Sarioglu was interrogated and humiliated by a policeman (although a female
officer was very polite). The policeman spat on her, insulted her and even pulled her
tongue. She also was very closely searched including between her toes, in her hair,
behind the gums and under the tongue. On the first day she was permitted to talk to
her family on the phone for only one minute. On the second day she was contacted by
embassy officials, and was deported the next day. 531

Broadcast media journalists on the Mavi Marmara were identifiable by their press vests
so they were grouped, searched, handcuffed and left in the sun for five hours, but they
were treated reasonably at Ela detention centre in Be‟er Sheva where they were given
food.532 Marcello Faraggi was forced to undress at the same time as four or five others,
which he found humiliating. He was squeezed into a truck with other prisoners in
which they had to wait for more than an hour in the sun without air conditioning. In
prison at Be‟er Sheva he was given a few raw vegetables, some drinking water, soap
and shampoo. He saw a representative from the embassy on 1 June. 533 Abbas Al
Lawati was able to choose his cell and cellmates at the centre and was given a tray
with towel, change of underwear, socks, tooth brush, tooth paste, cup and plastic
spoon. He was also able to take a cold shower and was seen by a doctor and a social
worker.534 Mario Damolin said there were surveillance cameras in the showers and
toilets. At breakfast there was not enough food to go around and they had to use the
sink to get water.535

After prison Jan Línek was put in a van with an extremely small cell which was left
parked in the sun with the air conditioning off for 45 minutes. At the airport he was
locked into a cell with about seven other people. The light was on all the time and
they were woken up every hour. An Irishman was beaten in the cell in front of him,
and then told to take different trousers to make the beating less visible. The official
said they were all terrorists and crooks and called Línek a „fucking Russian‟. He was
visited by an embassy official at about 1 am, and told he would be flying within 45
minutes.536

7.2 Activists’ property

Apart from photographic equipment many activists also reported the theft of money,
credit cards, electronic goods, and clothes.537 538 Ann Wright reported that commandos
with weapons demanded cash from passengers stating they were „to take the money
for safekeeping‟. Many passengers had been fundraising in their home areas to have
funds to deliver to non-governmental organizations. Other passengers were taking
money to families in Gaza from family members living outside of Gaza. 539

Some electronic equipment had been returned all smashed up but most of it was not
returned at all.540 Press TV reported that cash, jewellery and equipment taken on the
flotilla could have a total value of $3,5million,541 although Greta Berlin would only
estimate „over a million dollars of computer, cameras and phones‟ on 13 July, adding
that Israel still has the Free Gaza Movement‟s boat which they hijacked in July 2009.542
As of 9 June only two or three laptops and a similar number of phones had been

61
recovered. The missing items included 600 mobile phones, 400 video cameras, 350
laptops and large amounts of cash raised for charities in Gaza.

There are no reports of any detainees being allowed to keep money or of any money
being subsequently returned. The amount of cash stolen could amount to over
$1million (this author‟s estimate). Some activists have reported that their stolen
credit cards have since been used. 543 Hanin Zoabi said that looting had started on the
Mavi Marmara even before the ship had arrived at Ashdod. The Knesset member said
that while at sea someone had approached her holding $2,000 and 2,000 Euros and
had asked where her money was.544

All equipment seized on the Challenger I was numbered and their owners were assured
it would be returned to them at Ashdod. Then they were promised the return would be
on their release from Ela prison 48 hours later, later they were told it had been packed
into a container and sent to Ben Gurion airport for the flight to Turkey. Of the
possessions belonging to the 17 activists on the ship, only one computer case
containing a few cables and accessories eventually arrived at Istanbul.545

At least 24 passports have been stolen. [The IHH lists 19 passports in their summary
report on the raid546, and five others have been reported from other sources. The
nationalities are Oman, 1; France, 2; Greece, 9; Sweden, 2; UK, 3; Pakistan, 2; New
Zealand, 1; Palestine, 1; Turkey, 1; Ireland, 2.] This is of particular concern since
Mossad, the Israeli Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, is generally
believed to have fraudulently used European and Australian passports during the
murder of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in January 2010.

 At the airport Jamal Elshayyal was given a piece of paper instead of his passport
by an official who said „this is your new passport‟. When he remonstrated the
official replied „sue me‘. The Israeli government stole his lap top, two cameras,
three phones, $1,500 and all his other possessions. 547
 Ken O‟Keefe left Israel dressed only in a T-shirt and blood-stained trousers. He
said all his other possessions had been stolen, including his Palestinian and Irish
passports.548 He commented

Israel has my laptop, my personal information, my Irish and Palestinian

passports and my DNA in the form of my blood on cloths and my
toothbrush, etc., they have what is required to link me to future acts of
terrorism and they are fully capable of attempting to frame me for crimes that I
will never commit. They can also do this to others; that we should all be well
aware of.549

 Fiachra Ó'Luain was also deprived of his passport and has asked the Irish Minister
for Foreign Affairs to take action.550
 Manolo Luppichini received a form in Be‟er Sheva prison saying that his passport
had been impounded. Neither his identification papers nor any of his personal
effects stolen on the boat were returned. On 2 June while he was in prison at
Be‟er Sheva NIS 10 was withdrawn from a vending machine on his credit card.
After he returned to Italy the card was again used in Israel for a purchase of NIS
240. (An IDF spokesman said all the magnetic media was taken for „security
reasons‟ – this was not explained – and that they were considering whether to
return the items. There was a suggestion that the police might conduct an
inquiry into the illegal use of the card.) 551

62
  Henry Ascher‟s Swedish passport was taken in prison, but before he left Tel Aviv
he was forced to sign a paper saying that his passport had disappeared. 552
 Bilal Abdul Aziz said that he had lost more than £3,500, his driving licence, a
permit to work as a teacher in Saudi Arabia, a lap top and many items of
clothing.553
 Dr Hasan Nowarah had been carrying nearly £35,000 in cash for the Gaza
medical service which has not been returned. (Dr Nowarah had previously visited
Gaza in March 2009 with a convoy of ten vehicles sent by Justice for Palestine
which carried 35 tons of medical aid, costing nearly £80,000. He was also
involved in the provision of 45 tons of medical aid valued at £750,000 which was
on the Rachel Corrie.)554
 Ann Wright knew of four people who had a total of $68,000 in cash taken by
commandos.555
 David Schermerhorn cited a Lebanese man who was carrying 10,000 Euros as
gifts for people in Gaza.556
 Kevin Neish had $4,000 stolen.557
 Kathy Sheetz provided Press TV with her bank statements showing that her bank
card which was taken by commandos during the attack on the Mavi Marmara had
since been used in Tel Aviv. It appeared that attempts to use the card without a
PIN were unsuccessful, but it had worked in a vending machine where it had been
repeatedly used for the purchase of beer.558 Six days later on 18 June in the
Guardian online she alleged that more than $1,000 had been charged to her
account from transactions in Israel.
 Ebrahim Musajii said his card which had been taken by the soldiers had been
used in Israel and twice on a Dutch website. His bank had agreed to treat the
transactions as fraudulent. His mobile phone had also been used for two short
calls in Israel. A spokeswoman from the Israeli embassy advised him to register
a formal complaint.
 David Schermerhorn‟s iPhone has been used since it was seized.559
 A soldier clearly liked Sümeyye Ertekin‟s phone and put it in his pocket. He said,
with a smile, that it would be returned. The phone was never given back. 560
 At the airport Marcello Faraggi had to sign a form acknowledging that he had
entered Israel illegally in order to get his passport back. He was given back his
bags but the camera bag only contained old clothes and rubbish. He had lost
more than 20,000 Euros worth of equipment.561
 Henning Mankell had lost his camera, phone, and socks.562

Israeli authorities said that the lost property had either been returned to IHH or had
been mixed up with aid waiting to go to Gaza. They denied any knowledge of any
missing cash whatsoever.563 These authorities later claimed that the IDF not receive
complaints of stolen computers. The Free Gaza Movement rejected this statement as
„patently untrue‟ pointing out that passengers had filed complaints with their consular
representatives and embassies about possessions taken from them, had filed affidavits
and reported the matter to the media. Their lawyers at Adalah had been in
correspondence with the Israeli military about the missing personal property and
therefore it was a deliberate lie to say that they had not received any complaints. 564

8.0 THE SEIZURE OF THE RACHEL CORRIE

The cargo vessel MV Rachel Corrie was originally intended to be part of the flotilla but
had fallen behind schedule so the rest of the ships had started without it. The ship had
been targeted by Mossad special operations and passengers and crew were

63
photographed during the ship‟s preparations. (Photographs shown to passengers
during interrogation had been taking during this period in Ireland. The spokesman on
foreign affairs for the Irish Labour party, Michael D Higgins, said that this could be a
potential diplomatic incident.565) Dr Hasan Nowrah of the Justice for Palestine Centre in
Glasgow also revealed the propeller and exhaust had been sabotaged on the ship
causing £37,000 worth of damage, and causing delays which made it impossible for
the ship to make the rendezvous with the rest of the flotilla.566

Despite the attacks of 31 May the Rachel Corrie continued to sail towards Gaza intent
on delivering its 5,000 ton cargo of cement plus medical and educational supplies. On
3 June, captain and part-owner Derek Graham said everyone was very upset by what
had happened but they were more determined to carry on. Israeli authorities
demanded that security checks on the cargo should take place in the port of Ashdod,
while allowing this inspection to be under the supervision of officials from the UN and
the Irish Aid Division of Ireland‟s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The entire cargo would
then have been transhipped to Gaza accompanied by two persons from the ship. The
offer was rejected after careful consideration by all on board the ship. A counter offer
for the ship to be inspected in international waters by the IDF under UN supervision
before proceeding to Gaza under UN escort was similarly refused. 567 Captain Graham
said he was concerned that not all the cargo would be delivered from Ashdod.568

In the early hours of 5 June the ship was surrounded by two warships, two gunboats
and six zodiacs and then boarded by 30 to 35 fully armed commandos 30 km off the
coast of Gaza.569 There was no resistance from the eleven passengers and eight crew
members on board and the capture took place without violence. Captain Graham had
heard that the captain of the Mavi Marmara had been shot dead when commandos had
stormed his ship (Captain Tural was not injured during the assault on his ship) and
that he had feared for his life when he was ordered to remain alone in the wheelhouse.
Captain Graham was not harmed. Film-maker Fiona Thompson had her camera and
computer equipment taken but she managed to conceal the footage and smuggle it out
despite repeated searches during her two-day stay in detention. Passenger and Nobel
Peace laureate Mairead Maguire said she felt they had let the people of Palestine down,
saying

We lifted their hopes that the world cared and sadly we let them down but we
say to the people of Gaza, we will be back. We will treble our efforts because
we will not rest until the siege is ended. 570

The vessel was accompanied to Ashdod and passengers and crew were soon flown out
of the country because they had waived their rights of appeal.571

9.0 THE SHIPS AND CARGO

Goods from the flotilla were offloaded at Ashdod where Major David Elmaliach declared
that no guns, rockets or explosives were found on any of the ships.572 Selected items
were then trucked to Gaza with much publicity. On 2 June officials at Gaza refused to
accept goods as long as the activists who brought them were detained, while insisting
that Israel transfer all the goods and not just selected items. About 30 truckloads of
goods were refused for this reason. Minister of Social Affairs Ahmed Al Kurd said

We will refuse the aid as long as the victims of Israel‘s attack remain in prison.
Without exception we demand their release.

64
He added that some of the rejected goods were broken or had parts missing such as a
set of electric wheelchairs which had no batteries. 573 An Israeli spokesman denied that
Israel had confiscated any goods, saying that it had not finished unloading the
cargo.574

Farooq Burney had been transporting 65 brand new computers for students in Gaza,
where this equipment is in short supply. They were still in their original packaging and
he had personally inspected them when they were stowed inside a locked room on the
bottom deck on the Mavi Marmara where he had photographed them. His camera was
subsequently seized and the film was lost.575 A first lieutenant in the IDF was arrested
on 16 August for stealing computers from the ship and four other soldiers were
arrested in connection with the theft. A Ynet report said that the stolen computers
were brand new and not meant for sale in Israel.576 Mr Burney is convinced these are
some of his computers. A high-ranking officer described the episode as „embarrassing
and shameful‘.577 No comment was passed on the other electronic equipment valued in
excess of $1 million which had been illegally seized by the IDF.

IRIN reported that after intense diplomatic negotiation the impasse was resolved on 17
June when the UN agreed to oversee the delivery of the aid in conjunction with other
international relief organizations. IHH accepted this arrangement and submitted a
beneficiary list to UNSCO (UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process).
IHH was concerned that material it had shipped for specific purposes, such as heavy
generators to operate public water wells, should not be allotted to UN projects.578

Al Manar reported on 12 June that Israel had buried part of the humanitarian aid
cargo, notably tinned food and crockery along with activist‟s personal belongings in the
landfill site at Doudaim in the Negev desert. The newspaper quoted a report that a
further lorry had come in under police escort and its full load had been deposited at
the site.579

The ships remained a matter of contention. In its formal presidential statement on 1

June the UN Security Council had „request[ed] the immediate release of the ships...‟.580
Israel at first ignored this request and the ships were later towed to Haifa where a
standoff developed. The Turkish government continued to demand that Israel supplied
tugs to tow the ships to Turkey while Israel refused to release them without a written
pledge from the Turkish government that they would not be used for similar activities
again. The Turks rejected this, insisted that the flotilla was a non-governmental
initiative.581 Meanwhile the mayor of Haifa suggested that the defence ministry
confiscate the Mavi Marmara and give it to the city to turn into a floating hotel as „an
international symbol of reconciliation and hope‟.582 Finally, in what was seen as an
attempt at reconciliation, the Israeli authorities decided on 22 July that the ships could
leave without further conditions. 583 Three tugs from Turkey arrived in Haifa on 5
August to collect the Turkish ships and it was anticipated that the journey to
İskenderun would take two days.584 The fate of the other four ships along with the
other vessel belonging to the Free Gaza Movement, the Spirit of Humanity, is unclear.
The matter of a formal apology, demanded by Turkey and rejected out of hand by
Israel, remained an issue.

Also in contention were cargos of cement and steel which were reported to be still on
board at Haifa.585 Israel has been denying cement and steel to Gaza on the excuse that
it will be used for terrorist purposes. In justifying this refusal Sarah Weiss Maudi from
the Israel Foreign Ministry said

65
 Concrete could be used to cast rockets [sic] or it can be used to build
reinforced bunkers…586

Finally on 24 July Melodika reported that UNSCO had promised to deliver the full
humanitarian aid cargo, including the backpacks, sports equipment and building
materials that were still impounded.587

On arrival at İskenderun the Mavi Marmara, Defne Y and Gazze I were placed out of
bounds in the harbour. They were then subjected to careful examination by bomb
experts and teams from Turkey‟s Atomic Energy Agency who took radiation
measurements. The engines were found to be in working order. 588 Inspections by the
18-person forensic team were completed by 12 August, by which time nearly 250
bullet holes had been found which the Israeli authorities had filled with putty and
painted over. Ankara‟s police crime investigation team had also been involved in the
examination.589

10.0 CENSORSHIP AND DISINFORMATION

Israeli forces took or destroyed all cameras, recording equipment, phones and notes
from everyone on the flotilla soon after coming on board. Daniel Pollack, the Co-
Director of the Zionist Organization of America asserted that it was done to ensure the
integrity of the film.

It is very clear why the videos were taken because before [sic] the evidence
that shows the actual sequence of events can be doctored or destroyed, that‘s
why the Israelis did it.590

[Mr Pollack did not go on to explain why the Israeli authorities have still not released
more than a fraction of the confiscated film.]

Any cameras that did arrive at Turkey were either smashed or at the very least
stripped of their memory cards.591 Jamal Elshayyal said that journalists were searched
several times, and anyone caught trying to conceal anything was strip searched to
ensure that no one on the flotilla could get away with any evidence of the atrocity that
Israel had committed.592 Daniel Machover, a specialist in international criminal law
observed

The quality of evidence was degraded massively the moment Israel took all the
evidence into its own hands.593

All the abducted journalists were locked up for 72 hours and most emerged empty
handed. For the crucial first three days of the story the Israelis had sole access to the
media, a point that was usually not explained to the public, particularly in the
American media. Global networks relied heavily on two one-minute sequences (from a
great many hours of footage) which had been shot, edited and circulated by the Israeli
military. Cent Uygarm commented

That leads me to believe that only two minutes of it were positive for them and
the rest of it shows a disaster on board that does not help the Israeli Defence
Forces at all.

66
For Jamal Dajani of Link TV the reaction of people cheering and celebrating on the
streets of Tel Aviv showed that the spin was successful inside Israel, but he believed it
failed externally.594

Iara Lee said the Israelis had thought they had it all taken care of by jamming the
satellite system and attacking during the hours of darkness. They thought they would
be the only ones holding the information. But journalists had concealed the existence
of a backup system which had managed to transmit live some of the events and others
had managed to smuggle out photographs and videos. (Ms Lee‟s team had smuggled
out a crucial one hour‟s video footage.595 Kevin Neish had managed to conceal the
memory card from his camera in various places on his body during his internment
having thrown his expensive camera away to help conceal the film. On arrival in
Istanbul he had handed the memory card over to IHH and copies of his photos of the
three commandos under arrest by flotilla activists were published by a Turkish
newspaper on 7 June.596)

Gagging was also used against IHH whose online website was hit by a denial-of-service
(DoS) attack shortly before the raid started. The site was still off four days later. In
the interim the charity switched to its Facebook page. 597

Security services enforced strict censorship at Ela Prison 598 and Ben-Gurion airport,
preventing reporters from interviewing any of the activists. A blackout was imposed
on the names and nationalities of everyone on board and the locations of the wounded
were not revealed. Some details did leak out but journalists were prevented from
talking to hospitalized activists in Israel by soldiers stationed in the corridors of the
hospitals. Israeli journalists from Haaretz complained of extreme difficulty in accessing
military leaders when seeking interviews or comments. 599 Selected video footage
stolen from journalists by the IDF was posted without permission on You Tube entitled
„video taken on the Gaza flotilla‟.600

Jeff Halper explained the Israeli media strategy.

The actual action was a [P.R.] disaster. The violence: that was a disaster for
Israel. But I think Israel is trying to recoup that to some degree by turning the
whole thing on its head, where they (the people on the boat) were the violent
people, they were the terrorists. They were not just peace activists and they
ambushed our soldiers.601

An extreme example of this strategy was provided by Raphael Schutz, Israel‟s

ambassador to Spain who said in a newspaper interview on 4 June that Spaniards
should care more about the 23 people killed on the Spanish roads that weekend than
the nine people killed by Israeli soldiers. In the same interview he compared activists
on the flotilla to the terrorists who killed 191 people in a bomb on a Madrid train in
2004. An embassy spokesman later said the comments had been taken out of
context.602

Israeli sources have also publicised details of „weapons caches‟ found on the Mavi
Marmara. Photographs from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs show a selection of
sundry ship‟s equipment entitled „Weapons recovered on the Mavi Marmara‟. The
photographs show

 about 16 kitchen knives,

 three pocket knives,

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  a hanjar (see paragraph below)
 fifteen pickaxe handles,
 about twenty lengths of metal bar,
 two ring spanners,
 one pipe wrench,
 four small hammers,
 two sledge hammers,
 four fire axes,
 one paint roller handle,
 ten disc-cutter discs,
 two round files in handles,
 a short length of cord and
 two kaffiyehs.603

It is not possible to discern blood traces or any other indication that these items have
been violently used. Ordinary tools and furniture of this sort was used against Israeli
forces equipped with paintball guns, submachine guns and semi-automatic pistols.
One large-bladed ceremonial knife, called a hanjar, featuring prominently in all the
photos belonged to the Yemeni Member of Parliament Abdul-Khaliq Bin Shihon*. This
is a part of Yemeni culture, something that Yemeni men traditionally wear and has
nothing to do with violence.604 (It was nonetheless contrary to regulations to take the
knife onboard the ship. At the request of one of the organizers he had removed the
knife and put it in his luggage where the soldiers must have found it. 605)
[* Muhammed Nasar Hazme according to Kate Geraghty]
A photograph of by Mr Bin Shihon brandishing the hanjar also appeared in conjunction
with several articles in Haaretz during the week following the raid. The photograph,
which had in fact been taken before the ship departed from Istanbul, had been
supplied by the IDF and the original caption said that the picture had been taken after
the commando raid. After Max Blumenthal had queried the story with the IDF
spokesperson the caption had been changed by Haaretz to remove the false claim that
is had been taken after the raid. This correction had apparently following a tip from
the IDF.606

The IDF issued a recording on 4 June purporting to include anti-Semitic and racist
comments from persons on the Mavi Marmara broadcast over a marine radio channel.
(A longer version of the audio clip released on an IDF website on 31 May did not
contain any racist comments.607) The report was published in several Israeli and
international publications including Haaretz, Yedioth Ahronot and The Washington Post,
and aired at prime time in Israel that day (Friday). It has since been exposed as a
propaganda fraud by Ma‘an News and others.608 609 Huwaida Arraf, as Chair of the Free
Gaza Movement, can be heard in the broadcast answering the radio. For the whole
voyage Ms Arraf was on the Challenger I, not the Mavi Marmara. Confronted with this
the IDF admitted that it had tampered with the footage but still claimed the racist
comments had been made. (Neither Haaretz, nor Yedioth Ahronot have corrected their
stories, although the New York Times has covered the whole episode in detail.610) Ms
Arraf insisted that the radios had only been used by her and the ships‟ captains and
the other comments never took place over the radio. The voices making the racist
comments had male American accents whereas the captains were one British, one
Algerian, two Turks and two Greeks. As the broadcast had been recorded on
Challenger I„s radio which the soldiers had seized Ms Arraf challenged the IDF to
release this documentation if they have nothing to hide. So far they have failed to
provide this conclusive evidence,611 although the audio featured again in the videos
released with the Eiland Report on 12 July, again without any corroboration (discussed

68
in section 5.7.11.1 above). On 9 August the video clip which the IDF admitted to have
doctored still appeared on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs without any
explanation.

