So, in the past I have neglected to write directly on Israeli/Palestinian issues because of the overwhelming hatred and backlash that seems to follow anything that is written on the subject and the claims of bias, antisemitism, brainwashing or worse. I feel now, however, that I should write something, since the “facts” I keep reading are often ludicrous and so shrouded in propaganda that I’m frustrated beyond belief and have been ranting non-stop on the issue since the attack took place. I’m going to try my very hardest to be as impartial as possible… though, given the situation, this will be difficult for me.

On May 31st, 2010, a flotilla destined for Israel’s Gaza strip was embarked by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), resulting in the death of at least 9 people (other reports I’ve seen say at least 19) and injuring many more. The exact numbers of deaths and injuries so-far remains shrouded in secrecy. The remaining 400 or so (again, I’ve seen other reports as high as 610) people on board were immediately escorted and allegedly given a choice to be instantly deported, or be detained and possibly imprisoned in Israel. Many simply refused to give their names or identification and will be detained. One hundred and twenty have so far been deported and the rest are said to be held in Beersheba or being given care in hospitals throughout the country. The attack happened in international waters, some 70-150 km off the coast of Israel (again, disputed reports), an act which has subsequently been called piracy by many onlookers. But Israeli military spokesperson Avital Leibovich has stated that the attack may have “happened in waters outside of Israeli territory, but we have the right to defend ourselves“.

The question remains whether this ship was bound for violence or an actual humanitarian venture. Some claim that the so-called humanitarians are actually Hamas supporters bringing in weapons, who intended the outcome, and perhaps even opened arms on themselves; self-sustaining their injuries to gain sympathy for the cause. They even show the terror of a dozen or so kitchen knives, utility knives, wrenches and other “weapons” on board the ship that could have potentially brought harm to the fully armed and trained IDF. Grainy videos show some people (we’re told IDF forces) being attacked by supposed grenades and other such weapons, but it’s hard to really tell the true situation from just these few minutes of video. Others see this as a massacre, just another blatant misuse of force by the Israeli forces, who are taught to shoot first and ask questions later.

What does appear clear to me is that the flotilla was looking for a protest demonstration and had decided that a confrontation would gain them the most international media, which is why they continued towards Israel while the five other ships in their convoy were halted and inspected without incident. Did the passengers expect the level of violence they received and were they ready to defend their cargo at all costs? This remains to be seen.

The passenger list of the ship, however, opens these thoughts to scruitiny. According to Turker Kaan Cetin who was released from Israeli custody along with her 13-month-old-baby, about half the people on the boat were women. The ship was also said to be transporting many renowned world leaders and approximately 10,000 tons of humanitarian supplies. Would Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire, former US Representative Cynthia McKinney, 81 year old former US ambassador to Mauritania and deputy director of former US President Reagan’s White House task force against terrorism Edward Peck, two German MPs, a retired US army colonel, and lawmakers from a dozen European countries be on a mission to supply Hamas with arms? Would these people submit to opening fire on and attacking the Israeli Defense Forces with such violence? Would such a ship have the blessing and endorsement of Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu? Maybe. It is possible that the ship also contained terrorists and commandos who accompanied these leaders with the intent to discredit Israel. But what would these leaders have to gain from being associated with such violence? Why would they submit to such action willingly?

So far, it seems that the contradicting videos of the incident can not definitively say who attacked who first aboard the ship; however we must remember, the Israeli military stopped, boarded and attacked a Turkish-flagged ship in international waters. Normally this type of action could be seen as a blatant act of war. The only reasonable justification for boarding a ship in international waters is if the ship causes an imminent threat to the state (ie. it is about to bomb the state or other such extreme military action), and in that case, the action taken against the ship must be absolutely necessary and proportionate.

Some reports suggest that the passengers were barraged with bullets even as they waved a white flag of surrender. Did the ships passengers have the right to defend themselves from such an attack? Or did the IDF have the right to invade the ship in international waters to protect themselves and their country? Had the IDF stopped the flotilla within the 3-mile limit covered under maritime law, the flotilla’s resistance could have been prosecuted under both international and Israeli law and the passengers would have had no leg to stand on. However, it did not happen in this manner.

Claims were made that the 10,000 ton shipment posed a risk to Israeli security. So what was actually found in that shipment? Children’s toys, medicines, text books, wheel chairs… but so far, no weapons have been revealed as part of the shipment in the media. Some have charged that the contents of the shipment were not the issue, but rather the flotilla’s denial of explicit offers to deliver the aid through land crossings so that it could undergo scruitiny and inspection to ensure Israel’s safety. Many would argue that much needed supplies are routinely stopped at the borders and denied to the Gazan citizenry and that they only way to get the materials to those in need was to break the blockade.

Israel’s deputy Defense Minister has hinted that Israel sabotaged the other ships that were scheduled to accompany the Freedom Flotilla, while the Israeli PM paints the blockage of the flotilla as a “clear case of self-defense“. Interestingly, the PM also suggests in his statement that Israel has “no argument of fight with the population of Gaza. We are interested in allowing them to continue their regular routines.” The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, however, seem to show otherwise, with reports that 61% of Gazans are “food insecure” and that the level of anemia in infants is as high as 65.5%. Other UN statistics show that about 70% of Gazans live on less than $1 a day, 75% rely on food aid and 60% have no daily access to water. Much of the population remains unemployed and thus have no money to buy supplies for themselves. They live in what has been called the world’s largest open-air prison, unable to move freely or have free access to many of the necessities of life. The UN resolution 1860 calls for the unfettered access of aid and commercial goods to Gaza, although it would appear this call has been mostly ignored by the Israeli government’s blockade. An apparent 15,000 tons of supplies reaches Gaza each week, but clearly, this is either not enough for the 1.5 million Gazans, or is not reaching those who need it most. Since this debacle, Egypt has open the Rafah border crossing, which has been closed since 2007,  to allow medical and humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, and enable those in need of medical treatment to pass through.

Israel has lost many of its “friends” with this action, most namely its last real Muslim ally, Turkey. The ship was heavily populated with Turkish citizenry, was waving a Turkish flag, and most of the dead and those now being held are thought to be of Turkish nationality. Since the attack, the Turkish government has recalled its Israeli ambassador, canceled their joint military exercises and warned of unprecedented and incalculable reprisals. They have vowed that further supply vessels will be sent to Gaza, only this time they will be escorted by the Turkish navy. The Turkish government has also called on the US to condemn the raid and support their fellow NATO-member against this “act of aggression” (much as the US called upon NATO to assist them after the 9/11 acts of aggression). If Turkey were to invoke the NATO charter in this case of what they call a blatant attack, and the US were to ignore it, it would surely mean an end to NATO. All is not lost however, as the planned delivery of $180 million worth of Israeli-made Heron drones will still make their way to Turkey. Good thing they still care enough about each other to share war devices.

Despite the propaganda that surrounds this issue, UN ambiguity in wording of their resolution calling for a credible investigation into the killing leaves the possibility of Israel investigating themselves in their possible crimes. US deputy UN ambassador Alejandro Wolff, “We are convinced and support an Israeli investigation, as I called for in my statement earlier. And, have every confidence that Israel can conduct a credible and impartial and transparent, prompt, investigation internally.” Clearly, the only way to get to the “truth” would be if the investigation were done by an independent, impartial body, but sadly, it appears the truth will never be told and those responsible may never see justice.

A second ship, the MV Rachel Corrie (named for the American activist murdered by bulldozers demolishing Palestinian homes in Israel in 2003) is still bound for Israel, carrying more humanitarian goods for the Gazan population. We can only hope another such tragedy does not occur this time around.