[THS] telegraph.co.uk: Israeli troops attack ship carrying aid to Gaza

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/7788887/Israeli-troops-attack-ship-carrying-aid-to-Gaza.html


Israeli troops attack ship carrying aid to Gaza
Israeli warships have attacked at least one of the six ships carrying pro-Palestinian
activists and aid for blockaded Gaza, killing at least two people and wounding 30,
according to reports.

Published: 5:13AM BST 31 May 2010
Link to this video

The al-Jazeera satellite channel reported by telephone from the Turkish ship leading
the flotilla that Israeli navy forces fired at the ship and boarded it, wounding the
captain. The Turkish NTV network also reported an Israeli takeover with gunfire, and
at least two people were killed.

The al-Jazeera broadcast ended with a voice shouting in Hebrew, "Everybody shut
up!"

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Separate reports said that Israeli commandos descended from helicopters onto the
boat.

The television network said two activists had been killed and some 50 wounded.
Organisers of the aid convoy said they were no longer in contact with the boats. The
Israeli military have refused to comment.

The reports came just after daybreak, with the flotilla still well away from the Gaza
shore. Israel had declared it would not allow the ships to reach Gaza.

In Turkey, news of the interception prompted protestors to attempt to storm the
Israeli consulate in Istanbul in retaliation.

On Sunday, Huwaida Arraf, one of the organisers, said the six-ship flotilla began the
journey from international waters off the coast of Cyprus on Sunday afternoon after
two days of delays. She said they expected to reach Gaza, about 250 miles away, on
Monday afternoon, and that two more ships would follow in "a second wave."

The flotilla was "fully prepared for the different scenarios" that might arise, and
organizers were hopeful that Israeli authorities would "do what's right" and not stop
the convoy, she said.

"We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence
against us," she said. "They are going to have to forcefully stop us."

After nightfall Sunday, three Israeli navy missile boats left their base in Haifa,
steaming out to sea to confront the activists' ships.

Two hours later, Israel Radio broadcast a recording of one of the missile boats
warning the flotilla not to approach Gaza.

"If you ignore this order and enter the blockaded area, the Israeli navy will be forced
to take all the necessary measures in order to enforce this blockade," the radio
message continued.

The al-Jazeera satellite channel reported that the ships changed course to try to
avoid a nighttime confrontation, preferring a daylight showdown for better publicity.

The flotilla, which includes three cargo ships and three passenger ships, is trying to
draw attention to Israel's three-year blockade of the Gaza Strip. The boats are
carrying items that Israel bars from reaching Gaza, like cement and other building
materials. The activists said they also were carrying hundreds of electric-powered
wheelchairs, prefabricated homes and water purifiers.