Max Blumenthal and Lia Tarachansky also forced the IDF to alter the title of a press
release which had falsely accused some members of the convoy of being Al Qaeda
mercenaries. The Israeli newspaper Yedioth, which had carried the story, did not
correct the falsehood. 612

An IDF press release issued on 6 June alleged that five passengers from the Mavi
Marmara were known to be involved in terrorist activity. No supporting evidence was
provided.613 When Max Blumenthal rang up the IDF spokespersons‟ office to ask for
further information he was told there was „very little intelligence‟ available on the case
and they were unable to give him any more information. This did not stop Haaretz
from running a story on 7 June based on the claims that the IDF had admitted it was
unable to substantiate.614 One of those mentioned was American lawyer Fatima
Mohammadi who said she was angry that they would attempt to discredit humanitarian
aid workers in such a fear-based manner.615 Another was Ken O‟Keefe who had
attempted to enter Gaza in 2004 to discuss a plan to take 10,000 international
observers to the Palestinian Territories. He was arrested and deported by Israeli
authorities. He told the Irish Times the statement was „slanderous‟ and that he was
considering suing the authorities, adding

…if they are really serious, am I on a hit list now? Will a Mossad hit squad
come and get me? They did that recently in Dubai and look what they did with
the flotilla last week.616

Another polemic developed around a request to the Free Gaza Movement from Noam
Shalit to deliver a letter and package (some accounts say letters and packages) for his
son who is an Israeli prisoner of war held incommunicado in Gaza. Nick Kaufmann, the
lawyer representing Mr Shalit said the family offered their full support to the flotilla if
they would urge Hamas to allow letters and food packages to be delivered to Gilad.
The organizers say they received this request late on 26 May shortly before they were
set to depart from Greece. The Irish senator Mark Daly agreed to carry any letter for
the soldier and to attempt to deliver it or, if the request was denied, to deliver it to
appropriate officials in the Hamas government. The lawyers for the family never got
back to them.617 The following day the story was widely reported by Israeli press and
radio. Haaretz reported that the Hamas government had declared it would block the
flotilla if the organizers agreed to the request. 618 The story in Ynet said that the Free
Gaza Movement‟s legal counsel had rejected the offer. 619 The story was also carried in
Artuz Sheva, Jerusalem Post and was aired on Army Radio. On 29 May Danny Ayalon,
the deputy prime minister of Israel, also made a statement about the matter. 620

11.0 REACTIONS IN THE KNESSET

MK Hanin Zoabi who was on the Mavi Marmara told Haaretz in an interview before she
joined the flotilla that she did not fear the reaction on her return.

No, the truth is that I'm not afraid because what will happen to me when I
come back is part and parcel of what happened to me before I left. The
incitement, the mantra which states that Arab MKs are extremists who do not

69
 represent their constituency. People say to us, ‗You are Israel-haters. You want
to destroy the state of Israel. You, you...‘ Whoever demands equality in the
Jewish state - and that apparently has become such a revolutionary, far-reaching
demand - ultimately ends up paying the price.621

During a debate in the Knesset on 2 June Ms Zoabi described the Israeli attack as a
„pirate military operation‟. She demanded an explanation for the order to confiscate
reporter‟s cameras and the reason why the government had banned the media from
publishing photos of the people killed on board. After another member of the Knesset
tried to physically attack her she was provided with bodyguards. A scuffle had broken
out on the podium causing other legislators to intervene on her behalf.622 Amidst
unruly scenes MK Miri Regev shouted at Ms Zoabi in Arabic „Go to Gaza, traitor‟. Aryeh
Eldad gave a short lecture on the life of the Irish propagandist Lord Haw Haw, who was
hanged by the British after WWII and given a dishonourable burial.623 Amongst many
insulting and disrespectful remarks from several members MK Moshe Mutz Matalon
said

Unfortunately, the [commando] fighters [who raided the flotilla] acted with too
much restraint. They left only nine floating voters.624

By mid-June more than 500 people had signed a Facebook page calling for Ms Zoabi‟s
execution. She now has two fulltime bodyguards but has no regrets and said if she
were to be invited she would do it again.625 „I don't care about the death threats to me
that much, my assistant deals with those‟ said Ms Zoabi,626

Minister of Interior Eli Yishai who had asked Defence Minister Ehud Barak to award
Citations of Valour to all the commandos involved in the incident627 also petitioned the
attorney general to revoke Ms Zoabi‟s citizenship saying „This is a premeditated act of
treason‟. On 7 June the Knesset again demonstrated disapproval of her actions when
the House Committee, by seven votes to one, recommended revoking three of Ms
Zoabi‟s privileges (exit the country, carry a diplomatic passport, and have the Knesset
cover litigation fees if she is put on trial).628 Feelings ran high when the move to
withdraw the privileges was confirmed by a Knesset vote of 34-16 on 13 July. MK
Anastassia Michaeli tried to hand Ms Zoabi a fake Iranian passport and echoed Ms
Zoabi‟s prescient comments to Haaretz six weeks previously by declaring

In every civilized country, a member of parliament who crosses the red line and
identifies with the enemy and arming the enemy with weapons of mass
destruction aimed at destroying his country's national foundations will not find in
his pocket a diplomatic passport of the country he aims to destroy.

Ms Zoabi remained unbowed and told her detractors

You are punishing me out of vengeance. When you threaten the Arab MKs and
the Arabs' protectors, you threaten democracy and co-existence between Jews
and Arabs.629

12.0 INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE RAID

On 1 June the UN Security Council issued a presidential statement in which

70
 The Security Council takes note of the statement of the UN secretary-general
on the need to have a full investigation into the matter and it calls for a prompt,
impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international
standards.630

In Israel this call was echoed on 6 June by ten senior Israel Navy reserve officers who
publicly called for an international inquiry. The group of patrol boat commanders up to
the rank of lieutenant commander called for the establishment of an external inquiry
committee. The letter said that other means could have been used to stop the Mavi
Marmara and called the incident a military and diplomatic failure. The signatories
declared

Above all, we object to the fact that responsibility for the disaster was
immediately shifted to the organizers of the flotilla. We view that as disrespect
for the value of responsibility, that must be placed primarily on those who
commanded and approved the operation.631

12.1 The Israeli commission of inquiry (the Turkel Commission)

Israel rejected calls for an international inquiry and insisted that it would appoint its
own committee to undertake the task. In response to pressure from the U.S.
administration a retired Israel Supreme Court judge, Yaakov Turkel was appointed to
head the inquiry.632 The other members appointed to the Commission were Maj-Gen
(ret.) Amos Horev and Shabbtai Rosen, professor of international law at Bar Ilan
University. David Trimble, former First Minister of Northern Ireland, and Ken Watkin,
former head of Canada‟s military judiciary were appointed as international
observers.633 Lord Trimble is also a co-founder of the newly-launched Israel advocacy
group, Friends of Israel.634

Paul Wood explained

An experienced politician like Benjamin Netanyahu knows that getting the

outcome you want from a public inquiry is all about the right terms of reference
and who you appoint to sit on the inquiry. So, the commission‘s remit does not
include looking at the process of government decision making which led to
the Israeli commando raid. It will instead focus on questions of international
law. And the two foreign observers who have been appointed are seen as
friends of Israel.635

There was strong criticism both inside and outside Israel about the inquiry. Haaretz
said the committee‟s authority was too limited and called the investigation a public
relations tool.636 Amnesty International said that it ‗looks to be neither independent nor
sufficiently transparent‘.637 Turkey‟s Foreign Minister said he had no trust at all that
Israel would conduct an impartial investigation while the Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas said the terms of the inquiry did not comply with the call from the UN
Security Council.638 The Free Gaza Movement said that Israel could not be trusted to
investigate its own actions.639

On 15 June Israeli civil rights group Gush Shalom petitioned the High Court of Justice
to void the decision to establish a public committee and instead create a national
committee to investigate the raid. The petitioners said that the public committee did
not have the authority to properly investigate the events leading to the raid. At Judge

71
Turkel‟s request the court delayed the petition while he sought to expand the authority
of his commission.640 It was later reported that the judge had threatened to resign
unless the government agreed to his request to extend the scope of the inquiry. 641 On
4 July the government agreed to grant authority to subpoena witnesses or evidence
and to allow testimony under oath, but IDF soldiers were excluded from subpoena on
the grounds of maintaining the independence of the Eiland Commission (see below).642

On 15 July it was announced that the Turkel committee was to be expanded to include
Reuven Merhay, a former diplomat who had served as director-general of the Foreign
Ministry, and Miguel Deutsch, a professor of law. It was also announced that Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Gabi
Ashkenazi will appear before the committee on 9, 10 and 11 of August. Their
testimonies would be made public.643

[Defence Minister Ehud Barak had been due to attend the Eurosatory arms fair in Paris
to promote Israeli merchandise. On 13 June his office announced that he would stay
home while Israel formed the committee to investigate the raid on the flotilla.
Informed sources have admitted that had Mr Barak travelled he was likely to have
been the subject of an arrest warrant from human rights groups acting under the
principle of universal jurisdiction.644 IHH president Bülent Yildirim claimed this was as a
result of a lawsuit filed by „our coalition‟.645 ]

12.2 UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 2 June 2010

In a resolution adopted by 32 votes (including two permanent Security Council

members) to 3 (one permanent Security Council member) with 9 abstentions (two
permanent Security Council members) the UNHRC

 Condemned the „outrageous attack by the Israeli forces‟;

 Deeply deplored the loss of life;
 Called upon Israel to fully cooperate with the ICRC to provide information on the
detained and injured persons;
 Demanded the release of all detainees and to safely facilitate their return home.
 Called upon Israel to lift the siege of Gaza;
 Called upon Israel to ensure unimpeded provision of humanitarian assistance;
 Welcomed the condemnation of the UN Secretary-General and the UN
Commissioner for Human Rights along with calls for full accountability and
credible independent inquiries;
 Decides to dispatch an independent international fact finding mission to
investigate violations of international law, including international humanitarian
and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships
carrying humanitarian assistance;
(Emphasis added)
 Authorized the President of the Council to appoint members to its fact-finding
mission who are to report their findings at the next session of the UNHRC;
 Decided to remain seized of the matter.646

The panel to investigate the raid was announced on 23 July as

 Judge Karl T Hudson-Phillips, QC, who had served on the International

Criminal Court and been Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs of
Trinidad and Tobago;

72
  Sir Desmond de Silva, QC (United Kingdom), who had served as Chief
Prosecutor of the UN backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in 2005, and
whose extensive experience including working on matters of human
rights, war crimes and terrorism;
 Mary Shanthi Dairiam (Malaysia) who had been serving on the Gender
Equality Task Force of the United Nations Development Programme and
is a specialist on women‟s rights.647

The President of the UNHRC, Ambassador Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the three
members of the mission had been selected for their independence, impartiality and
integrity. He added

This is not about finger pointing, it is about establishing the facts of what took
place because the incident was a humanitarian tragedy and it is in the interests
of everyone especially the families of those who lost their lives to establish the
facts.648

The panel is expected to report back to the next session of the Council which opens for
three weeks on 12 September.

An Israeli foreign ministry official derided the decision as

…part of the Rights Council‘s obsession against Israel. […] The Israeli probe,
[the Turkel Commission] conducted with transparency, makes the
organization‘s probe completely unnecessary. 649

Haaretz reported on 25 July that Israel did not intend to cooperate with the
investigation but that it would cooperate with the committee acting on behalf of the UN
Secretary General.650

Despite American and Israeli pressure to rescind the fact-finding mission it has
determinedly continued with its work. Flotilla survivors in Canada have been
contacted651 and members were in Turkey on 23 August visiting injured from the
flotilla who were still in the Atatürk Hospital in Ankara. Will in Turkey they were also
due to meet with government ministers and to visit the three aid ships which had been
transferred to İskenderun.652

12.3 IDF team of experts under Maj-Gen (Res.) Eiland

On 7 June the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi appointed a team of experts
to examine the military operation and to establish lessons to be learned from the raid.
The team of eight officers headed by Maj. Gen. (Res.) Giora Eiland, examined a range
of related topics included intelligence, command duties, personnel, media, technology,
medical and legal counsel and international law. The report was presented to Lt. Gen.
Ashkenazi and the Minister of Defence on 12 July 2010. A statement was released to
the press the same day, but the full report was not made public.

The team found that intelligence coordination was insufficient and that the level of
violent resistance was underestimated. It reported that there are no known methods
to stop a ship in a non-hostile manner but that no alternative courses of action had
been properly considered. The delay of releasing material to the press was noted but
commendations were given to the spokesperson, the preparations, the medical
evacuation, and especially the commandos who it said „operated properly with

73
professionalism, bravery and resourcefulness‟. It determined that the use of live fire
was justified.653

12.4 The investigation by Israel’s State Comptroller

Israel‟s State Comptroller, Micha Lindenstrauss, announced on 15 June that he would

investigate the legality of the government‟s decision-making for the raid, as well as
intelligence, public relations and media issues relating to the incident. Mr
Lindenstrauss pointed out that his inquiry would not address the tactical or operational
aspects of the raid which are being investigated internally by the Eiland team of
experts; neither would it investigate legal aspects to be covered by Justice Turkel‟s
committee.654

12.5 The UN Panel of Inquiry

Following two months of intensive consultation UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

announced the establishment of a Panel of Inquiry on the flotilla incident on 2 August.
On the same day the Israeli inner cabinet agreed to co-operate with the Panel. Mr Ban
expressed the hope that the investigation would meet the UN Security Council‟s call for
a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation. Reservations were
expressed about the terms of reference which were more directed towards how similar
events can be avoided in the future rather than an analysis of the events surrounding
the raid.655

The Panel comprised

 Sir Geoffrey Palmer, former New Zealand prime minister 1989--1990 and an
expert on constitutional and public law.
 Álvaro Uribe, outgoing Colombian president
 one representative each from Turkey and Israel

The inquiry was commissioned to begin on 10 August and submit a preliminary

progress report in mid-September. It was to sit entirely in New York and not visit the
Middle East at all.656

C.L. Cook writing in the Pacific Free Press said that Mr Uribe „Knows murder and
mayhem when he sees it‟, pointing out that the former president had become Israel‟s
primary weapons and security customer.657 Kenneth Roth, the Executive Director of
Human Rights Watch had written to President Obama on 26 June 2009 expressing

…serious concerns about the Uribe administration's record on and commitment

to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. 658

The inquiry will not have the authority to subpoena witnesses, especially members of
the IDF, but will receive reports handed in by investigative panels in Turkey and Israel.
It will be the first time that Israel has agreed to take part in a UN inquiry into actions
involving the IDF. The decision to accept the proposal followed pressure from the U.S.
administration which suggested that Israel‟s compliance could thwart anti-Israel
resolutions in the UN General Assembly and it was suggested might even bring about
the cancellation of the Human Rights Council Fact Finding Mission.659

Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a statement

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 Israel has nothing to hide. The opposite is true. It is in the national interest of
the state of Israel to ensure that the factual truth of the overall flotilla events
comes to light throughout the world and this is exactly the principle that we
are advancing. 660

The opposition leader Tzipi Livni attacked the decision on 3 August saying it would
expose the IDF to international scrutiny. She complained that because of the Israeli
government‟s „stuttering‘ there were five investigative committees probing one small
military operation.661

12.6 The UN Human Rights Committee

The Human Rights Committee of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights held it 99th session in Geneva in July. In its concluding observations
on 30 July the committee expressed its concern about the absence of independence of
the Israeli commission of inquiry and the prohibition to question the officials of the
armed forces involved in the incident. It declared

The State party should lift its military blockade of the Gaza Strip, insofar
as it adversely affects the civilian population. The State party should
invite an independent, international fact-finding mission to establish the
circumstances of the boarding of the flotilla, including its compatibility
with the Covenant.662
(Emboldenment in the original)

The Covenant referred to here is the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights which Israel ratified on 3 October 1991. 663 Although the committee‟s
recommendations are non-binding they add to the pressure on Israel to explain what
happened during the attack on the flotilla.

12.7 Legal proceedings

i. German members of parliament Annette Groth and Inge Höger, who were on
the Mavi Marmara, filed a war crimes complaint against Israel on 11 June. The
complaints were for

…numerous potential offences, including war crimes against individuals

and command responsibility […] as well as false imprisonment.

International criminal law expert Florian Jessberger explained

There is cause to believe that false imprisonment was perpetrated as

understood by German law. German criminal law would have jurisdiction
irrespective of the fact that the act was perpetrated on the high seas.

German public prosecutors were investigating whether there was enough

evidence to warrant pursuing the case further.664

ii. Israeli-Swedish peace activist and artist Dror Feiler said on 12 June he would
file suit against Israel for assault and false imprisonment. 665

iii. Eight French nationals announced on 12 June that they will start legal
proceedings in the French courts for abduction, illegal confinement, violence

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 with arms, hijacking and theft and in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for
war crimes. The submission before of the ICJ was serving notice to the
prosecutor who would decide whether to proceed with the case or not. The
plaintiffs‟ lawyer emphasised that the Israel government‟s decision to lead its
own inquiry lacks credibility.666

iv. On 15 June the Free Gaza Movement announced that it is working with lawyers
in a number of countries including Turkey, the UK, the Netherlands, Israel and
the United States in order to pursue legal action against Israel.667 Prof Richard
Falk said a civil suit could be initiated in the United States under the Tort Claims
Act which allows victims to sue for damages.668

v. In the UK the Palestine Legal Aid Fund offered on 15 June to represent

passengers wishing to assert their rights through legal action against Israel.
The fund already has a team of six internationally renowned lawyers which
intend to launch a court case in Britain on behalf of activists illegally abducted
and imprisoned.669

vi. IHH is seeking to file lawsuits against Israel in international courts and
convened a conference to discuss procedures for this to which lawyers from 25
other countries attended. Lawyers from Israel declined to attend because IHH
is defined as a terrorist organization in their country, meaning that legal
proceedings could be taken against Israeli participants.670

12.8 U.S. Freedom of Information request

The Center for Constitutional Rights filed eight Freedom of Information Act requests
on 30 June. The requests sought to know

 what, if any, communications were made between the U.S. government and
Israel prior to and after the attack;
 what, if any, information the U.S. shared before or after with Israel about
any of the U.S. citizens abroad;
 what was done to secure the release of detained citizens;
 what is being done to return property seized from U.S. citizens and other
passengers and to ensure that such property, which includes evidence for
any investigations into the attack, is not tampered with or destroyed.
 A request was also made regarding communications with other countries
and with organizations such as NATO in relation to the attack on the flotilla.
 A request was made for information about U.S. policy towards Israel‟s
blockade of Gaza.671

13.0 COMMENTARY

1. The activists were restricted in their movements and ability to talk both on the
ships and at Ashdod, and there is no record that they were allowed to freely
associate at Be‟er Sheva, although some exchange of information did occur. On
their release they were not allowed to congregate at Tel Aviv, and battered and
exhausted they very quickly went home. As a result their testimonies were
given in many different locations and to different media outlets. Despite this
the testaments are consistent, with little variation, and they agree in detail with
the very few photographs or records that evaded Israeli capture. There has

76
 been no attempt by those involved to deny the defence of the Mavi Marmara,
and the difference with Israeli accounts is one of interpretation.

By contrast the Israeli authorities now have possession and control of most of
the photographic and recorded evidence. They have interrogated all the
activists and had access to all Israeli personnel involved in the raid and all the
ships on which the violence occurred. Despite the wealth of evidence available
to them Israeli accounts have contained serious inconsistencies and deficiencies
while only a small, selected amount of corroborating evidence has been
released. (Many of these inconsistencies are assessed in section 5.7 above.)
Many serious allegations concerning the activists and their intentions have been
made on the basis of inadequate and flawed evidence, and even on the basis of
no evidence whatsoever. As a result it is difficult to avoid the suspicion of a
cover-up. The resistance to any form of international inquiry, coupled with the
restricted terms of reference given to the Turkel committee only strengthens
these concerns.

2. Working within these limitations the following sequence of events has been
deduced from the material presented above.

i. The flotilla set sail carrying humanitarian aid and activists who were intent on
distributing the aid and financial assistance to worthy causes in the Gaza
Strip. It was an international and multi-faith mission solely intent on
humanitarian relief.

ii. Despite an agreement to pursue non-violent resistance there was an

organized group on the Mavi Marmara that was determined to defend the
ship against any violent attack, which it regarded as illegal under international
law, for the sole purpose of ensuring that all of the humanitarian aid reached
legitimate recipients in Gaza. This group was prepared to use non-lethal force
to achieve this aim and had brought on board catapults (slingshots) and
probably metal cutting equipment with a view to fulfil this purpose. This
group was known about and encouraged by upper echelons within IHH.

iii. There were persons on board who were prepared to suffer injury and even
death to achieve delivery of the humanitarian cargo direct to Gaza if
confronted by military force.

iv. Israeli intelligence was probably aware that there were some elements on
board willing to defend the ship by forceful means, but may have
underestimated the determination of these people when confronted with
heavily armed commandos.

v. A rudimentary defence plan for the ship was enacted on the evening of 30
May after Israeli ships were located on the ship‟s radar. This consisted of
deploying militants on the upper deck and along the sides of the open decks.
These militants were armed with wooden staves, metal bars and chains cut
from the ship‟s railings, catapults and in some cases knives. Nuts, bolts,
bottles and even tomatoes have been reported to have been thrown at the
attackers, and these items were probably all made ready. The ship‟s fire
hoses were also laid out ready for use. There is no credible evidence to
support allegations that firearms or any other specialist weapons beyond
catapults and a small quantity of anti-assailant spray (plus an ornamental

77
 hanjar, which had been put away) were on the ship before the Israeli
commandos boarded.

vi. Both sides have complained about the misuse of the marine band radio
channel on the night 30/31 May. Since the Israeli authorities are in
possession of taped records of all of the messages relayed the onus is on
those authorities to furnish the evidence relating to this matter. The failure to
do so is regarded here as significant.

vii. The Israel Navy attempted, with a large degree of success, to block all
communications from the flotilla to outside destinations from about 04:00 on
the morning of 31 May. This hostile act appears to have been done for the
sole purpose of preventing the dissemination of reports, including those from
independent media sources, on the raid that was to follow.

viii. The attack occurred during total darkness outside of territorial waters and
outside of the illegally declared closed military zone that Israel had applied
after the flotilla had set sail. The period of darkness was probably used to
make photography more difficult, to disguise the attacker‟s actions, and to
spread fear among the passengers and defenders on the ships. No valid
humanitarian motive for the timing has been suggested. The location was
probably dictated by this being the last opportunity for a night raid before the
flotilla arrived close to the coast of Gaza.

ix. The flotilla had changed course to head for El-Arish (in Egypt) rather than
Gaza in order to try to avoid a night-time confrontation, hoping for the
opportunity to negotiate their intentions and actions during daylight.

x. No warning or announcement was given before the attack began.

xi. It is not known whether any action to disable the Mavi Marmara was
attempted and failed. Although this is unlikely it cannot totally be ruled out.

xii. The three passenger ships were targeted first and the attack began when
members of one of Israel‟s elite forces came alongside and boarded the
Sfendoni from zodiac light inflatable craft. Passengers and crew on the vessel
were attacked with non-lethal arms. Despite the employment of only non-
violent resistance by the defenders the amount of force used was excessive
and several civilians were injured onboard.

xiii. The attack on the Mavi Marmara was concurrent with that on the Sfendoni
(Challenger I had initially tried to make a run). It began with commandos
attempting to board the open area at the stern of the second deck (the lowest
open area on the ship) from zodiacs coming along both sides. Although the
first offensive action may have been the hurling of objects, such as nuts, bolts
or tomatoes, from the ship, it is probable that the commandos initiated the
action that they were certainly intent on. Paintball guns, stun grenades, tear
gas and rubber-coated bullets were all used as soon as the zodiacs were
within range of their target. The attack was beaten off principally by the use
of fire hoses while objects were also thrown into the small boats and the
defenders prevented the scaling ladders from being used. The zodiacs
withdrew a few lengths so as to be out of range, but maintained their
position.

