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SRAELI commandos have stormed six ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists killing at least 15, according to reports.
The ships - which are claimed to have up to 28 Britons on board - were on an aid mission to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
The attacks have sparked mass protests across the world - including London.
Up to 15 people are feared to have been killed after commandoes boarded ships carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid en route from Cyprus. Other reports say up to 19 may be dead.
The Foreign Secretary William Hague today "deplored" the loss of life during the interception of a flotilla.
And fears are growing for two members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), who travelled from Bristol to join the flotilla, the group said.
Sakir Yildirim, from Fishponds and Cliff Hanley, from Southville, had been raising funds for the project and were on the boats.
Nothing has been heard of them since the violence early this morning, spokesman Ed Hill revealed.
The pair flew to Turkey earlier last week and boarded the passenger ship Mavi Marmara.
Both have visited Gaza before. Mr Yildirim, originally from the Blacksea area of Turkey, drove an ambulance to the region in February last year.
Artist Mr Hanley, Secretary of the PSC in Bristol, has visited Gaza once before, in January of this year, as part of the Viva Palestina Convoy.
Reports suggested several Scots were on board as part of the flotilla too.
Mr Hague said the British embassy was in "urgent contact" with the Israeli government, asking for more information.
He said: "I deplore the loss of life during the interception of the Gaza flotilla. Our embassy is in urgent contact with the Israeli government.
"We are asking for more information and urgent access to any UK nationals involved.
"We have consistently advised against attempting to access Gaza in this way because of the risks involved. But at the same time, there is a clear need for Israel to act with restraint and in line with international obligations.
A pro-Palestinian activist is evacuated
Survivor ... medics take away injured
"It would be important to establish the facts about this incident and especially whether enough was done to prevent death and injuries.
"This news underlines the need to lift the restrictions on access to Gaza in line with UNSCR (UN Security Council Resolution) 1860."
Mr Hague continued: "The closure (of access to Gaza) is unacceptable and counter-productive. There can be no better response from the international community to this tragedy than to achieve urgently a durable resolution to the Gaza crisis.
"I call on the Government of Israel to open the crossings to allow unfettered access for aid to Gaza, and address the serious concerns about the deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation and about the effect on a generation of young Palestinians."
Mr Hague's criticism of the killings comes after several groups condemned the action taken by the Israelis.
Among those travelling on the flotilla of six were eight Irish citizens.
Michael Martin, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, said: "The reports of up to 15 people killed and 50 injured, if confirmed, would constitute a totally unacceptable response by the Israeli military to what was a humanitarian mission attempting to deliver much needed supplies to the people of Gaza."
Israeli soldiers aiming a gun on the deck of a Turkish ship,
Raid ... Israeli troops on boat
Palestinian rights group Friends of Al-Aqsa said that 28 British citizens were travelling on the ships, including its chairman Ismail Patel.
There has been no communication from him since the inexcusable attack, it said.
The Stop The War Coalition (STWC) said the action "should see Israel condemned under international law".
The boats were taking aid to an Israeli blockade set up three years ago after Hamas militants seized power there.
Greta Berlin, spokeswoman for the Free Gaza movement, which co-ordinated the flotilla said: "It's disgusting that they have come on board and attacked civilians. We are civilians."
Israeli military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovitch said: "They planned this attack. Our soldiers were injured from these knives and sharp metal objects ... as well as from live fire." Two of the dead activists had fired at soldiers with pistols, the army added.
Israeli soldiers in Tel Aviv evacuate comrades involved in violent clashes when Israeli navy seals stormed a convoy carrying hundreds of passengers and aid destined for the Gaza Strip
The Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, from the pro-Islamic aid group IHH, and Free Gaza's Challenger 1 are understood to have been boarded by Israeli Navy ships in international waters, 80 miles off the coast of Gaza.
The Israeli army said at least 10 activists - believed to be Turkish nationals - were among the dead.
There were unconfirmed reports that senior Arab Israeli Islamist leader Raed Salah had been severely injured in the clashes.
Protesters block Whitehall opposite Downing Street,
Protests ... anger in Westminster, London
Turkey warned Israel of "irreparable consequences" following the deaths and said the incident was "unacceptable".
A Foreign Ministry statement said: "We strongly condemn these inhumane practices of Israel.
"This deplorable incident, which took place in open seas and constitutes a fragrant breach of international law, may lead to irreparable consequences in our bilateral relations," it added.
Israel blamed the activists for the violence but expressed regret for the deaths.
