Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Imp Facts to disseminate about the Gaza Flotilla Violence‏

All of us on Z STREET:

It is our job to share the key messages regarding the Gaza Flotilla violence with everyone we know. Send on this info, pick a few facts and write letters to newspapers (there will be many negative articles in the days to come - correct what is incorrect, provide what is correct!)(go to the Z ST website, click on Important Contacts in left column, and click on media to get email addresses), tell friends and not-friends, keep it going. Be relentless - it's our only hope. Included below are the facts regarding the violence that occurred; the background leading up to it, including the expressed hope of the flotilla organizers that violence would be beneficial to their public relations and the use of children as part of their PR campaign; ithe reasons for the blockade and the provision of humanitarian goods by Israel to the Gazans despite their leaders' continued terrorism against Israel; and the legal support for Israel's actions. We have the essential supporting evidence, including videos, below.

Comments? Questions? Please go to WWW.ZSTREET.ORG and leave your comments so that we all can benefit from everyone’s suggestions and remarks.
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* Sunday night the IDF forces boarded an Islamist-controlled flotilla which was bound for Gaza in contravention of the blockade imposed because of the years-long practice of smuggling support for the Gazan terrorist activities directed at Israel.
* Israel left Gaza in hopes of peace in 2005 and in return received more than 10,000 rockets and terrorist attacks.
* The State of Israel approached the organizers of the flotilla – prior to their departure and late, while at sea – and invited them to dock at the Port of Ashdod for the sake of transferring their cargo to Gaza, subject to security inspection. The organizers refused.
* "We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence against us, they are going to have to forcefully stop us," said one of the flotilla’s organizers.
* Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this week: "If the ships reach Gaza it is a victory; if they are intercepted, it will be a victory too."

 * The extremists brought small children on board knowing that they intended to violate international maritime law.
* Passengers on one of the six boats initiated violent clashes.
* While boarding on of the vessels, IDF soldiers were physically attacked with live ammunition and other weapons, including knives and clubs, which had been prepared in advance. A weapon belonging to one of soldiers was snatched and, apparently, a barbarian fired on IDF forces.
* During the course of the incident, when their lives were put in danger, IDF soldiers were compelled to employ means to disperse demonstrations, including live weapons.
* The IDF action was authorized by the Security Cabinet, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense.
* There were nine casualties amongst the flotilla barbarians, and others injured. Seven Israeli naval officers were also wounded. All of the injured were evacuated to hospitals.
* Responsibility for the violence lies with the organizers and participants of the flotilla who initiated the violence.
* The entire flotilla was designed as a media stunt and political provocation by elements that are hostile to Israel, primarily the IHH – a violent, extremist group which supports terrorist organizations under the guise of humanitarian activity.
* There is no famine or humanitarian crisis in Gaza. http://picasaweb.google.com/mererhetoricblog/GazaTravelGuideShopping?fgl=true&pli=1# The area is under the control of Hamas, a terrorist organization that continues to arm itself with weapons and rockets for the purpose of attacking Israelis – as it has done in the past. Hamas continues to hold captive Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier, in contravention of international law. Accordingly, Israel has the right to inspect all cargo entering Gaza.


* Israel has and continues to express its desire for peace and continues to extend its hand to all those who are willing to participate in moving forwards to true peace.



VIDEOS 

1. IDF Spokesperson video:
The Israel Navy warns flotilla that the Gaza region is closed to maritime traffic, and invites the ships to enter Ashdod port to transfer humanitarian aid.

http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=52&l=-http--www.youtube.com/watch--Q-v--E-P6jDIQr59Sk
 

2. IDF Spokesperson 2nd video taken from helicopter

http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=53&l=-http--www.youtube.com/watch--Q-v--E-bU12KW-XyZE

and one by the IDF Navy

http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=54&l=-http--www.youtube.com/watch--Q-v--E-yphfyN0dqi8--A-NR--E-1
And one of the barbarians attacking the IDF soldiers with metal pipes and fists and throwing one of the soldiers off the ship.
http://www.youtube.com/idfnadesk & http://tinyurl.com/39vxnj3. (COMM. BY GPO)

4. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs clips
http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=56&l=-http--www.youtube.com/watch--Q-v--E-5wlWcNXzstI
CLOSE-UP FOOTAGE OF MAVI MARMARA PASSENGERS ATTACKING IDF SOLDIERS http://www.youtube.com/idfnadesk & http://tinyurl.com/39vxnj3. (COMM. BY GPO)


5. Media coverage:

http://www.justjournalism.com/media-analysis/view/peace-activists-or-violent-attackers-how-the-media-narrative-on-flotilla-incident-is-shaping-up



Regarding claims of Israel violating Laws of the sea 

http://blog.camera.org/archives/2010/05/ny_times_flotilla_coverage_mis.html%20


The Gaza Flotilla and the Maritime Blockade of Gaza

Legal Background –
31 May 2010
1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been smuggled into Gaza via the sea.
2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea.
3. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral States.
4. The naval manuals of several western countries, including the US and England recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement of give due notice of the existence of the blockade.


5. In this vein, it should be noted that Israel publicized the existence of the blockade and the precise coordinates of such by means of the accepted international professional maritime channels. Israel also provided appropriate notification to the affected governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla. Moreover, in real time, the ships participating in the protest flotilla were warned repeatedly that a maritime blockade is in effect.
Here, it should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and appropriate notification has been granted, as above.
Under international maritime law, when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats can enter the blockaded area. That includes both civilian and enemy vessels.
8. A State may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law. The US Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its port with the intention of evading the blockade.
9. Here we should note that the protesters indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral statements. Moreover, the route of these vessels indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade in violation of international law.


10. Given the protesters explicit intention to violate the naval blockade, Israel exercised its right under international law to enforce the blockade. It should be noted that prior to undertaking enforcement measures, explicit warnings were relayed directly to the captains of the vessels, expressing Israel's intent to exercise its right to enforce the blockade.


11. Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order to enforce the blockade. Given the large number of vessels participating in the flotilla, an operational decision was made to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from the area of the blockade.


12. Israeli personnel attempting to enforce the blockade were met with violence by the protesters and acted in self defense to fend off such attacks.






With thanks to our wonderful friends at
MediaCentral

Aryeh Green, Director
MediaCentral

aryeh@m-central.org


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