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 xiv. Four helicopters are believed to have been airborne above the convoy. Lethal
fire was initiated from more than one of these before any further attempt was
made to board the ship. Two persons are reported to have been killed or
fatally injured by this fire. Live fire was initiated from the Zodiacs moments
later. At this stage no commando had even attempted to descend from a
helicopter. The use of live fire would have been ordered by a senior officer
presumably with at least the knowledge of the Navy Commander Maj Gen
Marom. This was not self-defence: no member of the Israeli forces was under
attack at that stage (the zodiacs had pulled away, no soldier had exited a
helicopter and there was no firing from the ship).

xv. Two ropes were dropped from a helicopter onto the upper (fifth) deck. One of
the ropes was pulled aside and tied to the deck as the first commando
descended, after which it was no longer used, thus slowing down the
boarding. The commandos were attacked by a mêlée as they landed on deck.
Passengers punched, pushed and hit the soldiers with iron bars and staves
(and in one case a chair was also wielded). Soldiers appear to have been hit
while lying on the deck. Soldiers trying to run for shelter were hit and in at
least one case stabbed. At least two soldiers were rolled over the deck
parapet and dropped five metres on to the third deck. (There is no fourth
deck at this point.) One was hit on the hand to make him let go of the
parapet.

xvi. Guns taken off the soldiers were thrown over the side. There is no evidence
that any defender ever fired any gun during the attack and the allegation,
widely touted by Israeli sources is not accepted here. One pistol was kept by
Ken O‟Keefe and intended to be used later as evidence. (This is probably the
only weapon taken by the defenders that was not thrown into the sea.)

xvii. Meanwhile the zodiacs near the stern made a second attempt to board and
were again repelled.

xviii. Nine soldiers were injured in the fighting. Three of the injured soldiers were
taken into custody and well-treated on direct orders from the IHH president to
one of his senior aides. The captives had all their equipment removed, and
were led (and in one case carried) to the area where very basic medical
treatment was given and the terrified soldiers were protected and reassured.
Afterwards they were taken down to the first deck which was considered the
safest place for them. After the ship surrendered they were taken for release
onto the bow area of the third deck. When their colleagues fired on their
captors these passengers quickly fled. Two of the former captives jumped
overboard (a drop of eight metres) and swam to a nearby zodiac, while the
third was collected by colleagues.

xix. The last frame of the infrared footage released by the IDF shows two
commandos facing the defenders, one with paintball gun at the ready and the
other with a pistol similarly held. The pistol is probably a Glock semi-
automatic weapon with a 17 round magazine. It is assumed that this is
critical point where the soldiers took control by firing indiscriminately into the
crowd with the end result that at least nine were killed and around 55 were
injured, many seriously.

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 xx. The claim purportedly originated from the Eiland Report that soldiers twice
fired at the legs of their assailants is not accepted here. The Turkish autopsy
report and witness statements suggest that targeted killings occurred and
that some of this was frenzied. Many of those killed had been shot in the
head, often repeatedly. Many of the wounded survivors were shot in the
upper body and even in the head. Eiland‟s assertion, which the IDF claims is
the result of investigation and deliberation by nine senior IDF officers, is
refuted by solid evidence. A further uncorroborated assertion from the same
source that soldiers were fired at several times from within the ship is
rejected here as untrue for similar reasons.

xxi. As the casualties began to rise swiftly the IHH president ordered a surrender,
but appeals for a ceasefire were ignored. After the bridge was captured an
announcement was broadcast calling on the activists to stop fighting.
Recognising that their bid to get to Gaza had failed the defenders quietly
dropped their rudimentary weapons and walked inside.

xxii. While the IDF injured appear to have been quickly taken to hospital some of
the civilian wounded died before they were allowed any medical treatment,
possibly as a result of this denial of basic human rights.

xxiii. Treatment of detainees on the Mavi Marmara was often inhumane and at
times was even cruel and sadistic. Much of the behaviour of the soldiers was
barbaric and showed contempt for their responsibility under international law.
The airlift of thirty-nine seriously injured passengers took more than seven
hours to complete.

xxiv. The Challenger I which broke free from the flotilla attack was pursued and
boarded shortly after. Following the boarding some non-violent activists were
brutally attacked.

xxv. The Eleftheri Mesogeio was attacked by tear gas and live fire at around 06:30.
Commandos fast roped onto the deck and boarded from zodiacs. There was
considerable violence by the Israelis during the takeover and some
passengers were badly beaten.

xxvi. The two cargo ships Gazze I and Defne Y were seized later in the morning by
commandos, apparently without violence.

3. The question of legality of the siege is fundamental to the legality of Israel‟s

attack on the flotilla. The press release on 14 June from the ICRC detailing the
humanitarian crisis in Gaza invalidated the last pretence of any justification for
the blockade under the San Remo Manual, which has been Israel‟s defence for
its actions. Articles 10 and 103 make it clear that a blockade must not be
implemented if the damage to the civilian population is excessive. Although the
raid on the flotilla took place before the release of the ICRC statement, relief
agencies and NGOs have long reported dire conditions in Gaza. For example in
January 2009, in response to a statement denying the humanitarian crisis by
the then Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, UNRWA spokesman Christopher
Gunness said her statement was „utter nonsense‟ citing

 a million people without electricity;

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  three-quarters of a million people without running water;
 middle income families burning their furniture to heat food;
 hospitals running their services 24/7 on generators.

Although Mr Gunness was describing the situation during Israel‟s Operation Cast
Lead assault, the stringent closure conditions imposed on Gaza have
determined that no serious reconstruction has occurred and there has been no
significant improvement in living conditions for the vast majority of Gazans
since Mr Gunness so forcefully rebuked Ms Livni. In reality the humanitarian
crisis had been in existence for a long time before the flotilla raid and Israeli
politicians are well aware of this.

4. Regardless of legality of the raid, the level of violence used by the IDF was
excessive and cannot in any way be considered proportional. Initial fire from
the helicopter was indiscriminate. Furkan Doğan was shot five times at a range
of 45cm. Five of the deceased were shot in the head, in one case at a distance
of between two and fourteen centimetres. 672 Five were apparently shot while
moving away. Having taken control of the upper deck the commandos then
shot live fire onto the lower decks at people who posed no threat to them at all.
There was no attempt at this stage to use the paintball guns as an alternative.
There are also testimonies of persons already injured being shot on the ground.

5. Senior politicians have publicly expressed approval for the way the raid was
conducted. For example on 2 June Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak
visited some of the commandos in question and told them: „I came in the
name of the Israeli Government to say “thank you‟”.673 There is reason to
suppose therefore that the abuse was deliberate and planned, and formed
part of a political policy that was premeditated.

6. In this context the attacks on previous vessels seeking to break the blockade
can be seen to be part of a pattern.

i. The MV Dignity belonging to the Free Gaza Movement was attacked by the
Israel Navy on 30 December 2008 while sailing from Larnaca to Gaza. The
attack came without any provocation or warning, in international waters and
in darkness during the early hours of the morning. The vessel was rammed
at speed three times by a gunboat approximately 50 miles from land in
winds of force 4 to 5 and a 3 metre sea. The Dignity‟s Mayday call was
unanswered by the two Israeli gunboats in the near vicinity which accused
the boat‟s occupants over the maritime radio of being subversive and
involved with terrorists. The gunboats then threatened to shoot if the
stricken boat did not turn back. Miraculously there was no loss of life on
that occasion and the boat was able to reach the port of Sour unaided. 674

ii. In February 2009 the cargo ship Tali was attacked by the Israel Navy and
taken to the port of Ashdod. Al Jazeera reported that the ship was fired on
by the Israel Navy and about 20 passengers were kicked and beaten.
Israeli sources said a small quantity of the reputed 50 tonnes of food and
medical supplies on board would be delivered to Gaza. 675

iii. The Israel Navy threatened to open fire on the Spirit of Humanity on 30
June 2009 which was hijacked 12 hours later to Ashdod where the abducted
passengers and crew were incarcerated. Of the cargo destined for Gaza,

81
 only the medical supplies are known to have been delivered, while the other
goods including food, toys and construction materials are presumed to have
been destroyed. The boat has never been returned neither has any
compensation been paid.676

7. Although non-lethal force was used to defend the Mavi Marmara the often
repeated accusations that this was a lynching do not stand scrutiny. (Mr
Netanyahu‟s fantastic claim, quoted at the beginning of this report, that the
commandos were attacked and almost lynched while „inspecting‟ the ships does
not deserve consideration. Only a charlatan or a fool would dare to suggest
that this bloody raid was in any way an inspection.) It must first be
remembered that disarming or disabling a well-trained and well-armed
commando suspected of having just killed an unarmed colleague (and maybe
long-term friend) was a desperate action for the irregular band of untrained
and ill-equipped civilians. It was highly dangerous with scant margin for error.
Had the commando not been immobilised the consequences would most likely
have been deadly, as indeed they were shortly after.

Despite the inevitable anger and the adrenaline surge no attempt was made
to shoot any Israeli soldier. They were disarmed and their weapons thrown
away or in one case immobilised. Captured soldiers were not killed but treated
with chivalry. Once control of the ship had been lost the resistance immediately
stopped and there were no suicide attempts to kill or maim any Israeli. At all
times the amount of force used by the defenders of the ship was proportional
and carried out with the sole purpose of protecting the humanitarian aims of
the mission. This is not the behaviour of a lynch mob with a blood lust

8. Many commentators have described the flotilla as an unnecessary provocation.

An Israeli government video says the flotilla organizers were told they would be
allowed to dock in Ashdod and unload the supplies they had on board for
transfer to Gaza. (The Israeli Government Spokesman Mark Regev qualified
this to „every single humanitarian item‟.) The video tells us that the decision to
seize the ships was taken

…only after the flotilla organizers made it clear that they had no
intention of cooperating in any way…677

In fact the flotilla organizers did not reject all possibilities of cooperation. It has
been reported that by consensus the crew and passengers of the Rachel Corrie
had offered to undergo an inspection by the IDF, supervised by the UN, in
international waters before proceeding under UN escort to Gaza. We know also
that this offer was rejected by the Israeli government. Huwaida Arraf had
made a similar offer on behalf of the flotilla while it was still heading towards
Gaza, and this offer was ignored. The New York Times on 4 June reported that
„a senior military official‟ said that Israel had not considered searching the cargo
before unloading it in Gaza.678 Captain Graham gave the reason for rejecting
the Israeli offer to go to Ashdod as concern that some of the cargo would not be
delivered, presumably because he knew that much of the cargos from the Spirit
of Humanity and the Tali never arrived in Gaza. It is now known that despite
worldwide attention, at least one lorry load of flotilla aid has gone to landfill in
the Negev, while the cement and steel lay slowly deteriorating in Haifa harbour
for weeks. All computers on board were trashed or stolen, despite some of
them being bound for schools in Gaza where there is a desperate need. (Mr

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 Regev‟s distinction here becomes important, especially when Israel is sole
arbiter of the definition of the term „humanitarian‟ and is in sole charge of its
application.) Israel‟s lack of good faith coupled with caprice and deceit
vindicated the flotilla organisers‟ attempts to retain full responsibility for their
cargo free of Israeli control and meddling. Expecting illegal intervention to
frustrate their humanitarian aims the organizers had to decide on their
alternatives. The Bulgarian journalist Svetoslav Ivanovo witnessed these
discussions.

I cannot say this was organized provocation, but the conditions for all
this to occur were right there – it was like – let's try to pass the
blockade, and if we don't succeed, let's at least make headlines. But
no one expected the toll that ended up being paid by the Turkish
ship.679

Acknowledging the provocation Iara Lee said

It was, in the sense that civil rights protesters in the American south
who sat at segregated lunch counters represented a provocation to
segregationists, or in the sense that all non-violent protests against
the illegitimate acts of a government are by definition provocations.
Under an illegal siege, the delivery of aid to civilians is a prohibited
act; the intent of our humanitarian convoy was to violate this unjust
prohibition.680

For Tauqir Sharif, getting to Gaza was the sole point of the trip.

It wasn't about shaming the Israeli Government – they do that for

themselves.681

9. Other commentators have stated that allowing the flotilla to pass would open up
a new weapons corridor to Hamas. This consideration cannot be separated
from the widespread suffering in Gaza and it is callous and inhumane to
consider the security threat in isolation. Working for social justice, dignity and
freedom for the Gazan people is not only a just cause in itself, it is also a means
to militate against the sense of frustration and resentment which currently fuels
the violence against southern Israel. The flotilla organisers have repeatedly
stated that all the cargo had been inspected (and Israeli authorities have never
disputed this claim). If in future all vessels heading for Gaza port were required
to obtain similar verification and to submit to a neutral inspection prior to
entering Gazan water there can be no justification for claims that such traffic
will in any way affect Israel‟s security. The use of security considerations to
justify actions which needlessly and drastically impinge on the living conditions
of one and half million people is not only morally invalid but contrary to the
principles of international humanitarian law.

10. It is appropriate here to consider the term „terrorism‟ which has been used by
certain Israelis against members of the flotilla. The FBI definition for the word
is

Terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or

property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population,

83
 or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social
objectives.682

Because of the illegal nature of the raid and the blockade the activists, who
were attempting by legal means to reach Gaza, cannot correctly be called
terrorists, whereas the state of Israel, which was unlawfully exercising force or
violence against part of the civilian population, (the activists) in furtherance of
political objectives, should correctly be described as having conducted state
terrorism.

From the pattern of Israeli attacks at sea which have been occurring for at least
eighteen months, (and for much longer against Gazan fishermen) it can be seen
that there is a deliberate policy of terror employing reckless violence and
intimidation as a tool to enforce the illegal use of power and control.

11. This terror has been explained away by programmes of lies and deception. It is
impossible to accept for example that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign
Minister Lieberman could both be ignorant of the truth when they each stated
publicly that activists on five of the ships in the flotilla were unharmed. It is not
possible to believe that Mr Netanyahu and his Defence Minister Ehud Barak did
not know that the commander of the Israel Navy personally oversaw the
deployment of a naval fleet in a meticulously planned terrorist operation in
international waters which killed, injured, assaulted, robbed, abducted,
detained, maltreated, psychologically abused, humiliated, insulted and vilified
hundreds of unarmed civilians of many nations for daring to commit themselves
to the principle of universal human rights, even in Gaza under Israeli
occupation.

12. As detailed in section 5 above witnesses have testified to IDF troops violently
attacking the flotilla‟s smaller passenger craft on 31 May.

On MV Eleftheri Mesogeio
People were attacked by rubber-coated bullets and tasers and one was
beaten up; they were handcuffed and mistreated.
On MV Challenger I
 One woman had her head banged on the deck and trod on,
 another had her nose split by a projectile,
 other passengers were tasered, dragged around the deck and hit
with rifle butts.
On MV Sfendoni
 One man who has a heart condition was shot with a rubber-coated
bullet, beaten in the groin and the head and kicked on the deck,
 another was thrown to the deck twice and then kicked or hit on the
head,
 an activist was tasered in the head, legs and back,
 the captain suffered a punctured ear drum along with neck and back
injuries,
 A medical doctor almost fainted from pain after he was knocked to
the floor where he was kicked and hit with rifle butts,
 Paul Larudee who had escaped by jumping in the sea had been
punched repeatedly and pushed under water and maltreated
afterwards.
(One of the witnesses here is a former U.S. Ambassador.)

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 Yet on 1 June in answer to a question from Jon Snow on Channel 4 News Mark
Regev, spokesman for the prime minister of Israel could shamelessly reply

There were six interceptions yesterday, six interceptions. All done by

the Israeli Navy, all, five of them were done peaceably without violence
without harm to soul to people.[sic]683

13. Mr Regev‟s brazen misrepresentation of the truth is matched by Ron Ben

Yishai‟s account that commandos were told to verbally convince activists to give
up, and the 3 June BBC account of soldiers intending to talk to activists and
convince them to unboard [sic] the ship. These stories are contrary to the
testimony of Dror Feiler that he had tried to talk with soldiers on the Eleftheri
Mesogeio but had been beaten up, reports that four activists who had sought
dialogue outside the wheelhouse of the Sfendoni were summarily beaten and
that of Dr Fintan Lane who had a gun pointed in his face by a screaming
commando when he tried to reason with soldiers on the Challenger I.

14. It is a sad reflection of BBC journalism that its news service published this story
without any reference to conflicting accounts from the activists who had by that
time already been released. Fortunately other news channels have higher
standards of journalistic integrity. Because of coverage like that of Al Jazeera
and Press TV the world was able to see the initial phases of the attack and to
learn promptly that people on the flotilla were being killed. Only through the
courageous initiative of the Cultures of Resistance team was uncensored and
unedited video footage released which showed some of the carnage resulting
from an attack by elite combat troops on civilians. At least two individuals also
managed to get images out and disseminate their material. The importance of
having this testimony in the public domain where it defies the tyranny of
Israel‟s attempt to suppress the truth cannot be exaggerated. Human rights
are promoted by journalists who keep faith with the principles of their calling
and justice was well served by those who showed courage and conviction on the
Mavi Marmara. That no mainstream European or American media organization
had chosen to cover the story from the flotilla is an indictment of their priorities
and principles.

15. Some citizens of major western nations were no better served by their
diplomats. While American diplomacy was unfazed by the murder of one of its
citizens by a close ally, Canadian and British diplomats meekly submitted to
Israel‟s total contempt for diplomatic convention. Small nations such as
Serbian and Jordan accorded proper concern for the rights of their citizens, yet
it took the intervention of Turkish officials to ensure that British and Canadian
citizens were not overlooked in Israeli jails. In the case of Jamal Elshayyal,
British citizenship becomes of questionable value when a British subject
engaged in a legal activity can be attacked, abducted, imprisoned, denied
consular access and robbed of his possessions including his passport (by a state
which only this year has been found guilty by a British inquiry of the illegal use
of British passports for the purpose of carrying out a murder) without the
government bothering to even make a formal diplomatic complaint.

16. Tribute should be paid to the human rights activists in Israel who have been
part of the struggle with their support of the convoy. Adalah has worked hard

85
 with very limited resources and against official obstruction to provide legal aid
to convoy participants. Gush Shalom has successfully challenged in court the
limitations of the Turkel Commission. Their contribution to the struggle for
universal human rights is noble and courageous, and of the greatest
importance.

17. The raid was a blatant violation of international mores which could only have
happened because Mr Netanyahu and Mr Barak ordered it. That it was not an
accident or a rogue operation is attested to by the fact that the Navy
Commander was nearby in a small boat overseeing the raid. The violence,
abuse and general criminality of the operation must have been planned and
sanctioned at the highest level, presumably as a warning to discourage any
similar action in the future. Despite the Officer-in-Charge of the commando
unit going on board the ship while at sea the wayward behaviour of the
commandos continued as detainees and even the wounded were mistreated
abused and humiliated apparently with this officer‟s approval, and by
implication with the approval of the Commander of the Navy. Demonstrably,
Israel‟s Navy is in the charge of a man who tolerates widespread barbarity in
his command.

18. The most important part of the raid that did not go according to plan resulted
from a resolute determination on the part of people who believe in
humanitarian justice. There was a hard core of militant activists on the ship
who were prepared to fight and even to die in an attempt to get aid to the
population of Gaza under siege. The size of the Mavi Marmara made it easier
to defend and the zodiac attack was quickly repelled. At the same time the
upper deck did not present a large area for landing which effectively reduced
the speed at which commandos could be placed on deck, while the deck itself
was occupied by a hostile crowd. While the directive from Bülent Yildirim was to
arrest the intruders (of necessity by force), the soldiers and their superior
officers probably did believe the intention was a lynching. The Israeli policy on
siege breaking since the attack on the MV Dignity has been one of zero
tolerance. Ships have been diverted by threat of force or the actual use of
excessive force, with reckless disregard for the risk of casualties. A lack of
interest from international mainstream media and a tolerance by international
politicians for Israel‟s internal policy of impunity has allowed Israeli leaders to
continue these criminal policies. So when it was faced with a standoff, the
military machine simply moved up a gear. The persuasive techniques of
paintball guns, stun grenades, tear gas and rubber bullets had failed to
convince. In response people on deck were shot dead to amplify the message.
Once that line had been crossed the violence showed limited restraint and a
turkey shoot began. People were shot repeatedly at close range, mostly shot in
the upper body without any attempt to merely disable, and wounded victims
were shot again on the ground. Once the resistance was overcome the lethal
violence stopped, to be replaced by wholesale callous and barbaric treatment of
what were now the detainees. People were humiliated, maltreated and abused,
largely regardless of age, gender or rank while the process of official and
unofficial brigandry and pilfering began.

The resistance had been stout and initially successful. Even after taking
casualties it had at first held out. The first commandos to land were disabled
after their descent had been slowed when one of the two descent ropes was
rendered inoperable. It is appropriate to speculate what would have happened

86
 if both ropes had been disabled and the landing operation had faltered,
particularly if one or more commandos were by then in captivity. Within the
framework of a policy of zero tolerance, a climate of impunity and a stated
policy to do whatever was necessary stop the flotilla what would the next step
have been? General Marom we know had at his disposal machine guns,
warships and at least one submarine. Standing orders dictate that soldiers
should not remain captive and allowed to be held hostage, even if their lives are
forfeited. It is not unfair to ask if there was a scenario in which Gen Marom,
with the full backing of his political masters, would have ordered the sinking of
the ship. A tally of nine dead and fifty-five wounded was probably not the
highest price that Israeli leaders were prepared to exact in order to enforce
their policies and convey their threats against humanitarian meddling.

