Attack on Freedom Flotilla - sadness.. envious, rage..

1.       Freedom flotilla is organised by a Turkish NGO, a coalition of civilian activists internationally from all over the muslim world, including European countries. Its purpose was to bring in aid to Gaza, where the enforced blockade of Gaza by both Israel and Egypt has caused immense hardship to its populace. It brought aid in the form of cement and construction material, food, medicince and such, and from day one had announced that it brought no weapons with it.

2.       The eight (or so) ships knew the risks. They knew that Israel would resort to violent means to stop them. They still went, and some had written their last will to their family members knowing they could be detained indefinitely, or they could be killed for whatever reason.

3.       Today, about 90kms from Gaza, in pitch darkness, Israel navy and armed personnel hijacked the boats, and the numbers vary, but between 10 and 20 of these brave, civilian humanitarians died. Israel TV played out the story that their strikeforce was attacked and had to react in self-defence. How these Israeli combatants,  after they had boarded the ships from abseiling down from their sophisticated helis, attack ships and subs clad in their full combat gear, could have been attacked with “knives and other sharp weapons” (by itself, an admission there were no ordnance) is a farce. Shades of “parang in Aminurrasyid’s car”, but that’s a digression.

4.       Israeli aggression is uncalled for. But now they have to deal with the response from the international diplomatic community, the outpouring of anger and hate from the large (albeit quite powerless) muslim community, and pressure from their previously close partners in the US and Europe.

5.       The sacrifice of the shuhada’ and the brave souls on-board Mavi Marmara was calculated to provoke maximum publicity for the crass, violent, insolent, manipulating and uncivilized political leaders of Israel. Others, who follow this struggle of the Palestinians, will have to wake up and take heed.

 

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http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/31/nation/20100531191843&sec=nation

 

No word on fate of Malaysians onboard attacked ship

By SHAUN HO

 

 

PETALING JAYA: The fate of Astro Awani journalist Ashwad Ismail, 26, and cameraman Samsulkamal Abdul Latip, 43, and nine other Malaysians believed aboard Turkish ship Mavi Marmara when Israeli commandos stormed it on Monday, remains unknown.

 

The other Malaysians are Noorazman Mohd Samsuddin (chief of the Malaysian delegation and a UIA lecturer), Dr Mohd Arba Ai Shawal (medical doctor), Dr Syed Muhamad Haleem Syed Hassan (medical doctor), Dr Selamat Aliman (businessman), Jamaluddin Elias (Klang councillor), Al Hilmi Husain Suhaimi (religious teacher), Mohd Nizam Mohamad Awang (engineer), Abd Halim Mohd Redzuan (Syabas executive) and Ustaz Hasanuddin Aqsi Assarip (non-governmental organisation personnel).

 

Astro Awani's last contact with its crew was at 7.45pm on Sunday, according to a statement from the TV channel.

 

A senior Astro Awani source said they were trying desperately to establish contact with the two.

 

The attack, which took place 65km off the Gaza coast in international waters early Monday, killed 16 people and injured many others.

 

The two-man Astro Awani crew had left Kuala Lumpur for Istanbul, Turkey, on May 23, before proceeding to Antalya Port to join the convoy, which departed for Gaza on Sunday.

 

Mavi Marmara was leading the international convoy, dubbed the Freedom Flotilla, with six other ships intending to deliver 10,00 tonnes of aid to the blockaded Gaza.

 

The cargo included building material, food and medical supplies.

 

According to a statement from Lifeline 4 Gaza, which coordinates the Malaysian delegation to the convoy, nine other Malaysians were aboard the ship.

 

Six other Malaysians on board another ship, the Rachel Corrie, which left from Cyprus, were safe, according to a statement by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Perdana Global Peace Organisation.

 

They were lawyer Matthias Chang, journalist Shamsul Akmar, Parit MP Nizar Zakaria, activist Ahmad Faizal Azumu and TV3 crew members Halim Mohamed and Jufri Junid.

 

Meru state assemblyman Dr Abdul Rani Osman, who was on board one of the ships, managed to send a message to some of his Selangor state assemblymen that he was safe.

 

PAS activist Jamaluddin has yet to get in touch, said PAS secretary-general Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar.

 

It is learnt that the Israeli navy has diverted the convoy to the port of Ashdod where a special passport and detention centre has been set up.

 

An Israeli television reported Monday that Israeli forces attacked the flotilla carrying aid to besieged Gaza, killing up to 16 and wounding more than 30 others.

 

The clash occured after Israeli soldiers tried to stop the flotilla from reaching Gaza.

 

News agencies reported that Israeli forces opened fire after being attacked by a number of passengers.

 

Israeli commandos dropped from a helicopter onto the deck of the Mari Marmara around 4.30am local time, and immediately opened fire on unarmed civilians, said a tweet of human rights group Free Gaza Movement.