19. The other important failure for the IDF was the inability to completely shut
down the broadcasts by journalists on the flotilla and to take control of all
camera and video footage. The commitment and resourcefulness of journalists
and photographers ensured that the start of the raid was broadcast live to the
world. This in turn meant that sympathetic mainstream news outlets were no
longer able to ignore the story. The same commitment to truth and journalistic
integrity also resulted in material being smuggled out of detention, despite the
continual body searches intended to forestall this. As a result some of the
blatant falsehoods in the Israeli version of events were exposed, and the world
was able to see that members of an elite commando had been captured by
civilians and treated with due respect, that people had been shot in the head,
that IDF claims to passively convince activists were a figment and that the
boarding of the Mavi Marmara was neither a civilized policing exercise by the
assailants nor an unprovoked lynching by the defenders.

20. The fact that Israel did try to gain control of all footage and other evidence of
the event makes it responsible for producing evidence to explain some of the
contested parts of the story. Regrettably so far this responsibility has been
completely shirked on some very important issues. Evidence that is
immediately required in the public domain includes:

 The audio tape from the marine radio of Challenger I to settle the
dispute over the racist radio broadcasts.
 The remainder of the infrared footage filmed from the water toward the
starboard side of the Mavi Marmara both before and after the sequence
so far released. This should confirm or disprove the testimony
concerning live fire from the helicopter before commandos descended.
It is also likely to show the shootings of some of the passengers on the
upper deck.
 Infrared footage taken from the helicopter at the same time, which
should help to confirm or disprove Israeli claims that firearms were used
by militant defenders.
 Any other infrared footage of the event which has so far not been
released.
 The full footage, filmed in secret, of the long interrogations of the ship‟s
captain and chief engineer.
 All footage taken on board the ships after the Israelis had taken control,
which might show how at least some of the detainees were treated.
 All spent cartridges and cases found on the Mavi Marmara should be
made available for independent forensic analysis.

87
  Details to all injuries sustained by IDF personnel during the raid.
 Full details of all weapons used by the IDF in the raid.
 A full inventory of all property taken from passengers and crew.
 A full cargo manifest for the flotilla from the ports of Ashdod and Haifa
with full details on transfer and disposal.
 Footage taken from camera crews on the other passenger boats in order
to assess the allegations of the Eiland report that violent resistance was
employed on all of these boats.

21. Mr Netanyahu ordered an inadequate committee of inquiry, labelled a „farce‟ by

one Israeli newspaper,684 to exonerate the plotters and the perpetrators of the
raid of any blame. Dissent both within and without Israel eventually forced the
government to upgrade the committee to give it more scope and credibility. At
the same time the government has agreed to cooperate with the UN Panel set
up by the Secretary General to investigate the raid with a view to avoiding
similar events in the future. This first-ever agreement by the state of Israel to
cooperate in an external inquiry into its actions is to be welcomed, particularly
since Turkey will also have a significant input. But there remains much to give
cause for concern. The U.S. administration is backing the UN Panel, whose
independent members consist of constitutional lawyer who headed a whaling
commission, and a former Colombian president notorious for alleged links with
organised crime and widespread human rights abuse. What the Americans are
backing this panel against is the UN Human Rights Council Fact-Finding Mission
headed by a barrister who has served as a judge at the International Criminal
court and which also includes the former Chief Prosecutor at the Special court
for Sierra Leone. Far from merely wishing to avoid similar events in the future,
the fact finding mission is charged with investigating violations of international
law, including that relating to humanitarian and human rights law, resulting
from the raid. This is a task for which the two members mentioned here are
eminently equipped to undertake. Just how far this will lead the mission to
investigate the closure of Gaza will remain to be seen, providing the mission
survives that is. The U.S. administration is clearly out to get the fact-finding
mission which threatens to be even more of a problem to Israel than its
predecessor, the Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (otherwise known as
the Goldstone Commission). Whether the current mission (whose formation
was backed by Russian and China but opposed by the U.S.) can survive the
political onslaught may ultimately decide whether any genuine steps are taken
within the UN to seek justice against the perpetrators of the flotilla raid.

22. The violent enforcement of the blockade, which was intended to stifle any
challenge to its existence, has only served to motivate the survivors of this
flotilla and their supporters to increase efforts to pressurise Israel. By raising
awareness and appealing to world opinion they seek to persuade Israel to
abandon its policy of punishing the people of Gaza, and allow them to normalize
their relations with the rest of the world.

14.0 CONCLUSION

The raid against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on 31 May 2010 represented an act of state
terrorism which intentionally employed widespread violence as a policy to intimidate
and prevent any challenge to Israel‟s illegal and inhumane policies against the people
of the Gaza Strip. Despite the violence and abuse the activists‟ resolve to continue the

88
struggle to break the blockade has increased in response to Israel‟s state terror. Faced
with the cowardice and inaction of political leaders, the real international community
committed to justice and universal human rights is uniting in determination to continue
this struggle towards a successful conclusion.

15.0 EPILOGUE

At the start of 2010, UNRWA had approximately 300,000 people on their list of
families living in abject poverty and the year before it was only 100,000, which
indicates that people's coping mechanisms are coming to an end. For two or
three years people have been getting by -- borrowing or selling the odd asset --
but I think there's an indication that people are fundamentally running out of
coping mechanisms.

Mark Buttle, Oxfam water engineer in Gaza, July 2010 685

… no matter how vile and wrong the Israeli agents and government are, they are
still my brothers and sisters and for now I only have pity for them. Because they
are relinquishing the most precious thing a human being has, their humanity.

Ken O‟Keefe686

89
APPENDIX 1 Humanitarian relief items in the flotilla

Source: Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p14.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF ITEMS IN THE FLOTILLA

Food
Textiles and domestic Clothes, towels, bedding, shoes, fabric, carpets,
kitchenware, quilts blankets, couches and beds.
Medical supplies Medical equipment including ultrasound scan devices, X-ray
devices, electric patient beds, dentistry units, dental
equipment, Doppler echocardiography devices, 500
wheelchairs, electrical wheelchairs, electric mobility scooters,
stretchers, deambulateurs, autoclaves, mammography
machine, microscopes, blood circulatory machine,
haemodialysis machines, radiology monitors, crutches, ENT
units, cat scan machine, operating tables, gynaecological
couches. Plus sundry medical supplies and medicines.
Construction 750 tons of iron, 100 pre-cast homes, tiles, timber
materials fibreboard, plumbing supplies, electrical equipment, plastic
window frames, glass, steel cables, measuring tools, hand
carts, nails, mountings, bathroom fittings, paint, power
distribution units, ladders, insulation materials, 3,500 tons of
cement, 50 tons of ceramic tile adhesive, 16 children‟s
playground units, two truckloads of wood.
Tools and machinery Two electrical power generators, electrical goods (hand
tools, machines, ovens), power units (1 unit of 35 kW, 5
units of 85 kW, 1 unit of 100 kW, 2 units of 145 kW, 6 units
of 150 kW, 3 units of 165 kW plus 80 units of 1-2-5kW.)
Utility Two desalination units
Educational 20 tons of paper

90
APPENDIX 2 Israel’s notification of the blockade

Source: State of Israel Ministry of Transport and Road Safety, 6 January 2009;
NO.1/2009 Blockade of Gaza Strip.
http://tinyurl.com/239d3vr (Accessed 12 August 2010)

NO. 1/2009 Blockade of Gaza Strip

Tuesday, 06 January 2009 00:00

1. Subject: Blockade of Gaza Strip

2. Source : Israeli Navy

All mariners are advised that as of 03 January 2009, 1700 UTC, Gaza maritime area is
closed to all maritime trafic [sic] and is under blockade imposed by Israeli Navy until
further notice.
Maritime Gaza area is enclosed by the following coordinates:

31 35.71 N 34 29.46 E
31 46.80 N 34 10.01 E
31 19.39 N 34 13.11 E
31 33.73 N 33 56.68 E

91
 APPENDIX 3 Position paper on the easing of the closure of the Gaza Strip

Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

5 July 2010

http://pchrgaza.org/files/2010/pos-1-7-10.pdf
(Accessed 9 July 2010)

The economic impact of the closure is manifest; it has paralyzed entire economic
sectors, resulting in the emergence of a man-made, and completely preventable,
humanitarian crisis. Some indicators of the economic effects of the closure are as
follows:
 55% of the workforce are unemployed.
 65% of the population live below the poverty line and 80% are aid-dependent,
 45% decrease in household income per annum.
 The Palestinian GDP has fallen 8% below 1999 level, despite a 25% increase
in population during that period.
 86,000 homes need to be constructed to meet the need of the Gaza
population, due to both destruction caused by military offensive and
population growth.
 3,750 industrial establishments are closed, 90% of the total number.
 The Gaza Strip is currently facing an electricity deficit of 43%, and 30% of
Gaza is without power at any given time.
 The amount of raw materials permitted is dramatically insufficient:
approximately 60 tons of cement are allowed in on a monthly basis
compared to the 900,000 tons needed.
 Markets in the Gaza Strip do not demand the types of goods which Israel
has now promised to allow in, as what is needed are above all raw
materials, fuel and construction materials.
 Before the closure, 70 trucks with exported goods used to leave Gaza
daily. Since June 2007 only 259 trucks in total have left Gaza with export
goods.

92
APPENDIX 4: Due to Gisha's Petition: Israel Reveals Documents related to the
Gaza Closure Policy

http://www.gisha.org/index.php?intLanguage=2&intItemId=1904&intSiteSN=113
(Accessed 9 November 2010)

Thursday, October 21, 2010: After one and a half years in which Israel at first denied
their existence and then claimed that revealing them would harm "state security", the
State of Israel released three documents that outline its policy for permitting transfer
of goods into the Gaza Strip prior to the May 31 flotilla incident. The documents were
released due to a Freedom of Information Act petition submitted by Gisha - Legal
Center for Freedom of Movement in the Tel Aviv District Court, in which Gisha
demanded transparency regarding the Gaza closure policy. Israel still refuses to
release the current documents governing the closure policy as amended after the
flotilla incident.

"Policy of Deliberate Reduction"

The documents reveal that the state approved "a policy of deliberate reduction" for
basic goods in the Gaza Strip (section h.4, page 5*). Thus, for example, Israel
restricted the supply of fuel needed for the power plant, disrupting the supply of
electricity and water. The state set a "lower warning line" (section g.2, page 5) to
give advance warning of expected shortages in a particular item, but at the same time
approved ignoring that warning, if the good in question was subject to a policy of
"deliberate reduction". Moreover, the state set an "upper red line" above which even
basic humanitarian items could be blocked, even if they were in demand (section g.1,
page 5). The state claimed in a cover letter to Gisha that in practice, it had not
authorized reduction of "basic goods" below the "lower warning line", but it did not
define what these "basic goods" were (page 2).

"Luxuries" denied for Gaza Strip residents

In violation of international law, which allows Israel to restrict the passage of goods
only for concrete security reasons, the decision whether to permit or prohibit an item
was also based on "the good's public perception" and "whether it is viewed as a luxury"
(section c.b, page 16). In other words, items characterized as "luxury" items would be
banned – even if they posed no security threat, and even if they were needed. Thus,
items such as chocolate and paper were not on the "permitted" list. In addition,
officials were to consider "sensitivity to the needs of the international community".

Ban on Reconstructing Gaza

Although government officials have claimed that they will permit the rehabilitation of
Gaza, the documents reveal that Israel treated rehabilitation and development of the
Gaza Strip as a negative factor in determining whether to allow an item to enter;
goods "of a rehabilitative character" required special permission (section g, page
16). Thus, international organizations and Western governments did not receive
permits to transfer building materials into Gaza for schools and homes.

Secret List of Goods

The procedures determine that the list of permitted goods "will not be released to
those not specified!!" (Emphasis in original) (Section j, page 17), ignoring the fact
that without transparency, merchants in Gaza could not know what they were
permitted to purchase. The list itemized permitted goods only. Items not on the list –
cumin, for example – would require a special procedure for approval, irrespective of

93
any security consideration, at the end of which it would be decided whether to let it in
or not.

Calculation of product inventory

The documents contain a series of formulas created by the Defence Ministry to
compute product inventory (pages 8-10). The calculations are presumed to allow
COGAT to measure what is called the "length of breath" (section i, page 8). The
formula states that if you divide the inventory in the Strip by the daily consumption
needs of residents, you will get the number of days it will take for residents of Gaza to
run out of that basic product, or in other words, until their "length of breath" will run
out.

According to Gisha Director Sari Bashi: "Instead of considering security concerns,

on the one hand, and the rights and needs of civilians living in Gaza, on the
other, Israel banned glucose for biscuits and the fuel needed for regular
supply of electricity – paralyzing normal life in Gaza and impairing the moral
character of the State of Israel. I am sorry to say that major elements of this
policy are still in place".

*Pagination is counted in the order the documents were received by the Ministry of
Defence.

94
 REFERENCES

2.0 BACKGROUND
1
RTAmerica, 1 June 2010; Adam Shapiro: Expose Israel‗s policy to the world;
YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmDjAu0DSiM (Accessed 9 June 2010)
2
Undated YouTube video entitled Statement from PM Netanyahu Regarding
Gaza Flotilla Clash; Accessed by hyperlink from Robert Mackey and Sebnem
Arsu, 9 June 2010; Turkish Doctor Describes Treating Israeli Commandos
during Raid; The Lede.
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3
Free Gaza Team, 5 January 2009; A Simple Idea.
http://www.freegaza.org/en/boat-trips (Accessed 25 May 2010)
4
Prof Norman Paech, 31 May 2010; The raid on the Free Gaza Flotilla on 31 May
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5
Robert Fisk, 21 June 2010; Fighting talk – The new propaganda; The
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6
pekoe67, 19 June 2010; Mavi Marmara Survivor: Kevin Neish 1/5
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7
Jonathan Lis, 1 June 2010; Mossad Chief: Israel gradually becoming burden
on U.S.; Haaretz.com.
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8
ThisBoyTV, 3 June 2010; Flotilla Passengers Respond to Israeli Deadly Assault
#3 - June 3, 2010.
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9
Sabina Tavernise and Ethnan Bronner, 4 June 2010; Days of Planning Led to
Flotilla‘s Hour of Chaos; New York Times.
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10
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p12.
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11
otraverdad, 30 May 2010; ALERT:Israeli warships head towards Freedom
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(Accessed 6 August 2010)

95
12
Mel Frykberg, 4 June 2010; Israel censors news on deadly Flotilla raid;
Electronic Intifada.
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13
Free Gaza Team, 3 June 2010; Testimonies from Passengers begin to come
in; The Free Gaza Movement.
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14
Dave Lindorff, 16 June 2010; What Kevin Neish Saw; Counterpunch.
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15
Alex Huppenthal, 27 June 2010;Gaza Flotilla – David Schermerhorn – KUUR-
FM Aspen.
http://vimeo.com/12936292 (Accessed 5 July 2010)
16
Workers Solidarity Movement, 2 June 2010; Czech camera man describes
beating of Irish activist in Israeli prison.
http://www.wsm.ie/c/beating-irish-activist-israeli-prison
(Accessed 7 July 2010)
17
xyproductions11, 3 June 2010; 1967 USS Liberty survivor was onboard flotilla
ship.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQln33B9urg&NR=1
(Accessed 1 August 2010)
18
Roger Cohen, 26 July 2010; The Forgotten American; The New York Times.
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19
Spiegal staff, 7 June 2010; Eyewitness Accounts of Gaza Convoy Raid;
Spiegel.
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20
REUTERS, 3 June 2010; Turk charity names dead, missing from ship raid;
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21
Al-Jazeera: Cross-Cultural Understanding, 3 June 2010; 3 Aid Flotilla Activists
Missing, Says Turkish Charity Head Bulent Yildirim.
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22
Richard Spencer, 2 June 2010: Gaza flotilla attack: Turkish activists killed in
raid ‗wanted to be martyrs‘; Telegraph.co.uk
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23
Ibid.
24
Mankell, H. (2010). Flotilla Raid Diary: „A Man is Shot. I am Seeing it Happen.‟
In Bayoumi, B. (ed) Midnight on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.20.

96
25
Shlomo Avineri, 16 June 2010; A disgraceful responsibility; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/3yc2ahl (Accessed 16 June 2010)
26
DEBKAfile, 9 June 2010; US twists Israel‘s arm to placate Erdogan, destabilize
Netanyahu.
http://www.debka.com/article/8843/ (Accessed 16 June 2010)
27
Amos Harel, 5 August 2010; Member of IDF panel probing Gaza flotilla raid:
army to blame, not government; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/28j3a6q (Accessed 5 August 2010)
28
Manlio Dinucci, 4 June 2010; NATO could not have been unaware;
voltairenet.org.
http://www.voltairenet.org/article165684.html (Accessed 3 August 2010)
29
ThisBoyTV, 3 June 2010; Flotilla Passengers Respond to Israeli Deadly Assault
#2 - June 3, 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpTmUipW_gg&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 7 July 2010)
30
otraverdad, 30 May 2010; op. cit.
31
Abbas Al Lawati, 30 May 2010; Israeli warships head towards Freedom Flotilla;
Gulf News (accessed on Gaza Freedom March website).
http://tinyurl.com/397jf3x (Accessed 6 August 2010)
32
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (1/3).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAbm-0yWZzw&feature=related
(Accessed 6 August 2010)
33
CBS/AP, 31 May 2010; Governments, Protesters Condemn Israeli Raid.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/31/world/main6534730.shtml
(Accessed 31 May 2010)
34
Ghazni571, Full video – Israel celebrates murdering on Turkish aid ship to Gaza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EumUZczJNBo&NR=1
(Accessed 16 August 2010)
35
Free Gaza Movement, 31 May 2010.
http://www.freegaza.org/ (Accessed 31 May 2010)
36
Robert Booth, 3 June 2010; Gaza flotilla attack: British activists arrive in
Turkey; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/2dbkntm (Accessed 5 June 2010)
37
Matthew Weaver, 2 June 2010; Gaza flotilla activists deported to Jordan claim
Israeli mistreatment; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/3ytu44r (Accessed 5 June 2010)
38
Yaakov Katz, AP and JPost.com staff, 1 June 2010; „Next time we‘ll use more
force‘; JPost.com.

97
 http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177134 (Accessed 1 June 2010)
39
ynetnews, 13 June 2010; Ayalon: No chance we‘ll apologize for flotilla raid.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3904502,00.html
(Accessed 13 June 2010)
40
AFP, 13 June 2010; Gaza inquiry will have international input: Israel.
http://tinyurl.com/2vmy72y (Accessed 13 June 2010)
41
xyproductions11, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
42
http://www.youtube.com/user/gazafriends (Accessed 18 June 2010)
43
Interview with Jessica Montell, 11 August 2010; Israel Alienates Critics; Human
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44
gazafriends, 3 June 2010; 1- S.Dillon Mate on Challenger1 reporting attack on
Freedom Flotilla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akMu5oZvf0o&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 18 June 2010)

3.0 IHH
45
DPA, 12 July 2010; Germany outlaws charity over alleged Hamas links;
Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/34u7pkp (Accessed 22 July 2010)
46
Yassin Musharbash, 9 June 2010; A Closer Look at Israel‘s Terror
Accusations; SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL.
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47
IHH, undated; Rewards.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/oduller/en/ (Accessed 11 July 2010)
48
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated;
http://www.ihh.org.tr/hakkimizda/en (Accessed 6 July 2010)
49
IHH, Gelir-Gider. undated
http://www.ihh.org.tr/gelir-gider/ (Accessed 1 July 2010)
50
Charity Commission, undated, 295224 MUSLIM AID.
http://tinyurl.com/3xjsgma (Accessed 11 July 2010)
51
Diaa Hadid, 3 June 2010; Turkish group behind flotilla is Gaza‘s new hero;
The Associated Press.
http://tinyurl.com/3728bu5 (Accessed 11 July 2010)
52
Richard Spencer, 31 May 2010; Gaza flotilla: the Free Gaza movement and
the IHH; Telegraph.co.uk
http://tinyurl.com/2fct9f6 (Accessed 10 July 2010)

98
53
Diaa Hadid, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
54
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 6 July 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/2w9nyhe (Accessed 10 July 2010)
55
IFEX, 9 June 2010; Journalists on raided flotilla speak out; one journalist
killed in attack.
http://www.ifex.org/israel/2010/06/09/speak_out/ (Accessed 5 July 2010)
56
Stephen Kinzer, 20 Jaunary 1996; Pro-Chechen Ferry Hihackers Surrender to
Turks; The New York Times.
http://tinyurl.com/27tjp4x (Accessed 29 August 2010)
57
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 26 August 2010; Erdinç Tekir,
IHH operative wounded aboard the Mavi Marmara, participated in the 1996
terrorist attack on the Russian ferry Avrasya to bargain for the release
Chechens from Russian prisons. Information indicates a past connection
between IHH, and global jihad and Islamist terrorist networks, including
Chechen Islamist separatists.
http://tinyurl.com/2ujkply (Accessed 29 August 2010)
58
Diaa Hadid, 3 June 2010; op. cit
59
Turkish charity behind Gaza flotilla had terror ties; Winnipeg Free Press.
http://tinyurl.com/352ds78 (Accessed 11 July 2010)
60
U.S. Department of State, 2 June 2010; Philip Crowley Daily Press Briefing
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2010/06/142591.htm
(Accessed 10 July 2010)
61
Roger Cohen, 26 July 2010; The Forgotten American; The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/opinion/27iht-edcohen.html?_r=1
(Accessed 27 July 2010)
62
Patrick de Saint-Exupéry, 22 November 2006; Un magistrate provocateur /
Une enquête complexe qui se heurte à des obstacles politiques; Le Figaro.
63
François Schlosser, 1 February 2007; Rwanda: Les oeillères du juge
Bruguière ; le nouvel Observateur.
http://tinyurl.com/3857ac5 (Accessed 21 July 2010)
64
Extract from Manipulations Africaines by Pierre Péan, published in Le Monde
diplomatique, March 2001.
http://www.monde-diplomatique.fr/2001/03/PEAN/14934
(Accessed 21 July 2010)
65
Yossi Melman, 17 July 2010; French judge: I knew Turkish group behind
flotilla had terror ties in 1996; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/3xdbv62 (Accessed 21 July 2010)

99
66
Today‟s Zaman, 4 June 2010; İHH chief tells of violence, chaos on international
aid ship.
http://tinyurl.com/2dyk8m8 (Accessed 5 August 2010)

4.0 LEGALITY OF THE BLOCKADE AND ISRAELI ACTIONS ON 31 MAY

4.1 The San Remo Manual

67
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p19.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)
68
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2010; MFA legal expert Sarah Weiss
Maudi on the legal aspects of Gaza aid.
http://tinyurl.com/2b6k25a (Accessed 4 June 2010)
69
Elias Harb, 19 July 2010; Richard Falk: The Shock Resulting from Flotilla Attack
has Reinforced the Campaign to de-Legitimize Israel; Intifada.
http://tinyurl.com/2ejucn6 (Accessed 2 August 2010)
70
Colum Lynch, 1 June 2010; Israel‘s flotilla raid revives questions of
international law; washingtonpost.com.
http://tinyurl.com/23xyf8r (Accessed 10 July 2010)
71
Elias Harb, 19 July 2010; op. cit.
72
Ruth Lapidoth, 18 July 2010; The Legal Basis of Israel‘s Naval Blockade of
Gaza; Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Vol. 10, No. 4
http://tinyurl.com/3yoxhve (Accessed 12 August 2010)
73
Elias Harb, 19 July 2010; op. cit.
74
Focus, 3 June 2010; Is Israel‘s blockade legal? ALJAZEERA.NET.
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/06/201063114723151689.html
(Accessed 4 June 2010)
75
ICRC; San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at
Sea, 12 June 1994; International Humanitarian Law - Treaties & Documents.
http://tinyurl.com/3y6jba6 (Accessed 4 June 2010)
76
Adalah Press Release, 3 June 2010.
http://www.adalah.org/eng/pressreleases/pr.php?file=03_06_10
(Accessed 16 June 2010)

4.2 The Fourth Geneva Convention

77
Yousef Munayyer, 8 June 2010; Gaza Blockade Legal? Hardly; Palestine
Center Brief No. 204 (8 June 2010).
http://tinyurl.com/37uewpj (Accessed 12 June 2010)

100
4.3 Effects of the closure on the civilian population of Gaza
78
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2010; MFA legal expert Sarah Weiss
Maudi on the legal aspects of Gaza aid. op. cit.
79
Béatrice Mégevand-Roggo, 14 June 2010; AN END TO THE GAZA CLOSURE;
ICRC.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/palestine-video-140610
(Accessed 14 June 2010)
80
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 7 June 2010; IHH Preparations
for a Violent Confrontation with IDF Soldiers Aboard the Turkish Ship Mavi
Marmara, Appendix.
http://tinyurl.com/3xd4s8a (Accessed 12 June 2010)
81
ICRC Geneva/Jerusalem, 14 June 2010; Gaza closure: not another year!;
News release 10/103.
http://www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/palestine-update-140610
(Accessed 15 June 2010)
82
Free Gaza team, 15 June 2010; ICRC: Israel‘s Blockade Breaks the Law Free
Gaza: Send More Ships; Press release from the Free Gaza Movement.

4.4 Piracy
83
Diakonia, undated; Easy Guide to International Humanitarian Law in the
Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPt).
http://www.diakonia.se/sa/node.asp?node=3500 (Accessed 13 June 2010)

4.5 The right of self-defence

84
Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights: The Attack on the Gaza Freedom
Flotilla and International Law.
http://tinyurl.com/3yqrf3n (Accessed 6 June 2010)

4.6 The U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA)

85
Phyllis Bennis, 7 June 2010; Israel‘s Flotilla Massacre: Made in the USA;
OtherWords.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/06/07-0 (Accessed 15 June 2010)

5.0 THE FLOTILLA RAID

86
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; Eyewitness report from the Gaza fleet;
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (translated by Google)
http://tinyurl.com/33uazr7 (Accessed 5 July 2010)
87
Workers Solidarity Movement, 2 June 2010; Czech camera man describes
beating of Irish activist in Israeli prison.
http://www.wsm.ie/c/beating-irish-activist-israeli-prison
(Accessed 7 July 2010)

101
88
Marcello Faraggi, 9 June 2010; As Turkish photographer is buried, other
journalists aboard flotilla speak out; IFEX.
http://www.ifex.org/israel/2010/06/10/kiliclar_buried/
(Accessed 13 July 2010)
89
Alan Cowell, 16 February 1988; Blast Disables P.L.O.‘s ‗Exodus‘ Ferry in Port;
New York Times.
http://tinyurl.com/372svvw (Accessed 21 August 2010)
90
Max Blumenthal, 3 June 2010; The Flotilla raid Was Not ―Bungled.‖ The IDF
Detailed Its Violent Strategy In Advance.
http://tinyurl.com/29tny2k (Accessed 29 August 2010)
91
Amos Harel, 5 August 2010; Member of IDF panel probing Gaza flotilla raid:
Army to blame, not government; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/28j3a6q (Accessed 5 August 2010)
92
Jeff Stein, 1 June 2010; Former Mossad agent ridicules Gaza ship raid;
washingtonpost.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2end2ao )Accessed 28 July 2010)
93
Joseph Fitsanakis, 7 June 2010; Israel‘s flotilla raid involved espionage,
sabotage; Daily News Corner.
http://tinyurl.com/26n38ua (Accessed 28 July 2010)
94
Amos Harel, 13 July 2010; IDF probe of Gaza flotilla carefully avoided placing
real blame. Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2aj8ym4 (Accessed 3 August 2010)
95
Yaakov Katz, 4 June 2010; Duped; JPOST.com.
http://www.jpost.com/Features/FrontLines/Article.aspx?ID=177432
(Accessed 29 July 2010)
96
Jeff Stein, 1 June 2010; op .cit.
97
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2010; Maj-Gen (res) Eiland presents
conclusions of examination team.
http://tinyurl.com/29t8l94 (Accessed 23 July 2010)
98
CNN Wire Staff, 1 June 2010; Eyewitnesses recount Israel flotilla raid.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/01/gaza.raid.eyewitnesses/
(Accessed 1 June 2010)
99
RTÉ News, 5 June 2010; Activists taken to airport in Tel Aviv.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0605/mideast.html (Accessed 12 June 2010)

5.1 Accounts by flotilla personnel: M.V. Mavi Marmara

100
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; ―I am just waiting for an announcement to go
back to Gaza again‖.
http://tinyurl.com/2wh6287 (Accessed 30 July 2010)

102
101
Spiegal staff, 7 June 2010; Eyewitness Accounts of Gaza Convoy Raid;
Spiegel.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,699102,00.html
(Accessed 13 June 2010)
102
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p31.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)
103
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (1/3).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAbm-0yWZzw&feature=related
(Accessed 6 August 2010)
104
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/mavi-marmara-nin-kaptani-konustu/en/
(Accessed 30 July 2010)
105
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p19. op. cit.
106
Amy Goodman, 9 June 2010; Palestinian Member of Israeli Knesset Receives
Death Threats After Surviving Israeli Raid on Gaza Flotilla; Democracy Now.
http://tinyurl.com/2wa9t2g (Accessed 15 June 2010)
107
Alexander Christie-Miller, 8 June 2010; Israel accuses former US Marine on
aid mission of terrorist links; TIMESONLINE.
http://tinyurl.com/38vkjop (Accessed 10 June 2010)
108
ThisBoyTV, 3 June 2010; Flotilla Passengers Respond to Israeli Deadly Assault
#2 - June 3, 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpTmUipW_gg&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 7 July 2010)
109
IDF spokesperson blog, 7 June 2010; IDF Appoints Internal Team of Experts
to Examine Flotilla Operation.
http://idfspokesperson.com/ (Accessed 12 June 2010)
110
IsraelMFA, 10 June 2010; Gokkiran Gokhan Chief Officer ―Mavi Marmara‖.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkXDev2wXVA&NR=1
(Accessed 24 June 2010)
111
ALJAZEERA.NET, 3 June 2010; Turkey holds activists‘ funerals.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/06/2010639114160373.html
Accessed 4 August 2010)
112
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 7 June 2010; IHH Preparations
for a Violent Confrontation with IDF Soldiers Aboard the Turkish Ship Mavi
Marmara, Appendix.
http://tinyurl.com/3xd4s8a (Accessed 12 June 2010)

103
113
Dave Lindorff, 16 June 2010; What Kevin Neish Saw; Counterpunch.
http://www.counterpunch.com/lindorff06162010.html
(Accessed 17 June 2010)
114
IsraelMFA, 11 June 2010; IHH Premeditated Violence – Testimony of Marmara
Captain 1Jun10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I6XL2pzguE&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 24 June 2010)
115
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up-nXP-yHv4&feature=related
(Accessed 9 July 2010)
116
IDF, 31 May 2010; Close-Up Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Attacking
IDF Soldiers.
http://tinyurl.com/38lkh5o (Accessed 3 June 2010)
117
Elias Harb, 19 July 2010; Richard Falk: The Shock Resulting from Flotilla Attack
has Reinforced the Campaign to de-Legitimize Israel; Intifada.
http://tinyurl.com/2ejucn6 (Accessed 2 August 2010)
118
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
119
Alexander Christie-Miller, 8 June 2010; op. cit.
120
The Gaza flotilla: Videos, 18 June 2010; EVIDENCE: IHH leader urges men to
throw Israelis overboard; Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/2010/Gaza_flotilla_videos.htm
(Accessed 24 June 2010)
121
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
op. cit.
122
Paul McGeough, 5 June 2010; ―There was a lot of blood in the stairwells and
then the sound of ammunition hitting metal changed attain…‖; smh.com.au
http://tinyurl.com/3xfrrgx (Accessed 6 July 2010)
123
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Jamal Elshayyal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYKHcwrak0&NR=1
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
124
Dirk Meissner, 8 June 2010; Canadian activist says he hid photos of flotilla
raid during Israeli detention; The Canadian Press.
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_national.php?id=270773
(Accessed 12 June 2010)
125
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #108 – Mavi Marmara attack: Exclusive first
interview with Gaza Flotilla activist Kevin Neish; rabble.ca
http://tinyurl.com/25mjvkl (Accessed 6 August 2010)

104
126
Iara Lee, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; In their own words: Survivor
testimonies from Flotilla 31 May 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/27tt8dc (Accessed 20 June 2010)
127
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p31. op. cit.
128
PRESSTV, 8 June 2010; Gaza flotilla survivors recount ordeals during Israel‘s
assault.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129495&sectionid=3510302
(Accessed 6 July 2010)
129
Amy Goodman, 9 June 2010; op. cit.
130
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
131
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p21. op. cit.
132
Infowars Ireland, 12 Jun 2010; Italian flotilla journalist: My credit card was
used after IDF confiscated it.
http://tinyurl.com/24hh8d5 (Accessed 12 June 2010)
133
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla. op. cit.
134
counterfeet, 1 June 2010; Israel Vs Turkey – Hanin Zoabi UNCENSORED ‫ חנין‬.‫זועבי‬
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkFnNnss490&feature=related
(Accessed 27 July 2010)
135
Christopher Stone, Brian Buchner and Scott Dash, undated; Policy Brief 24
200; RAPPAPORT Institute for Greater Boston.
http://tinyurl.com/2bx34s2 (Accessed 25 July 2010)
136
Robert Booth, 4 June 2010; Gaza flotilla activists were shot in head at close
range; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/37ekzs8 (Accessed 5 June 2010)
137
BritishNeoCon, 16 August 2010; 2.2 – Panorama –nWhat happened on the
Flotilla to Gaza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfo91FQVr7M&feature=related
(Accessed 18 August 2010)
138
CentresOfResistance, 11 June 2010; Israeli Attack on the Mavi Marmara//Raw
Footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwsMJmvS0AY (Accessed 1 July 2010)
139
Alex Huppenthal, 27 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla – David Schermerhorn – KUUR-
FM Aspen.
http://vimeo.com/12936292 (Accessed 5 July 2010)

105
140
gazafriends, 3 June 2010; 1- S.Dillon Mate on Challenger1 reporting attack on
Freedom Flotilla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akMu5oZvf0o&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 18 June 2010)
141
Steven Carroll, 2 June 2010; Irish man denies Gaza activists armed
irishtimes.com.
http://tinyurl.com/34dr5sz (Accessed 8 June 2010)
142
Dan Nolan, 3 June 2010; Both sides of flotilla story; ALJAZEERA.NET.
http://tinyurl.com/32htq6f (Accessed 6 June 2010)
143
Abbas Al Lawati, 4 June 2010; From tear gas to bullets: Gunshots shattered
call to prayer; gulfnews.com
http://tinyurl.com/26xlyaq (Accessed 7 July 2010)
144
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #108 – Mavi Marmara attack: Exclusive first
interview with Gaza Flotilla activist Kevin Neish; op. cit.
145
AlJazeeraEnglish, 3 June 2010; Passengers recount mid-sea horror;
http://tinyurl.com/29cvxs4 (Accessed 5 July 2010)
146
Ian Black, Ewen MacAskill and Robert Booth, 4 June 2010; Gaza flotilla
attack: Turks killed by Israeli soldiers given heroes‘ funeral; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/362adpt (Accessed 5 June 2010)
147
Ertekin, S. (2010). First They Appeared as Shadows. In Bayoumi, B. (ed)
Midnight on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.54.
148
Abbas Al Lawati, 4 June 2010; op. cit.
149
kokosbrot; Lawyer Fatima Mohammad – Aboard the Mavi Marmara – Witness
to State Terror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUP5NftOjwo&feature=youtu.be
(Accessed 20 June 2010)
150
Jamal Elshayyal, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
151
Catrina Stewart, 6 June 2010; The hijacking of the truth: Film evidence
‗destroyed‘; The Independent.
http://tinyurl.com/2vb9uzv (Accessed 30 August 2010)
152
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla. op. cit.
153
Al Jazeera, 7 June 2010; Mavi Marmara Ship Captain Speaks – June 07, 2010
(Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfcVlMYk510
(Accessed 26 August 2010)
154
doves5000, 2 June 2010; EYE WITNESS EVIDENCE OF ISRAEL‘S GAZA
FLOTILLA ATTACKS, YouTube.

106
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LGC1y1xdUo (Accessed 9 June 2010)
155
Amy Goodman, 9 June 2010; op. cit.
156
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; op .cit.
157
Jamal Elshayyal, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
158
Catrina Stewart, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
159
Free Gaza Team, 3 June 2010; Testimonies from Passengers begin to come
in; The Free Gaza Movement.
http://tinyurl.com/32chlbw (Accessed 6 July 2010)
160
Ken O‟Keefe, 18 July 2010; pers. comm.
161
Robert Booth and Harriet Sherwood, 4 June 2010; Gaza flotilla attack:
Autopsies reveal intensity of Israeli military force; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/33z4u4q (Accessed 4 August 2010)
162
kokosbrot; Lawyer Fatima Mohammad – Aboard the Mavi Marmara – Witness
to State Terror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUP5NftOjwo&feature=youtu.be
(Accessed 20 June 2010)
163
AlJazeeraEnglish, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
164
Abdullah Al-Qattan, 3 June 2010; ‗Gaza heroes‘ welcomed home; Kuwait
Times.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NDg0MzQ1OTYy
(Accessed 8 June 2010)
165
Abdullah Al-Qattan, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
166
Mya Guarnieri, 14 June 2010; Challenger I passengers: Commandos shot
first; Ma‟an News Agency.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=290391
(Accessed 16 June 2010)
167
Fiachra O‟Luain, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
168
Dror Feiler, 25 August 2010; pers.comm.
169
AlJazeeraEnglish, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
170
Ken O‟Keefe, 7 June 2010; On Cowardice and Violence; counterpunch.
http://www.counterpunch.org/okeefe06072010.html (Accessed 8 June 2010)
171
PRESSTV, 8 June 2010; Gaza flotilla survivors recount ordeals during Israel‘s
assault.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129495&sectionid=3510302
(Accessed 6 July 2010)

107
172
Paul McGeough, 5 June 2010; op. cit.
173
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; ―I am just waiting for an announcement to go
back to Gaza again‖. op. cit.
174
IDF, 31 May 2010; Demonstrators Use Violence Against Israeli Navy Soldiers
Attempting to Board the Ship (With Sound).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2duPV9MQIc&feature=channel
(Accessed 3 June 2010)
175
IHH, 16 June 2010; Dehşet Anlari-1.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7660500/20359126 (Accessed 22 June 2010)
176
PressTVGlobalNews, 3 June 2010; Captured Press TV journalist onboard
Flotilla describes ordeal (Part 1).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRZi2jOqRho&NR=1
(Accessed 24 June 2010)
177
Alexander Christie-Miller, 8 June 2010; op. cit.
178
Ken O‟Keefe, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
179
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; op .cit.
180
Haaretz Service and the Associated Press, 3 June 2010; Gaza flotilla organizer
admits activists seized weapons from Israeli soldiers; Haartez.com.
http://tinyurl.com/26uy9zw (Accessed 16 June 2010)
181
IDF, 31 May 2010; Close-Up Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Attacking
IDF Soldiers.
http://tinyurl.com/38lkh5o (Accessed 3 June 2010)
182
Hürriyet Daily News, 3 June 2010; Activists‘ eyewitness accounts detail
Israeli raid on Gaza aid ship.
http://tinyurl.com/37brlzb (Accessed 5 July 2010)
183
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Osama Qashoo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gp8ECrDQLg&feature=related
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
184
O‟Keefe, K. (2010). Defenders of the Mavi Marmara. In Bayoumi, B. (ed)
Midnight on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.37.
185
TVNZ, 11 June 2010; From Kiwi suburbia to Gaza activist.
http://tinyurl.com/2vcvh9s (Accessed 5 July 2010)
186
heraldscotland, 6 June 2010; Fear, pain and propaganda an activist‘s story.
http://tinyurl.com/354xcrh (Accessed 10 June 2010)
187
Yara Bayoumy, 3 June 2010; Israeli marines were held during ship raid-
witness; Reuters.

108
 http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6521UG
(Accessed 28 August 2010)
188
The Swedish Wire, 3 June 2010; Swedes accuse Israel of ‗premeditated
murder‘.
http://tinyurl.com/3ys69ul (Accessed 8 June 2010)
189
Annette Groth, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
190
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla. op. sit.
191
Larudee, P. (2010). The Price of Defying Israel. In Bayoumi, B. (ed) Midnight
on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.47
192
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #108 – Mavi Marmara attack: Exclusive first
interview with Gaza Flotilla activist Kevin Neish; op. cit.
193
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #109 – Pt 2. of rabble.ca‘s exclusive interview
with Gaza flotilla activist Kevin Neish: detention and release; rabble.ca
http://tinyurl.com/3am4u2j (Accessed 6 August 2010)
194
Sabina Tavernise and Ethnan Bronner, 4 June 2010; Days of Planning Led to
Flotilla‘s Hour of Chaos; New York Times.
http://tinyurl.com/38w79v8 (Accessed 7 July 2010)
195
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla. op. cit.
196
AlJazeeraEnglish, 6 June 2010; Al Jazeera talks to US activist named by Israel
as a ‗terrorist‘.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx03ZTt7Zuk&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 7 June 2010)
197
Abdullah Al-Qattan, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
198
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Jamal Elshayyal. op. cit.
199
AlJazeeraEnglish, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
200
Ibid.
201
AlJazeeraEnglish, 18 June 2010; The Listening Post - The Gaza flotilla video
wars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzIhQp303EI&feature=related
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
202
Robert Mackey and Sebem Arsu, 9 June 2010; Turkish Doctor Describes
Treating Israeli Commandos During Raid; The Lede.
http://tinyurl.com/33cymaf (Accessed 10 June 2010)

109
203
IDF, 31 May 2010; Close-Up Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers Attacking
IDF Soldiers. op. cit.
204
Ken O‟Keefe, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
205
Jeffrey Fleishman, 4 June 2010; Turkey holds funerals for Gaza flotilla activists;
Los Angeles Times.
http://tinyurl.com/2dhx3j2 (Accessed 7 July 2010)
206
Abbas Al Lawati, 4 June 2010; op. cit.
207
pekoe67, 19 June 2010; Mavi Marmara Survivor: Kevin Neish 1/5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euvqk35QO40
(Accessed 6 August 2010)
208
Transcript from BBC Panorama „Death in the Med‟, broadcast 16 August 2010.
209
pekoe67, 19 June 2010; Mavi Marmara Survivor: Kevin Neish Part 2/5.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTY8asZlW60&feature=related
(Accessed 6 August 2010).
210
Z. Tuba Kor, 13 June 2010; ―Gaza ships just completely blew Israel‘s cover.
World Bulletin.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=59892
(Accessed 5 July 2010)
211
Insani Yardim Vakfi, 21 June 2010; The Ship That Carried People Standing Up
Against Injustice.
http://tinyurl.com/35o8x7j (Accessed 22 June 2010)
212
INTERNETHABER, undated; İsrail'den kaçırılan fotoğraflar!
http://tinyurl.com/3y4stq7 (Accessed 11 June 2010)
213
Dan Nolan, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
214
Robert Mackey and Sebem Arsu, 9 June 2010; op. cit.
215
pekoe67, 19 June 2010; op. cit.
216
Abdullah Al-Qattan, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
217
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p22. op. cit.
218
Transcript from BBC Panorama „Death in the Med‟, broadcast 16 August 2010.
219
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2010; Maj-Gen (res.) Eiland presents
conclusions of examination team.
http://tinyurl.com/29t8l94 (Accessed 24 July 2010)
220
Mohammed El Betagny quoted in Dan Nolan, 3 June 2010; op. cit.

110
221
Andre Abu-Khalil, in NEWS MIDDLE EAST, 3 June; Passengers recount mid-
sea horror. ALJAZEERA.NET.
http://tinyurl.com/2v6sq23 (Accessed 6 June 2010)
222
Mohaned Vall, in NEWS MIDDLE EAST, 3 June; op. cit.
223
kokosbrot; Lawyer Fatima Mohammad – Aboard the Mavi Marmara – Witness
to State Terror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUP5NftOjwo&feature=youtu.be
(Accessed 20 June 2010)
224
Robert Mackay, 8 June 2010; Two Activists Describe Raid and Deny Israeli
Claim They Are ‗Terrorist Operatives‘; The Lede.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/ (Accessed 10 June 2010)
225
kokosbrot; op. cit.
226
Iara Lee, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
227
Abbas Al Lawati, 4 June 2010; op. cit.
228
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla. op. cit.
229
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #108 – Mavi Marmara attack: Exclusive first
interview with Gaza Flotilla activist Kevin Neish; op. cit.
230
caltechharvard, 21 June 2010; Mavi Marmara Report: Ovenden, Doares and
the Vile Zionists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5q1CVS3D6o&feature=related
(Accessed 18 July 2010)
231
pekoe67, 19 June 2010; op. cit.
232
Abbas Al Lawati, 5 June 2010; Abbas on Freedom Flotilla attack : ‗I filmed the
injured in horror‘; gulfnews.com
http://tinyurl.com/34gh4cw (Accessed 7 July 2010)
233
Abdullah Al-Qattan, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
234
Rifat Audeh, 30 June 2010; From the USS Liberty to the Mavi Marmara; The
Palestine Chronicle Newsletter.
235
Dzikrullah W Pramudya and Santi Soekanto, undated; ‗Doctor, I can feel his
brain on my hand; The Brunei Times.
http://tinyurl.com/38f8nds (Accessed 12 June 2010)
236
Press TV, 5 June 2010; op. cit.
237
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; op. cit.

111
238
ISLAMICONTENT, 3 June 2010; British survivor tells of Israeli assault on Gaza
aid flotilla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtAIqu9LzpQ&feature=related
(Accessed 6 June 2010)
239
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla. op. cit.
240
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p31. op. cit.
241
Today‟s Zaman, 5 July 2010; Expelled non-Turkish activists tell of brutal
Israeli treatment.
http://tinyurl.com/2wxd4js (Accessed 5 July 2010)
242
Majid al-Kibsi, 7 June 2010; Yemeni lawmakers accused of illegal immigration
to Israel; Yemen Observer.
http://www.yobserver.com/local-news/10018872.html
(Accessed 7 July 2010)
243
Elena Becatoros and Suzan Fraser, 2 June 2010; ‗Troops boarded and ship
turned into a lake of blood‘; independent.ie
http://tinyurl.com/38chatj (Accessed 5 July 2010)
244
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Kevin Neish‘s eyewitness report &
Canada Boat to Gaza 4/4
http://tinyurl.com/23v64gc (Accessed 6 August 2010)
245
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla. op. cit.
246
kokosbrot; op. cit.
247
IHH, 16 June 2010; Dehşet Anlari-1. op. cit.
248
paskemaman, 5 June; Gaza Flotilla Activists Were Shot in Head At Close
Range.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_leRmAcmu0&feature=related
(Accessed 23 June 2010)
249
Sunday‟s Zaman, 5 June 2010; Israeli attack written into history with chilling
survivor accounts.
http://tinyurl.com/33z3jmu (Accessed 5 July 2010)
250
Robert Booth and Harriet Sherwood, 4 June 2010; Gaza flotilla attack:
Autopsies reveal intensity of Israeli military force; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/33z4u4q (Accessed 4 August 2010)
251
Yücel Velioglu, 9 June 2010; As Turkish photographer is buried, other
journalists aboard flotilla speak out; Reporters Without Borders.
http://en.rsf.org/israel-as-turkish-photographer-is-buried-09-06-2010,37701
(Accessed 13 June 2010)

112
252
Marco Lucas, 8 June 2010; op. cit.
253
Abbas Al Lawati, 5 June 2010; op. cit.
254
Insani Yardim Vakfi, 21 June 2010; The Ship That Carried People Standing Up
Against Injustice. op. cit.
255
Robert Mackey and Sebem Arsu, 9 June 2010; op. cit.

5.1.1 Cultures of Resistance film of the attack on the Mavi Marmara

256
Cultures of Resistance, 11 June 2010; Israeli Attack on the Mavi
Marmara//Raw Footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwsMJmvS0AY&feature=related
(Accessed 27 July 2010)

5.2 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Sfendoni

257
Workers Solidarity Movement, 2 June 2010; Czech camera man describes
beating of Irish activist in Israeli prison.
http://www.wsm.ie/c/beating-irish-activist-israeli-prison
(Accessed 7 July 2010)
258
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNfql2_PLxk&feature=related
(Accessed 9 July 2010)
259
Mikael Stengård and Josefine Hökerberg, 2 June 2010; Teologen Ulf
Carmesund tillbaka från Israel; Aftonbladet. [Read with Google translate]
http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article7231718.ab (Accessed 7 July 2010)
260
RT, 6 June 2010; ―We were unarmed and didn‘t provoke anybody‖ – aid
flotilla member.
http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-06-06/gaza-aid-flotilla-eyewitness.html
(Accessed 5 July 2010)
261
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Bilal Abdulazziz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJh91mCbkI&feature=related
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
262
Robert Booth, Kate Connolly, Tom Philips and Helena Smith, 2 June 2010;
Gaza flotilla raid ‗We heard gunfire – then our ship turned into lake of
blood‘; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/23ke395 (Accessed 5 June 2010)
263
Elena Becatoros and Suzan Fraser, 2 June 2010; ‗Troops boarded and ship
turned into a lake of blood‘; independent.ie
http://tinyurl.com/27twnod (Accessed 5 July 2010)
264
Genevieve Carbery, 9 June 2010; Irish citizen ‗beaten‘ by Israeli forces; The
Irish Times.

113
 http://tinyurl.com/34cy8nf (Accessed 12 June 2010)
265
Genevieve Carbery, 9 June 2010; op. cit.
266
Gene St. Onge, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
267
Mikael Stengård and Josefine Hökerberg, 2 June 2010; op. cit.
268
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
op. cit.
269
Workers Solidarity Movement, 2 June 2010; Czech camera man describes
beating of Irish activist in Israeli prison.
http://www.wsm.ie/c/beating-irish-activist-israeli-prison
(Accessed 7 July 2010)
270
Democracy NOW!, 4 June 2010; Liberty Veteran Seized by IDF on Gaza Aid
Flotilla – June 4, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udfQmSmwsoo&feature=related
(Accessed 1 August 2010)
271
Dimi Reider, 11 June 2010; Italian flotilla journalist: My credit card was used
after IDF confiscated it; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/3xoj4g2 (Accessed 12 June 2010)
272
RT, 6 June 2010; ―We were unarmed and didn‘t provoke anybody‖ – aid
flotilla member. op. cit.
273
Julie Robotham, 3 June 2010; Victims, get more than a stunning;
smh.com.au.
http://tinyurl.com/34mtftx (Accessed 16 August 2010)
274
Rober Anglen, 6 January 2006; 167 cases of death following stun-gun use;
azcentral.com.
275
Lisa Amin Gulezian, 5 June 2010; Gaza activist returns home, claims he was
beaten; abc7.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=7480941
(Accessed 6 July 2010)
276
Paul Larudee, 19 June 2010; Account of my Capture and Imprisonment as
part of the Freedom Flotilla; Hurriyya.
http://hurriyya.blogspot.com/ (Accessed 7 July 2010)
277
Justin Berton, 4 June 2010; Flotilla detainee‘s harrowing experience; SFGate.
http://tinyurl.com/34ffkbu (Accessed 6 July 2010)
278
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO-XAkANrzw&feature=related
(Accessed 9 July 2010)
279
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 2/3.

114
 http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=BNfql2_PLxk&feature=related
(Accessed 9 July 2010)
280
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
op. cit.
281
Paul Larudee, 19 June 2010; op. cit.
282
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
op. cit.
283
Paul Larudee, 19 June 2010; op. cit.

5.3 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Challenger I

284
gazafriends, 3 June 2010; 1- S. Dillon Mate on Challenger1 reporting attack
on Freedom Flotilla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akMu5oZvf0o&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 18 June 2010)
285
adycousins, 10 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Alex Harrison.
http://tinyurl.com/2v7qezx (Accessed 30 June 2010)
286
RTÉ News, 3 June 2010; Irish activist recounts Gaza flotilla raid.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0603/mideast.html (Accessed 8 June 2010)
287
Steven Carroll, 2 June 2010; Irish man denies Gaza activists armed
irishtimes.com.
http://tinyurl.com/34dr5sz (Accessed 8 June 2010)
288
Fintan Lane, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
289
Kate Geraghty, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
290
Abdullah Al-Qattan, 3 June 2010; ‗Gaza heroes‘ welcomed home; Kuwait
Times.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NDg0MzQ1OTYy
(Accessed 8 June 2010)
291
heraldscotland, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
292
RTÉ News, 2 June 2010; Israel accuses critics of ‗hypocrisy‘
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0602/mideast.html (Accessed 9 July 2010)

293
CNN Wire Staff, 1 June 2010; Eyewitnesses recount Israel flotilla raid.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/01/gaza.raid.eyewitnesses/
(Accessed 1 June 2010)
294
gazafriends, 3 June 2010; 1- S.Dillon Mate on Challenger1 reporting attack on
Freedom Flotilla. op. cit.

115
295
axis4 peace2, 2 June 2010; Flotilla Survivor says Israeli marines boarded
unarmed American ship throwing grenades.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfn_bScn08E&feature=related
(Accessed 6 June 2010)
296
Mya Guarnieri, 14 June 2010; Challenger I passengers: Commandos shot
first; Ma‟an News Agency.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=290391
(Accessed 16 June 2010)
297
Anonymous, February 2011; Report on the Israeli Attack on the Humanitarian
Aid Convoy to Gaza on 31 May 2010; Turkish National Commission of
Inquiry, note 124.
298
heraldscotland, 6 June 2010; Fear, pain and propaganda an activist‘s story.
http://tinyurl.com/354xcrh (Accessed 10 June 2010)
299
Alex Harrison, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; In their own words: Survivor
testimonies from Flotilla 31 May 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/27tt8dc (Accessed 20 June 2010)
300
Emine Saner, 5 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla: protesters‘ story; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/25hwsxg (Accessed 5 June 2010)
301
Paul McGeough, 5 June 2010; Aussie accent is a surreal sound amid chaos of
raid;smh.com.au
http://tinyurl.com/2arlx4o (Accessed 6 July 2010)
302
Amy Goodman, 8 June 2010; Democracy Now.
http://tinyurl.com/272wtec (Accessed 15 June 2010)
303
adycousins, 10 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Alex Harrison.
op. cit.
304
indymedia Ireland; Part 1 : Huwaida Arraf interviewed 7-06-2010.
http://tinyurl.com/2u4m7t4 (Accessed 23 June 2010)

5.4 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Gazze I

305
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p29.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)

5.5 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Defne Y

306
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p27.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)

116
307
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p27.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)
308
Ibid. p28.

5.6 Accounts by flotilla personnel: MV Eleftheri Mesogeio

309
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; Eyewitness report from the Gaza fleet;
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (translated by Google)
http://tinyurl.com/33uazr7 (Accessed 5 July 2010)

310
CyprusMail, 2 June 2010; Greeks return home after Israeli detention.
http://tinyurl.com/36havyu (Accessed 8 June 2010)
311
Robert Booth, Kate Connolly, Tom Philips and Helena Smith, 2 June 2010;
Gaza flotilla raid ‗We heard gunfire – then our ship turned into lake of
blood‘; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/23ke395 (Accessed 5 June 2010)
312
Marcello Faraggi, 9 June 2010; As Turkish photographer is buried, other
journalists aboard flotilla speak out; IFEX.
http://www.ifex.org/israel/2010/06/10/kiliclar_buried/
(Accessed 13 July 2010)
313
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
314
Mikhalis Grigoropoulos in NEWS MIDDLE EAST, 3 June; Passengers recount
mid-sea horror. ALJAZEERA.NET.
http://tinyurl.com/2v6sq23 (Accessed 6 June 2010)
315
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
316
Helsinki Times, 3 June 2010; Stubb: Israeli attack shocking.
http://tinyurl.com/39qzmlv (Accessed 8 June 2010)
317
Mikhalis Grigoropoulos in NEWS MIDDLE EAST, 3 June; Passengers recount
mid-sea horror. ALJAZEERA.NET.
http://tinyurl.com/2v6sq23 (Accessed 6 June 2010)
318
CyprusMail, 2 June 2010; Greeks return home after Israeli detention.
http://tinyurl.com/2bfcggg (Accessed 9 June 2010)
319
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
320
Dror Feilor, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
321
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
322
Kate Connolly, 3 June 2010; Henning Mankell on Gaza flotilla attack: ‗I think
they went out to murder‘. guardian.co.uk.

117
 http://tinyurl.com/36tt62d (Accessed 5 June 2010)
323
O Dromos, 1 June 2010; Exclusive interview of Aristides Papadokostopoulos –
who was on board the ―Free Mediterranean‖ and held until today as a hostage
of the Israeli army – to Greek newspaper ‗Dromos‘ / ‗Road‘.
http://tinyurl.com/29war99 (Accessed 7 July 2010)
324
Helsinki Times, 3 June 2010; op. cit.

5.7 Israeli accounts of the raid

325
Abbas Al Lawati, 4 June 2010; From tear gas to bullets: Gunshots shattered
call to prayer; gulfnews.com
http://tinyurl.com/26xlyaq (Accessed 7 July 2010)
326
Ovenden, K. (2010). An Act of State Terrorism. In Bayoumi, B. (ed) Midnight
on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.60.
327
idfnadesk, 31 May 2010; Close-Up Footage of Mavi Marmara Passengers
Attacking IDF Soldiers (With Sound)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LulDJh4fWI&NR=1
(Accessed 31 July 2010)
328
idfnadesk, 31 May 2010; Demonstrators Use Violence Against Israeli Navy
Soldiers Attempting to Board Ship (With Sound)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2duPV9MQIc&feature=channel
(Accessed 26 July 2010)
329
RussiaToday, 31 May 2010; IDF video of Gaza Freedom Flotilla attack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLrX7fznVgI&NR=1
(Accessed 27 July 2010)
330
Ron Ben Yishai, 31 May 2010; A brutal ambush at sea; ynetnews.com.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3896796,00.html
(Accessed 20 June 2010)
331
BBC, 3 June 2010; Israeli soldiers describe raid on Gaza aid convoy.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10225108.stm
(Accessed 17 June 2010)
332
Amos Harel, 4 June; Israel Navy: 3 commandos nearly taken hostage in Gaza
flotilla raid; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2v7zqnd (Accessed 13 June 2010)
333
Lisa Amin Gulezian, 4 June 2010; 2 local activists return from Gaza Strip;abc7.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/peninsula&id=7480180
(Accessed 17 July 2010)
334
Amos Harel, 4 June; Israel Navy: 3 commandos nearly taken hostage in Gaza
flotilla raid; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2v7zqnd (Accessed 13 June 2010)

118
335
Elias Harb, 19 July 2010; Exclusive Intifada Interview with Ken O‘Keefe: ―Israel
Executed People in International Waters‖; Intifada.
http://tinyurl.com/2dlhdpf (Accessed 2 August 2010)
336
Robert Booth, 3 June 2010; Gaza flotilla attack: British activists arrive in
Turkey; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/2dbkntm (Accessed 5 June 2010)
337
Wikipedia, undated; Military equipment of Israel/Small Arms. op. cit.
338
newsreeldemocracy, 10 June 2010; Israeli weapons against aid flotilla Marmara.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=senmnCM-ZV8 (Accessed 31 July 2010)
339
Yaakov Katz, 4 June 2010; ‗We had no choice‟; JPost.com.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177445 (Accessed 11 June 2010)
340
Noam Sheizaf, 6 June 2010; Flotilla/ New Mavi Marmara pictures raise more
questions regarding IDF attack; Promised Land.
http://www.promisedlandblog.com/?p=2991
(Accessed 10 June 2010)
341
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 7 June 2010; IHH Preparations
for a Violent Confrontation with IDF Soldiers Aboard the Turkish Ship Mavi
Marmara, Appendix.
http://tinyurl.com/3xd4s8a (Accessed 12 June 2010)
342
IsraelMFA, 16 June 2010; IHH Members Planning Attack on Israeli Boarding
Party 30-31 May 10.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TxchZ39e-s&feature=player_embedded#!
(Accessed 30 July 2010)
343
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 20 June 2010; Almost all of
the casualties on board the Mavi Marmara were fully identified as members of
Turkish Islamist organizations, most of them of a radical and anti-Western
nature. About half of those killed had declared their wish to die as martyrs
(shaheeds).
http://tinyurl.com/3a4z8g7 (Accessed 22 June 2010)
344
kokosbrot; Lawyer Fatima Mohammad – Aboard the Mavi Marmara – Witness
to State Terror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUP5NftOjwo&feature=youtu.be
(Accessed 20 June 2010)
345
For example Mohaned Vall, in NEWS MIDDLE EAST, 3 June; Passengers recount
mid-sea horror. ALJAZEERA.NET.
http://tinyurl.com/2v6sq23 (Accessed 6 June 2010)
346
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2010; Maj-Gen (res.) Eiland presents
conclusions of examination team.
http://tinyurl.com/29t8l94 (Accessed 24 July 2010)
347
RTÉ News, 5 June 2010; Activists taken to airport in Tel Aviv.

119
 http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0605/mideast.html (Accessed 12 June 2010)
348
CNN Wire Staff, 1 June 2010; Eyewitnesses recount Israel flotilla raid.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/01/gaza.raid.eyewitnesses/
(Accessed 1 June 2010)
349
scarlett83, 3 June 2010; Israel Spokesman‘s hard times with English Reporter
after Israeli Attack Peace Flotilla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q167f6wHoo (Accessed 24 June 2010)
350
Joshua Rayner, 1 June 2010; ‫ מיוחד‬- ‫ים בלב השייטת כוחות עם !וואלה כתב‬
http://news.walla.co.il/?w=/2689/1681175 (Accessed 30 August 2010)
351
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 20 June 2010; Almost all of the
casualties on board the Mavi Marmara were fully identified as members of
Turkish Islamist organizations, most of them of a radical and anti-Western
nature. About half of those killed had declared their wish to die as martyrs
(shaheeds).
http://tinyurl.com/3a4z8g7 (Accessed 4 August 2010)

6.0 THE AFTERMATH OF THE RAID

6.1 Casualties
352
Wikipedia, undated; İbrahim Bilgen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/İbrahim_Bilgen (Accessed 4 August 2010)
353
Lawrence of Cyberia, 3 June 2010; Putting Names To Faces.
http://lawrenceofcyberia.blogs.com/ (Accessed 4 August 2010)
354
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlElXOJV4CA (Accessed 10 June 2010)
355
Roger Cohen, 26 July 2010; The Forgotten American; The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/opinion/27iht-edcohen.html?_r=1
(Accessed 27 July 2010)
356
The Straits Times, 2 June 2010; Dead activists‘ ‗martyr‘ hopes.
http://tinyurl.com/366pmxc (Accessed 4 August 2010)
357
Robert Booth and Harriet Sherwood, 4 June 2010; Gaza flotilla attack:
Autopsies reveal intensity of Israeli military force; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/33z4u4q (Accessed 4 August 2010)
358
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 20 June 2010; Almost all of the
casualties on board the Mavi Marmara were fully identified as members of
Turkish Islamist organizations, most of them of a radical and anti-Western
nature. About half of those killed had declared their wish to die as martyrs
(shaheeds).
http://tinyurl.com/3a4z8g7 (Accessed 4 August 2010)
359
Mufti Taqi Usmani, undated; TheMeaning of Shaheed; Albalagh.
http://www.albalagh.net/qa/shaheed.shtml (Accessed 4 August 2010)

120
360
Fatwalislam.com, 4 August 2010; The Greatest Jihad.
http://www.fatwaislam.com/fis/index.cfm?scn=fd&ID=206
(Accessed 4 August 2010)
361
Shaukat Qureshi, 9 August 2010; pers. comm.
362
Press TV, 5 June 2010; ‗Israelis threw 4 injured into the sea‘.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129190&sectionid=351020202
(Accessed 30 June 2010)
363
H. Sabbagh, 4 June 2010; Archbishop Capucci: Israeli Aggression Uncovered
Israel‘s Racism and Fascism; SANA.
http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2010/06/04/291235.htm (Accessed 7 June 2010)
364
Today‟s Zaman, 3 June 2010; Israel killed more than 9, threw wounded into
sea, witnesses say.
http://tinyurl.com/2ae2k62 (Accessed 4 August 2010)
365
Department of Monitoring, 5 June 2010; IHH head says Zionists brazenly lie.
He confirms Jews threw corpses into sea; Kavkaz Center.
http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2010/06/05/12175.shtml
(Accessed 7 July 2010)
366
Elias Harb, 13 July 2010; Exclusive Intifada Interview with Greta Berlin – Free
Gaza Movement; Intifada.
http://tinyurl.com/39x26nv (Accessed 2 August 2010)
367
Robert Booth, 4 June 2010; Gaza flotilla activists were shot in head at close
range; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/37ekzs8 (Accessed 5 June 2010)
368
Dave Lindorff, 16 June 2010; What Kevin Neish Saw; Counterpunch.
http://www.counterpunch.com/lindorff06162010.html
(Accessed 17 June 2010)
369
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2010; Maj-Gen (res.) Eiland presents
conclusions of examination team.
http://tinyurl.com/29t8l94 (Accessed 24 July 2010)
370
Ynet reporters, 1 June 2010; Hundreds detained at Ashdod port;
ynetnews.com.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3897136,00.html
(Accessed 8 June 2010)
371
IHH, 3 June 2010; press release in Turkish translated into English by Google
translate.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/sehit-ve-yaralilarda-son-durum/
(Accessed 16 June 2010)
372
Reporters Sans Frontiers, 9 June 2010; Israël : des journalistes à bord de la
flotille humanitaire témoignent; Comprendre le Monde.

121
 http://tinyurl.com/355r989 (Accessed 16 June 2010)
373
gazafriends, 17 June 2010; Dr Fintan Lane describes raid on Challenger I part
3.
http://www.youtube.com/user/gazafriends (Accessed 18 June 2010)
374
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2010; op. cit.
375
Free Gaza Team, 4 June 2010; 54 Flotilla passengers admitted to Israeli
Hospitals.
http://tinyurl.com/34wos34 (Accessed 20 June 2010)
376
Ron Ben Yishai, 31 May 2010; A brutal ambush at sea; ynetnews.com.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3896796,00.html
(Accessed 20 June 2010)

6.2 Care of the injured and detainees on board the captured ship
377
Masarwa, L. (2010). From ‟48 to Gaza. In Bayoumi, B. (ed) Midnight on the
Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.42.
378
Dzikrullah W Pramudya and Santi Soekanto, undated; ‗Doctor, I can feel his
brain on my hand; op.cit.
379
kokosbrot; Lawyer Fatima Mohammad – Aboard the Mavi Marmara – Witness
to State Terror.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUP5NftOjwo&feature=youtu.be
(Accessed 20 June 2010)
380
Abbas Al Lawati, 5 June 2010; Abbas on Freedom Flotilla attack : ‗I filmed the
injured in horror‘; gulfnews.com
http://tinyurl.com/34gh4cw (Accessed 7 July 2010)
381
ISLAMICONTENT, 3 June 2010; British survivor tells of Israeli assault on Gaza
aid flotilla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtAIqu9LzpQ&feature=related
(Accessed 6 June 2010)
382
Lubna Masarwa, 7 June 2010; Time to break the siege on Gaza: A survivor‘s
account of Mavi Marmara; International Solidarity Movement.
http://tinyurl.com/32ffksf (Accessed 7 June 2010)
383
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; Kidnapped by Israel, forsaken by Britain; THE
MIDDLE EAST BLOG.
http://tinyurl.com/34do7hw (Accessed 11 June 2010)
384
Amy Goodman, 9 June 2010; Palestinian Member of Israeli Knesset Receives
Death Threats After Surviving Israeli Raid on Gaza Flotilla; Democracy Now.
http://tinyurl.com/2wa9t2g (Accessed 15 June 2010)

122
385
Matthew Cookson, 5 June 2010; Eyewitness from Gaza Flotilla relives horror of
Israeli attack; SocialistWorkeronline.
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=21434 (Accessed 7 July 2010)
386
Prof Norman Paech, undated; The raid on the Free Gaza Flotilla on 31 May 2010
Opinion on international law. Unpublished.
387
ABC News, 7 June 2010; Shot Australian recalls flotilla ordeal.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2010/06/07/2920714.htm
(Accessed 23 June 2010)
388
Norman Hermant, 7 June 2010; Shot Australian says Israelis left him to
bleed; ABC News.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/07/2919698.htm
(Accessed 23 June 2010)
389
Jason, 19 June 2010; GAZA MAN PETER CHARGED OVER INVOLVEMENT; Isle of
Wight Gazette.
http://tinyurl.com/28nhhwf (Accessed 7 July 2010)
390
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p36.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)
391
PressTV transcript, 19 June 2010; ‗Israelis used human shield on Flotilla‘.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=131158&sectionid=3510302
(Accessed 6 July 2010)
392
Z. Tuba Kor, 13 June 2010; ―Gaza ships just completely blew Israel‘s cover.
World Bulletin.
http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=59892
(Accessed 5 July 2010)
393
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Osama Qashoo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gp8ECrDQLg&feature=related
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
394
Matthias Gardel, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; In their own words:
Survivor testimonies from Flotilla 31 May 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/27tt8dc (Accessed 20 June 2010)
395
IHH, 16 June 2010; Dehşet Anlari-1.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7660500/20359126 (Accessed 22 June 2010)
396
IHH, 16 June 2010; Dehşet Anlari – 2.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7660606 (Accessed 22 June 2010)
397
Ibid.
398
Ibid.

123
399
Free Gaza Team, 3 June 2010; Testimonies from Passengers begin to come
in; The Free Gaza Movement.
http://tinyurl.com/32chlbw (Accessed 6 July 2010)
400
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p.36. op. cit.
401
Abbas Al Lawati, 5 June 2010; op. cit.
402
H. Sabbagh, 4 June 2010; Archbishop Capucci: Israeli Aggression Uncovered
Israel‘s Racism and Fascism; SANA.
http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2010/06/04/291235.htm (Accessed 7 June 2010)
403
Ovenden, K. (2010). An Act of State Terrorism. In Bayoumi, B. (ed) Midnight
on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.60.
404
Marco Lucas, 8 June 2010; ―Israel has made us feel apartheid Palestinians
living for years‖; L'informatiu / Rebellion.
http://tinyurl.com/3xl9k89 (Accessed 26 August 2010)
405
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (2/3).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vdpu129HGI&feature=related
(Accessed 6 August 2010)
406
Prof Norman Paech, undated; op. cit.
407
Marco Lucas, 8 June 2010; op. cit.
408
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/mavi-marmara-nin-kaptani-konustu/en/
(Accessed 30 July 2010)
409
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #108 – Mavi Marmara attack: Exclusive first
interview with Gaza Flotilla activist Kevin Neish; rabble.ca
http://tinyurl.com/25mjvkl (Accessed 6 August 2010)
410
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p23. op. cit.
411
Sarah Colborne, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
412
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
413
Dave Lindorff, 16 June 2010; What Kevin Neish Saw; Counterpunch.
http://www.counterpunch.com/lindorff06162010.html
(Accessed 17 June 2010)
414
Ertekin, S. (2010). First they Appeared as Shadows. In Bayoumi, B. (ed)
Midnight on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.56.

124
415
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #108 – Mavi Marmara attack: Exclusive first
interview with Gaza Flotilla activist Kevin Neish; op/ cit.
416
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Osama Qashoo. op. cit.
417
Insani Yardim Vakfi, 21 June 2010; The Ship That Carried People Standing Up
Against Injustice.
http://tinyurl.com/35o8x7j (Accessed 22 June 2010)
418
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Laura Stewart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i5VzDH8SDU&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
419
Today‟s Zaman, 4 June 2010; İHH chief tells of violence, chaos on international
aid ship.
http://tinyurl.com/2dyk8m8 (Accessed 5 August 2010)
420
Dave Lindorff, 16 June 2010; op. cit.
421
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
422
Today‟s Zaman, 3 June 2010; Israel killed more than 9, threw wounded into
sea, witnesses say.
http://tinyurl.com/2ae2k62 (Accessed 4 August 2010)
423
Lubna Masarwa, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
424
Ibid.
425
Abdullah Al-Qattan, 3 June 2010; ‗Gaza heroes‘ welcomed home; Kuwait
Times.
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=NDg0MzQ1OTYy
(Accessed 8 June 2010)
426
Z. Tuba Kor, 13 June 2010; op. cit.
427
Dave Lindorff, 16 June 2010; op. cit.
428
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #108 – Mavi Marmara attack: Exclusive first
interview with Gaza Flotilla activist Kevin Neish; op. cit.
429
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p37. op. cit.
430
Masarwa, L. (2010). op. cit., p.43.
431
Ertekin, S. (2010). op. cit., p.56.
432
Z. Tuba Kor, 13 June 2010; op. cit.
433
Abbas Al Lawati, 5 June 2010; op. cit.

125
 434
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; ―I am just waiting for an announcement to go
back to Gaza again‖.
http://tinyurl.com/2wh6287 (Accessed 30 July 2010)
435
Kevin Neish, 30 June 2010; pers. comm.
436
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Jamal Elshayyal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYKHcwrak0&NR=1
(Accessed 1 July 2010)

7.0 TREATMENT OF THE DETAINEES

437
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Captain of The Mavi Marmara Recounts Attack On
Flotilla.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/mavi-marmara-nin-kaptani-konustu/en/
(Accessed 30 July 2010)
438
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (2/3).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vdpu129HGI&feature=related
(Accessed 6 August 2010)
439
gazafriends, 17 June 2010; Dr Fintan Lane describes raid on Challenger I part
3.
http://www.youtube.com/user/gazafriends (Accessed 18 June 2010)
440
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Bilal Abdulazziz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FJh91mCbkI&feature=related
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
441
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; Eyewitness report from the Gaza fleet;
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (translated by Google)
http://tinyurl.com/33uazr7 (Accessed 5 July 2010)
442
heraldscotland, 6 June 2010; Fear, pain and propaganda an activist‘s story.
http://tinyurl.com/354xcrh (Accessed 10 June 2010)
443
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO-XAkANrzw&feature=related
(Accessed 9 July 2010)
444
Henning Mankell, 5 June 2010; Flotilla raid diary: ‗A man is shot. I am seeing it
happen‘; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/2985clv (Accessed 5 June 2010)
445
Kate Connolly, 3 June 2010; Henning Mankell on Gaza flotilla attack: ‗I think
they went out to murder‘. guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/36tt62d (Accessed 5 June 2010)
446
Fintan Lane, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; In their own words: Survivor
testimonies from Flotilla 31 May 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/27tt8dc (Accessed 20 June 2010)

126
447
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (2/3).
op. cit.
448
Marco Lucas, 8 June 2010; ―Israel has made us feel apartheid Palestinians
living for years‖; L'informatiu / Rebellion.
http://tinyurl.com/3xl9k89 (Accessed 26 August 2010)
449
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p24.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)
450
Ibid. p36.
451
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (2/3).
op. cit.
452
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Bilal Abdulazziz; op. cit.
453
Matthew Weaver, 2 June 2010; Gaza flotilla activists deported to Jordan claim
Israeli mistreatment; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/33bcwz9 (Accessed 5 June 2010)
454
RT, 6 June 2010; ―We were unarmed and didn‘t provoke anybody‖ – aid flotilla
member.
http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-06-06/gaza-aid-flotilla-eyewitness.html
(Accessed 5 July 2010)
455
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p36. op. cit.
456
Insani Yardim Vakfi, 21 June 2010; The Ship That Carried People Standing Up
Against Injustice.
http://tinyurl.com/35o8x7j (Accessed 22 June 2010)
457
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
458
ThisBoyTV, 3 June 2010; Flotilla Passengers Respond to Israeli Deadly Assault
#1 - June 3, 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/2vw23qz (Accessed 7 July 2010)
459
CyprusMail, 2 June 2010; Greeks return home after Israeli detention.
http://tinyurl.com/2bfcggg (Accessed 9 June 2010)
460
News 13, 5 June 2010; South Portland filmmaker home after Israeli raids.
http://tinyurl.com/3xclgug (Accessed 20 June 2010)
461
Mel Frykberg, 4 June 2010; Israel censors news on deadly Flotilla raid;
Electronic Intifada.

127
 http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11317.shtml (Accessed 6 June 2010)
462
Greta Berlin, 4 June 2010; Press Release; Ireland Palestine Solidarity
Campaign.
http://tinyurl.com/3a48dws (Accessed 5 July 2010)
463
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
464
heraldscotland, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
465
Elham Asaad Buaras, 25 June 2010; Israel commandos used ‗shoot to
kill‘ policy in high seas; The Muslim News.
http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/paper/index.php?article=4677
(Accessed 5 July 2010)
466
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotila testimony of Ibrahim Musaji.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjNaLRTeLyY&NR=1
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
467
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Bilal Abdulazziz. op. cit.
468
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Osama Qashoo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gp8ECrDQLg&feature=related
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
469
adycousins, 10 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Alex Harrison.
http://tinyurl.com/2v7qezx (Accessed 30 June 2010)
470
adycousins, 9 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Jamal Elshayyal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWYKHcwrak0&NR=1
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
471
Jason, 19 June 2010; GAZA MAN PETER CHARGED OVER INVOLVEMENT; Isle of
Wight Gazette.
http://tinyurl.com/28nhhwf (Accessed 7 July 2010)
472
Ovenden, K. (2010). An Act of State Terrorism. In Bayoumi, B. (ed) Midnight
on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.63-4.
473
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
474
Justin Vela, 3 June 2010; Gaza flotilla attack: British activists tell of abuse by
Israelis; Telegraph.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/2fh8nxn (Accessed 9 June 2010)
475
The Canadian Press, 2 June 2010; Canadian detained on Gaza aid flotilla says
he was beaten.
http://tinyurl.com/2djvrtv (Accessed 8 June 2010)
476
Dave Lindorff; 16 June 2010; What Kevin Neish Saw; Counterpunch.
http://www.counterpunch.com/lindorff06162010.html
(Accessed 17 June 2010)

128
477
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (2/3).
op cit.
478
Lubna Masarwa, 7 June 2010; Time to break the siege on Gaza: A survivor‘s
account of Mavi Marmara; International Solidarity Movement.
http://tinyurl.com/32ffksf (Accessed 7 June 2010)
479
Dave Lindorff, 16 June 2010; op. cit.
480
gazafriends, 17 June 2010; Dr Fintan Lane describes raid on Challenger I part
3. op.cit.
481
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
482
RTÉ News, 3 June 2010; Irish activist recounts Gaza flotilla raid.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0603/mideast.html (Accessed 8 June 2010)
483
Greta Berlin, 4 June 2010; op. cit.
484
Kev – IPSC, 2 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla: Press Conference with Shane Dillon
today at 2pm, Central Hotel, Dublin; indymedia Ireland.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96833 (Accessed 23 June 2010)
485
Paul McGeough, 5 June 2010; ―There was a lot of blood in the stairwells and
then the sound of ammunition hitting metal changed attain…‖; smh.com.au.
http://tinyurl.com/3xfrrgx (Accessed 6 July 2010)
486
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #109 – Pt 2. of rabble.ca‘s exclusive interview
with Gaza flotilla activist Kevin Neish: detention and release; rabble.ca
http://tinyurl.com/3am4u2j (Accessed 6 August 2010)
487
Lisa Amin Gulezian, 5 June 2010; Gaza activist returns home, claims he was
beaten; abc7.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=7480941
(Accessed 6 July 2010)
488
Paul Larudee, 19 June 2010; Account of my Capture and Imprisonment as part
of the Freedom Flotilla; Hurriyya.
http://hurriyya.blogspot.com/ (Accessed 7 July 2010)
489
KTVU.COM, 3 June 2010; East Bay Activist Released By Israeli Authorities.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/23776714/detail.html (Accessed 9 June 2010)
490
Huwaida Arraf, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
491
RTAmerica, 1 June 2010; Adam Shapiro: Expose Israel‗s policy to the world;
YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmDjAu0DSiM (Accessed 9 June 2010)
492
Dave Lindorff 16 June 2010; op. cit.

129
493
Dzikrullah W Pramudya and Santi Soekanto, undated; ‗Doctor, I can feel his
brain on my hand; The Brunei Times.
http://tinyurl.com/38f8nds (Accessed 12 June 2010)
494
heraldscotland, 6 June 2010; op .cit.
495
adycousins, 10 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Alex Harrison. op. cit.
496
Norman Hermant, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
497
RTÉ News, 2 June 2010; Israel accuses critics of ‗hypocrisy‘
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0602/mideast.html (Accessed 9 July 2010)

498
gazafriends, 3 June 2010; 1- S.Dillon Mate on Challenger1 reporting attack on
Freedom Flotilla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akMu5oZvf0o&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 18 June 2010)
499
Sabina Tavernise and Ethnan Bronner, 4 June 2010; Days of Planning Led to
Flotilla‘s Hour of Chaos; New York Times.
http://tinyurl.com/38w79v8 (Accessed 7 July 2010)
500
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
501
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (3/3).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwqnpPnu974&NR=1
(Accessed 6 August 2010)
502
rabbletv, 9 July 2010; Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Farooq Burney‘s eyewitness
report (2/3).
op. cit.
503
The SKYREPORT, 3 June 2010; Fairfax journalists among deportees from
Israel.
http://tinyurl.com/372czqu (Accessed 9 June 2010)
504
Fiachra Ó Luain, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; In their own words: Survivor
testimonies from Flotilla 31 May 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/27tt8dc (Accessed 20 June 2010)
505
Shane Hickey and Anita Guidera, 4 June 2010; ‗I tried to reason with them, but
they attacked us‘;
Independent.ie.ccessed 29 August 2010)
506
heraldscotland, 6 June 2010; op .cit.
507
adycousins, 10 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Testimony of Alex Harrison. op. cit.
508
Fintan Lane, in Free Gaza Team, 7 June 2010; op. cit

130
509
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; ―I am just waiting for an announcement to go
back to Gaza again‖.
http://tinyurl.com/2wh6287 (Accessed 30 July 2010)
510
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #109 – Pt 2. of rabble.ca‘s exclusive interview
with Gaza flotilla activist Kevin Neish: detention and release; rabble.ca
511
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p26. op. cit.
512
Paul McGeough, 5 June 2010; ―There was a lot of blood in the stairwells and
then the sound of ammunition hitting metal changed attain…‖; smh.com.au
http://tinyurl.com/3xfrrgx (Accessed 6 July 2010)
513
Marco Lucas, 8 June 2010; op. cit.
514
Justin Berton, 4 June 2010; Flotilla detainee‘s harrowing experience; SFGate.
http://tinyurl.com/34ffkbu (Accessed 6 July 2010)
515
Greta Berlin, 4 June 2010; op. cit.
516
Fadwa Dajani, 7 June 2010; PRESS RELEASE: Ken O‘Keefe Aboard the Mavi
Marmara, Personal Statement & Photos; AlohaPalestine.
http://tinyurl.com/33sc9du (Accessed 6 July 2010)
517
nwoagenda, 11 June 2010; Gaza Flotilla Survivor Recollects Deadly Raid By
Israeli Military.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RiHoLSSFGU&feature=related
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
518
Adalah Press Release, 3 June 2010.
http://www.adalah.org/eng/pressreleases/pr.php?file=03_06_10
(Accessed 16 June 2010)
519
Jonathan Cook; 28 July 2010; Shin Bet Exposed; Counterpunch.
http://www.counterpunch.org/cook07282010.html
(Accessed 22 August 2010)
520
Attention101, 4 June 2010; Flotilla Attack: Israelis Threw Dead Bodies
Overboard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rufOZ6BKbX4&feature=related
(Accessed 26 August 2010)
521
IHH, 16 June 2010; Dehşet Anlari-1.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7660500/20359126 (Accessed 22 June 2010)
522
IHH, 16 June 2010; Dehşet Anlari – 2.
http://video.yahoo.com/watch/7660606 (Accessed 22 June 2010)

7.1 Treatment of journalists

131
523
91177info, 26 May 2010; Judgement Days - MEDIA BLACKOUT (Look see the
info and the test I have done)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBdQmsTEgSA&feature=related
(Accessed 15 August 2010)
524
Marco Lucas, 8 June 2010; ―Israel has made us feel apartheid Palestinians
living for years‖; L'informatiu / Rebellion.
http://tinyurl.com/3xl9k89 (Accessed 26 August 2010)
525
IFEX, 9 June 2010; Journalists on raided flotilla speak out; one journalist
killed in attack.
http://www.ifex.org/israel/2010/06/09/speak_out/ (Accessed 5 July 2010)
526
novinite.com, 3 June 2010; Bulgarian Gaza Reporter: Turkish Ship Was
Provocation for Israel.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=116792 (Accessed 5 July 2010)
527
IFEX, 9 June 2010; op. cit.
528
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS, 7 June 2010; Interview with flotilla
journalist.
http://tinyurl.com/35wjhou (Accessed 9 June 2010)
529
Workers Solidarity Movement, 2 June 2010; Czech camera man describes
beating of Irish activist in Israeli prison. http://www.wsm.ie/c/beating-irish-
activist-israeli-prison
(Accessed 7 July 2010)
530
Abbas Al Lawati, 6 June 2010; Eyewitness account: Freedom Flotilla attacked
(part 3);gulfnews.com.
http://tinyurl.com/38vhx54 (Accessed 7 July 2010)
531
Yücel Velioglu, 9 June 2010; As Turkish photographer is buried, other
journalists aboard flotilla speak out; Reporters Without Borders.
http://en.rsf.org/israel-as-turkish-photographer-is-buried-09-06-2010,37701
(Accessed 13 June 2010)
532
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS, 7 June 2010; Interview with flotilla
journalist.
http://tinyurl.com/35wjhou (Accessed 9 June 2010)
533
Marcello Faraggi, 9 June 2010; As Turkish photographer is buried, other
journalists aboard flotilla speak out; op. cit.
534
Abbas Al Lawati, 6 June 2010; op. cit.
535
Mario Damolin, 7 June 2010; Eyewitness report from the Gaza fleet;
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (translated by Google)
http://tinyurl.com/33uazr7 (Accessed 5 July 2010)
536
Workers Solidarity Movement, 2 June 2010; op. cit.

132
7.2 Activists’ property
537
Kate Connolly, 3 June 2010; Henning Mankell on Gaza flotilla attack: ‗I think
they went out to murder‘. guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/36tt62d (Accessed 5 June 2010)
538
Robert Booth, 3 June 2010; Gaza flotilla attack: British activists arrive in
Turkey; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/2dbkntm (Accessed 5 June 2010)
539
Ann Wright, 22 August 2010; Israeli Government Refuses to Secure Criminal
Evidence. The Free Gaza Movement.
http://tinyurl.com/34vzjm5 (Accessed 27 August 2010)
540
Stanley Heller, 17 June 2010; Grand Theft Flotilla. OpEdNews.com.
http://tinyurl.com/38jfk4t (Accessed 17 June 2010)
541
Press TV 12 June 2010; Israelis looting activist‘s bank card.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130052 (Accessed 13 June 2010)
542
Elias Harb, 13 July 2010; Exclusive Intifada Interview with Greta Berlin – Free
Gaza Movement; Intifada.
http://tinyurl.com/39x26nv (Accessed 2 August 2010)
543
encryptereality0, 11 June 2010; $3.5mn stolen from Gaza flotilla survivors by
Israeli pirates.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBqorI059xI&feature=player_embedded
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
544
Sharon Roffe-Ofir, 19 August 2010; MK Zoabi: IDF killers have no problem
stealing; ynetnews.com.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3939864,00.html
(Accessed 22 August 2010)
545
Paul McGeough, 5 June 2010; Aussie accent is a surreal sound amid chaos of
raid; smh.com.au
http://tinyurl.com/2arlx4o (Accessed 6 July 2010)
546
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; PALESTINE OUR ROUTE HUMANITARIAN AID
OUR LOAD FLOTILLA CAMPAIGN SUMMARY REPORT, p35.
http://www.ihh.org.tr/uploads/2010/insaniyardim-filosu-ozet-raporu_en.pdf
(Accessed 14 July 2010)
547
Jamal Elshayyal, 6 June 2010; Kidnapped by Israel, forsaken by Britain; THE
MIDDLE EAST BLOG.
http://tinyurl.com/34do7hw (Accessed 11 June 2010
548
EXOMATRIXTV, 6 June 2010; ISRAHELL survivor & hero Kenneth Nichols
O‘Keefe dismantling commandos reports what happened!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGlnsIW3zJk&NR=1
(Accessed 7 June 2010)

133
549
Elias Harb, 19 July 2010; Exclusive Intifada Interview with Ken O‘Keefe: ―Israel
Executed People in International Waters‖; Initifada.
http://tinyurl.com/2dlhdpf (Accessed 2 August 2010)
550
RTÉ News, 10 June 2010 ; Irish activist wants Israel to return passport.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0610/mideast.html (Accessed 12 June 2010)
551
Dimi Reider, 11 June 2010; Italian flotilla journalist: My credit card was used
after IDF confiscated it; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/3xoj4g2 (Accessed 12 June 2010)
552
Christina Edblom, 3 June 2010; Dror Feiler: Jag var rädd att bli lämnad kvar
ensam. Aftonbladet
http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article7239881.ab (Accessed 7 July 2010)
553
encryptereality0, 11 June 2010; op. cit.
554
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lO-XAkANrzw&feature=related
(Accessed 9 July 2010)
555
Ann Wright, 22 August 2010; op.cit.
556
Alex Huppenthal, 27 June 2010;Gaza Flotilla – David Schermerhorn – KUUR-
FM Aspen.
http://vimeo.com/12936292 (Accessed 5 July 2010)
557
Meagan Perry, 3 Jun3 2010; #108 – Mavi Marmara attack: Exclusive first
interview with Gaza Flotilla activist Kevin Neish; rabble.ca
http://tinyurl.com/25mjvkl (Accessed 6 August 2010)
558
Press TV 12 June 2010; Israelis looting activist‘s bank card.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130052 (Accessed 13 June 2010)
559
Haroon Siddique, 18 June 2010; Gaza convoy activists claim Israeli soldiers
using debit cards stolen in raid; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/3xwcud8 (Accessed 20 June 2010)
560
Ertekin, S. (2010). First They Appeared as Shadows. In Bayoumi, B. (ed)
Midnight on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.57.
561
Marcello Faraggi, 9 June 2010; As Turkish photographer is buried, other
journalists aboard flotilla speak out; IFEX.
http://www.ifex.org/israel/2010/06/10/kiliclar_buried/
(Accessed 13 July 2010)
562
Kate Connolly, 3 June 2010; op. cit.
563
encryptereality0, 11 June 2010; op. cit.
564
Greta Berlin, 21 August 2010; First Murder, then Theft and Lies from the
―World‘s Most Moral Army‖. Freegaza press release.

134
 http://www.freegaza.org/fr/accueil/depeches

8.0 THE SEIZURE OF THE RACHEL CORRIE

565
Mark Hilliard, 13 June 2010; Mossad photographed Rachel Corrie before it left
Dundalk TribuneNews.
http://tinyurl.com/3xctl9q (Accessed 6 July 2010)
566
TrishMaryHill, 10 June 2010; Dr Hasan Nowrah Flotilla Massacre Survivor 1/3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up-nXP-yHv4&feature=related
(Accessed 9 July 2010)
567
Barak Ravid and Haaretz Service, 4 June 2010; Passengers of ‗Rachel Corrie‘
reject Israel – Ireland deal; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/28srht9 (Accessed 4 June 2010)
568
RTÉ News, 3 June 2010; Irish activist recounts Gaza flotilla raid.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0603/mideast.html (Accessed 12 June 2010)
569
91177info, 15 June 2010; Smuggled Rachel Corrie Hijacking Footage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60HZqlRDNXU&NR=1
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
570
Caroline O‟Doherty, 8 June 2010; Captain ‗feared for life‘ when Israelis
boarded; The Irish Examiner.
http://tinyurl.com/243mo29 (Accessed 12 June 2010)
571
RTÉ News, 5 June 2010; Activists taken to airport in Tel Aviv.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0605/mideast.html (Accessed 12 June 2010)

9.0 THE SHIPS AND CARGO

572
Ron Friedman, 1 June 2010; 'Equipment not in shortage in Gaza'
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=177165
(Accessed 27 August 2010)
573
Ma‟an News Agency, 6 June 2010; Hamas refuses boat aid while activists
detained.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=289228
(Accessed 7 June 2010)
574
DPA, 3 June 2010; Hamas blocking entry of flotilla aid into Gaza;
Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2c7t3w3 (Accessed 7 June 2010)
575
Farooq Burney, 23 August 2010; pers.comm.
576
Hanan Greenberg, 19 August 2010; Army shocked by ‗flotilla looters‘;
ynetnews.com.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3939674,00.html
(Accessed 22 August 2010)

135
 577
Haaretz Service, 18 August 2010; IDF soldiers suspected of theft from Gaza
flotilla ship; haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2uhyzao (Accessed 2 August 2010)
578
IRIN, 17 June 2010; Flotilla aid to enter Gaza under UN supervision
579
Al Mansar, 13 June 2010; Israël enterre les aides alimentaires destinées à
Gaza.
http://www.almanar.com.lb/NewsSite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=141806
(Accessed 13 June 2010)
580
Guardian.co.uk, 1 June 2010; Flotilla attack: full UN statement.
http://tinyurl.com/33p6qru (Accessed 17 June 2010)
581
Jack Khoury, Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid and Zvi Bar‟el, 22 July 2010;
Israel launches campaign to halt Lebanon flotilla bound for Gaza;
Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/39ljwdh (Accessed 22 July 2010)
582
Didi Remez, 9 July 2010; Haifa Mayor wants to turn Mavi Marmara into ―floating
hotel‖ so it can become a ―symbol of reconciliation and hope‖; Coteret.
(Translation of an original in Hebrew by Amir Buhbut).
http://tinyurl.com/2udb387 (Accessed 7 August 2010)
583
Reuters, 23 July 2010; Israel to return impounded Gaza aid ships to Turkey.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLDE66M0N1._CH_.2420
(Accessed 23 July 2010)
584
Today‟s Zaman, 5 August 2010; Aid ships expected to set sail for Turkey today.
http://tinyurl.com/36hop4r (Accessed 5 August 2010)
585
Ian Deitch, 6 July 2010; Israel keeping flotilla ships until inquiry ends; AP.
http://tinyurl.com/33f7yqr (Accessed 7 July 2010)
586
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 May 2010; MFA legal expert Sarah Weiss
Maudi on the legal aspects of Gaza aid. op. cit.
587
MELODIKA.com, 24 July 2010; IMPOUNDED AMERICAN AID ON GAZA
FREEDOM FLOTILLA NOW SET FOR DELIVERY TO GAZA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtAIqu9LzpQ&feature=related
(Accessed 25 July 2010)
588
İlyas Edip Terbiyeli, 10 August 2010; Limandaki Mavi Marmara ve Diğer İki
Gemide İnceleme Başladı; İskenderun; (translated via Google Translate).
http://tinyurl.com/2udvnxj (Accessed 29 August 2010)
589
İlyas Edip Terbiyeli, 12 August 2010; Mavi Marmara Gemisinde İncelemeler
Tamamlandı!; İskenderun; (translated via Google Translate).
http://tinyurl.com/3yxftes (Accessed 29 August 2010)

10.0 CENSORSHIP AND DISINFORMATION

136
590
RTAmerica, 3 June 2010; Flotilla debate ratchets up: Norman Finkelstein and
Danny Pollack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10XphhuNupw (Accessed 3 August 2010)
591
Robert Mackay, 8 June 2010; Two Activists Describe Radi and Deny Israeli
Claim They Are ‗Terrorist Operatives‘; The Lede.
http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/ (Accessed 10 June 2010)
592
AlJazeeraEnglish, 18 June 2010; The Listening Post - The Gaza flotilla video
wars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzIhQp303EI&feature=related
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
593
Counterfire, 3 June 2010; Freedom Flotilla attack – Daniel Machover of
Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HgmJH0NZZk&feature=related
(Accessed 6 June 2010)
594
AlJazeeraEnglish, 18 June 2010; op. cit.
595
91177info, 10 June 2010; New Video Smuggled Out of Israeli Gaza Flotilla
Massacre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bunc-ZAhiYI&NR=1
(Accessed 1 July 2010)
596
Ian Shelton, 7 June 2010; B.C. activist took photos of deadly Gaza flotilla
clash; Vancouver Sun.
http://tinyurl.com/2w2yqkf (Accessed 12 June 2010)
597
Today‟s Zaman, 3 June 2010; IHH website downed before Israel attack on aid
convoy.
http://tinyurl.com/28qnftb (Accessed 29 July 2010)
598
Ynet reporters, 1 June 2010; Hundreds detained at Ashdod port;
ynetnews.com.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3897136,00.html
(Accessed 8 June 2010)
599
Mel Frykberg, 4 June 2010; Israel censors news on deadly Flotilla raid;
Electronic Intifada.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11317.shtml (Accessed 6 June 2010)
600
REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS, 7 June 2010; Interview with flotilla
journalist.
http://tinyurl.com/35wjhou (Accessed 9 June 2010)
601
RTÉ News, 5 June 2010; Prime Time.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0603/mideast_av.html?2765404,null,230
(Accessed 9 June 2010)
602
Giles Tremlett, 4 June 2010; Gaza flotilla attack: Israeli ambassador to Madrid
tries to play down deaths; guardian.co.uk.

137
 http://tinyurl.com/2vcz52z (Accessed 4 August 2010)
603
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 21 June 2010; IDF forces met with pre-
planned violence when attempting to board flotilla.
http://tinyurl.com/36v4lad (Accessed 24 June 2010)
604
Mohamed Vall; in NEWS MIDDLE EAST, 3 June; Passengers recount mid-
sea horror. ALJAZEERA.NET.
http://tinyurl.com/2v6sq23 (Accessed 6 June 2010)
605
Masarwa, L. (2010). From ‟48 to Gaza. In Bayoumi, B. (ed) Midnight on the
Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.41.
606
Blumenthal, M. (2010). The Israeli Media‟s Flotilla Fail. In Bayoumi, B. (ed)
Midnight on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.189.
607
Ibid. p.187.
608
Mya Guarnieri, 5 June 2010; Israel under fire for doctoring flotilla recordings;
Ma‟an News Agency.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=289874
(Accessed 5 June 2010)
609
Max Blumenthal, 5 June 2010; IDF Admits It Doctored Flotilla audio Clip.
Washington Post‘s Kessler Must Retract.
http://tinyurl.com/2d58jun (Accessed 6 June 2010)
610
Blumenthal, M. (2010). op. cit., p.188.
611
indymedia Ireland; Part 2 Huwaida Arraf interviewed 7-06-2010.
(Accessed 23 June 2010)
612
Max Blumenthal, 3 June 2010; Under Scrutiny, IDF Retracts Claims About
Flotilla‘s Al Qaeda Links.
http://tinyurl.com/39tzw7m (Accessed 6 June 2010)
613
Israel Defence Force Spokesperson, 6 June 2010; Specific Flotilla Passengers
Linked to Al-Qaeda, Hamas and Other Terror Organizations, 6 June 2010.
http://tinyurl.com/25437ql (Accessed 8 June 2010)
614
Blumenthal, M. (2010). op. cit., p.188.
615
Robert Mackay, 8 June 2010; op. cit.
616
Mary Fitzgerald, 8 June 2010; Activist considers legal action against Israel;
IRISHTIMES.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2c6gytw (Accessed 10 June 2010)
617
Freedom Flotilla, 28 May 2010; Israel‘s Disinformation campaign Against the
Gaza Freedom Flotilla; press release.
http://palsolidarity.org/2010/05/12531/ (Accessed 26 August 2010)

138
618
Nir Hasson, 27 May 2010; Gaza aid convoy refuses to deliver package to Gilad
Shalit; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/32vgoln (Accessed 26 August 2010)
619
Ahiya Raved, 27 May 2010; Shalit family‘s offer to back Gaza flotilla declined;
ynetnews.com.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3895077,00.html
(Accessed 26 August 2010)
620
Marco Lucas, 8 June 2010; ―Israel has made us feel apartheid Palestinians
living for years‖; L'informatiu / Rebellion.
http://tinyurl.com/3xl9k89 (Accessed 26 August 2010)

11.0 REACTIONS IN THE KNESSET

621
Tania Kepler, 7 June 2010; Israeli Knesset Committee Recommends Revoking
privileges of MK Zoabi After Her Participation in Freedom Flotilla; Alternative
Information Center.
http://tinyurl.com/2vecj6e (Accessed 7 June 2010)
622
Mel Frykberg, 4 June 2010; Israel censors news on deadly Flotilla raid;
Electronic Intifada.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11317.shtml (Accessed 6 June 2010)
623
Dmitry Reider, 1 September 2010; Likud, Israeli Arabs ,and the one-state
solution; Foreign Policy.
http://tinyurl.com/34lgcxm (Accessed 6 September 2010)
624
Israeli Occupation Archive, 2 June 2010; Palestinian Arab MK Hanin Zoabi
Viciously Attacked in Israel‘s Parliament.
http://tinyurl.com/2dch7hu (Accessed 7 June 2010)
625
Amy Goodman, 9 June 2010; Palestinian Member of Israeli Knesset Receives
Death Threats After Surviving Israeli Raid on Gaza Flotilla; Democracy Now.
http://tinyurl.com/2wa9t2g (Accessed 15 June 2010)
626
Dmitry Reider, 1 September 2010; op. cit.
627
Hana Levi Julian, 6 June 2010; Medal for Israeli Commando for Valor on Mavi
Marmara? IsraelNationalNews.com.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/137907
(Accessed 10 June 2010)
628
Tania Kepler, 7 June 2010; op. cit.
629
Jonathan Lis, 13 July 2010; Knesset revokes Arab MK Zoabi‘s privileges over
Gaza flotilla; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2f56yhk (Accessed 13 July 2010)

12.0 INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE RAID

630
Guardian.co.uk, 1 June 2010; Flotilla attack: full UN statement.

139
 http://tinyurl.com/33p6qru (Accessed 3 June 2010)
631
Anshel Pfeffer, 7 June 2010; Naval reserve patrol boat brass demand external
investigation
http://tinyurl.com/3xouclg (Accessed 1 August 2010)

12.1 The Israeli commission of inquiry

632
Barak Ravid, 13 June 2010); Abbas to Obama: I'm against lifting the Gaza
naval blockade; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2ea7x3x (Accessed 15 June 2010)
633
Amnesty International, 15 June 2010; Israel Gaza commission criticised over
transparency and accountability; AI Index: PRE01/195/2010.
http://tinyurl.com/2vfryou (Accessed 17 June 2010)
634
Richard Silverstein, undated; Tikun Olan.
http://tinyurl.com/2e2ar76 (Accessed 15 June 2010)
635
Paul Wood, 14 June; Israel sets up inquiry into deadly Gaza flotilla raid; BBC
News.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10305902.stm
(Accessed 17 June 2010)
636
Haaretz editorial, 15 June 2010; Neither commission nor inquiry.
http://tinyurl.com/32acsm7 (Accessed 15 June 2010)
637
Amnesty International, 15 June 2010; op. cit.
638
BBC News, 14 June 2010; Israel sets up inquiry into deadly Gaza flotilla raid.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10305902.stm
(Accessed 17 June 2010)
639
Free Gaza team, 15 June 2010; ICRC: Israel‘s Blockade Breaks the Law Free
Gaza: Send More Ships; Press release from the Free Gaza Movement.
640
Haaretz.com, 15 June 2010; State Comptroller to probe Israel's raid on Gaza
flotilla.
http://tinyurl.com/32qg7dv (Accessed 15 June 2010)
641
Barak Ravid, 29 June 2010; Netanyahu likely to widen remit of Baza flotilla
probe after judge threatens to quit; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2vtf9h3 (Accessed 3 August 2010)
642
Barak Ravid, 4 July 2010; Government expands authority of Gaza flotilla
probe commission; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/376urej (Accessed 3 August 2010)
643
Attila Somfalvi, 15 July 2010; Turkel committee demands documents;
ynetnews.com.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3920601,00.html
(Accessed 16 July 2010)

140
644
The Associated Press, 13 June 2010; Israel's Barak calls off Paris visit amid
threats.
http://tinyurl.com/3ycmjpz (Accessed 13 June 2010)
645
Insani Yardim Vakfi, undated; Yildirim: We are not looking for a reconciliation
with Israel.
http://tinyurl.com/25ddggy (Accessed 6 July 2010)

12.2 UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Resolution 2 June 2010

646
Human Rights Council, June 2010; Advance unedited version
A/HRC/RES/14/1.
647
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 23 July 2010; United
Nations Human Rights Panel to investigate Israeli raid on Gaza flotilla
established.
http://tinyurl.com/2ue4b8d (Accessed 23 July 2010)
648
MaximsNewsNetwork, 28 July 2010; GAZA FLOTILLA INVESTIGATION:U.N.
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL (UNTV).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2MjcaBf4_4
(Accessed 18 August 2010)
649
Reuters and Haaretz Service, 23 July 2010; UN rights body names team to
probe Gaza flotilla raid; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/2cgpasl (Accessed 23 July 2010)
650
Jack Khoury, Barak Ravid and Shlomo Shamir, 25 July 2010; Israel: We won‘t
assist ‗obsessive‘ UN Gaza flotilla probe; Haaretz. com.
http://tinyurl.com/37cxeug (Accessed 25 July 2010)
651
Kevin Neish, 3 August 2010; pers.comm.
652
Hürriyet Daily News, 23 August 2010; Int‘l Gaza flotilla committee holds talks in
Ankara.
http://tinyurl.com/2fnysgh (Accessed 23 August 2010)

12.3 IDF team of experts under Maj-Gen (Res.) Eiland

653
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 12 July 2010; Maj-Gen (res.) Eiland presents
conclusions of examination team.
http://tinyurl.com/29t8l94 (Accessed 24 July 2010)

12.4 The investigation by Israel’s State Comptroller

654
Haaretz.com, 15 June 2010; State Comptroller to probe Israel's raid on Gaza
flotilla.
http://tinyurl.com/32qg7dv (Accessed 15 June 2010)

12.5 The UN Panel of Inquiry

141
655
TVNZ, 3 August 2010; Palmer: NZ chosen by UN because ―detached‖.
http://tinyurl.com/35kv4ml (Accessed 5 August 2010)
656
Gordon Campbell, 3 August 2010; On the Gaza inquiry, and new twists in the
Carter affair; GORDON CAMPBELL.scoop.co.nz.
http://tinyurl.com/2uhbl5k (Accessed 5 August 2010)
657
C.L. Cook, 3 August 2010; Ban Names Principles for Lethal Israeli Commando
Flotilla Raid Review Panel; Pacific Free Press.
http://tinyurl.com/24625g7 (Accessed 5 August 2010)
658
Kenneth Roth, 26 June 2010; Colombia: Obama Should Press Uribe on Rights;
Human Rights Watch.
http://tinyurl.com/mjc5ko (Accessed 5 August 2010)
659
Barak Ravid and Natasha Mozgovaya, 2 August 2010; ‗Israel‘s part in UN
flotilla probe elimainates need for other inquiries‘; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/39maych (Accessed 5 August 2010)
660
Harriet Sherwood, 2 August 2010; Gaza flotilla raid: Israel to co-operate with
UN inquiry; guardian.co.uk.
http://tinyurl.com/2c6otlc (Accessed 2 August 2010)
661
Barak Ravid, 3 August 2010; Opposition fury after Netanyahu accepts UN
Gaza flotilla probe; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/254wmav (Accessed 13 August 2010)

12.6 The UN Human Rights Committee

662
Human Rights Committee, 29 July 2010; Consideration of reports submitted by
States parties under article 40 of the Covenant.
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrc/hrcs99.htm
(Accessed 30 July 2010)
663
United Nations Treaty Collection, undated.
http://tinyurl.com/322pmkw (Accessed 2 August 2010)

12.7 Legal proceedings

664
John Goetz, 11 June 2010; German Activists File War Crimes Complaints;
SPIEGELONLINE.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,700127,00.html
(Accessed 13 June 2010)
665
Ma‟an News Agency, 17 June 2010; UK charity to sue Israel over flotilla raid.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=292464
(Accessed 17 June 2010)
666
Gérard Bon, Lucien Libert and Reuters TV, 12 June 2010; Flotille de la Liberté:
Dépot des plaintes devant la justice française et la CPI ; CAPJPO-
EuroPalestine.

142
 http://www.europalestine.com/spip.php?article5177 (Accessed 13 June 2010)
667
Free Gaza team, 15 June 2010; ICRC: Israel‘s Blockade Breaks the Law Free
Gaza: Send More Ships; Press release from the Free Gaza Movement.
668
Elias Harb, 19 July 2010; Richard Falk: The Shock Resulting from Flotilla Attack
has Reinforced the Campaign to de-Legitimize Israel; Intifada.
http://tinyurl.com/2ejucn6 (Accessed 2 August 2010)
669
Ma‟an News, 17 June 2010; UK charity to sue Israel over flotilla raid.
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=292464
(Accessed 17 June 2010)
670
Jack Khoury, Natasha Mozgovaya, Barak Ravid and Zvi Bar‟el, 22 July 2010;
Israel launches campaign to halt Lebanon flotilla bound for Gaza;
Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/39ljwdh (Accessed 22 July 2010)

12.8 U.S. Freedom of Information request

671
Center for Constitutional Rights, 1 July 2010; Rights Group Files FOIA Requests
Regarding Israel Attack on Flotilla Delivering Aid to Gaza.
http://tinyurl.com/2c887dx (Accessed 22 July 2010)

13.0 COMMENTARY
672
Ivan Watson and Talia Kayali, 4 June 2010; Autopsies reveal 9 men on Gaza aid
boat shot, 5 in head; CNN.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/04/gaza.raid.autopsies/
(Accessed 30 August 2010)
673
Times Online, 2 June 2010; Israel deports activists as pressure mounts for
Gaza probe.
http://tinyurl.com/35sxj5m (Accessed 7 July 2010)
674
David Halpin, 23 April 2009; Piracy off the Promised Land: The Ramming of
the Dignity with Clear Lethal Intent.
http://tinyurl.com/34senwq (Accessed 25 May 2010)
675
cbcnews, 5 February 2009; Israel seizes Lebanese ship heading for Gaza.
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/02/05/israel-ship.html
(Accessed 1 June 2010)
676
Free Gaza Team, 5 January 2009; A Simple Idea.
http://www.freegaza.org/en/boat-trips (Accessed 25 May 2010)
677
IsraelMFA, 15 June 2010; Overview of Israel Navy Interception of the Gaza
Flotilla.
http://tinyurl.com/2vj4bq5 (Accessed 24 June 2010)
678
Sabina Tavernise and Ethnan Bronner, 4 June 2010; Days of Planning Led to
Flotilla‘s Hour of Chaos; New York Times.

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 http://tinyurl.com/38w79v8 (Accessed 7 July 2010)
679
novinite.com, 3 June 2010; Bulgarian Gaza Reporter: Turkish Ship Was
Provocation for Israel.
http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=116792 (Accessed 5 July 2010)
680
Iara Lee, 5 June 2010; What happened to us is happening in Gaza; San
Francisco Chronicle.
http://tinyurl.com/36jjr4k (Accessed 13 July 2010)
681
Daniel Binns, 9 June 2010; CHINGFORD: Flotilla survivor returns home. #east
London and West Essex Guardian.
http://tinyurl.com/3adrh5n (Accessed 6 July 2010)
682
Cited in http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Terrorism/terrordef.html
(Accessed 23 June 2010)
683
scarlett83, 3 June 2010; Israel Spokesman‘s hard times with English Reporter
after Israeli Attack Peace Flotilla.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q167f6wHoo (Accessed 24 June 2010)
684
Haaretz editorial, 13 June 2010; The public has a right to know; Haaretz.com.
http://tinyurl.com/34l24hh (Accessed 17 June 2010)

15.0 EPILOGUE
685
Sarah Irving, 7 July 2010; Water in Gaza:‖ it‘s not a simple problem‖;
Electronic Intifada.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article11373.shtml (Accessed 12 July 2010)
686
O‟Keefe, K. (2010). Defenders of the Mavi Marmara. In Bayoumi, B. (ed)
Midnight on the Mavi Marmara. OR Books, New York, p.37.

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