Israel's prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has cancelled a planned meeting with President Obama to deal with the escalating international crisis over the attack.
Mr Netanyahu is in Canada and had been due to visit the White House tomorrow after a series of increasingly fractious meetings with the US over the stalled Middle East peace process.
Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "They initiated the violence."
"We made every possible effort to avoid this incident. The servicemen were given instructions that it was to be a police operation and to use maximum restraint.
"Unfortunately they were attacked with deadly force by the people on the boats - with iron bars, knives and live fire."
The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas described the deaths as a "massacre".
EU ambassadors were holding emergency talks this afternoon to discuss the deaths of a reported 15 people on boats off the coast of Gaza by Israeli forces.
Britain is being represented at the gathering of experts on the EU Political and Security Committee, by Tim Barrow for what was described as "an exchange of views".
One official said it was impossible to predict what stance, if any, the 27-nation meeting would make.
The Swedish crime novelist Henning Mankell was aboard one of the six Gaza-bound ships.
His spokesman Robert Johnsson says he has not been able to reach Mankell since the deadly raid.
Mankell's murder mysteries about the gloomy detective Kurt Wallander have been on best-seller lists worldwide and was turned into a BBC drama starring Kenneth Brannagh.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2993831/Brits-on-board-stormed-ships.html#ixzz0pWes4Miy
The ships - which are claimed to have up to 28 Britons on board - were on an aid mission to the blockaded Gaza Strip.
The attacks have sparked mass protests across the world - including London.
Up to 15 people are feared to have been killed after commandoes boarded ships carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid en route from Cyprus. Other reports say up to 19 may be dead.
The Foreign Secretary William Hague today "deplored" the loss of life during the interception of a flotilla.
And fears are growing for two members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), who travelled from Bristol to join the flotilla, the group said.
Sakir Yildirim, from Fishponds and Cliff Hanley, from Southville, had been raising funds for the project and were on the boats.
Nothing has been heard of them since the violence early this morning, spokesman Ed Hill revealed.
The pair flew to Turkey earlier last week and boarded the passenger ship Mavi Marmara.
Both have visited Gaza before. Mr Yildirim, originally from the Blacksea area of Turkey, drove an ambulance to the region in February last year.
Artist Mr Hanley, Secretary of the PSC in Bristol, has visited Gaza once before, in January of this year, as part of the Viva Palestina Convoy.
Reports suggested several Scots were on board as part of the flotilla too.
Mr Hague said the British embassy was in "urgent contact" with the Israeli government, asking for more information.
He said: "I deplore the loss of life during the interception of the Gaza flotilla. Our embassy is in urgent contact with the Israeli government.
"We are asking for more information and urgent access to any UK nationals involved.
"We have consistently advised against attempting to access Gaza in this way because of the risks involved. But at the same time, there is a clear need for Israel to act with restraint and in line with international obligations.
A pro-Palestinian activist is evacuated
Survivor ... medics take away injured
"It would be important to establish the facts about this incident and especially whether enough was done to prevent death and injuries.
"This news underlines the need to lift the restrictions on access to Gaza in line with UNSCR (UN Security Council Resolution) 1860."
Mr Hague continued: "The closure (of access to Gaza) is unacceptable and counter-productive. There can be no better response from the international community to this tragedy than to achieve urgently a durable resolution to the Gaza crisis.
"I call on the Government of Israel to open the crossings to allow unfettered access for aid to Gaza, and address the serious concerns about the deterioration in the humanitarian and economic situation and about the effect on a generation of young Palestinians."
Mr Hague's criticism of the killings comes after several groups condemned the action taken by the Israelis.
Among those travelling on the flotilla of six were eight Irish citizens.
Michael Martin, Irish Foreign Affairs Minister, said: "The reports of up to 15 people killed and 50 injured, if confirmed, would constitute a totally unacceptable response by the Israeli military to what was a humanitarian mission attempting to deliver much needed supplies to the people of Gaza."
Israeli soldiers aiming a gun on the deck of a Turkish ship,
Raid ... Israeli troops on boat
Palestinian rights group Friends of Al-Aqsa said that 28 British citizens were travelling on the ships, including its chairman Ismail Patel.
There has been no communication from him since the inexcusable attack, it said.
The Stop The War Coalition (STWC) said the action "should see Israel condemned under international law".
The boats were taking aid to an Israeli blockade set up three years ago after Hamas militants seized power there.
Greta Berlin, spokeswoman for the Free Gaza movement, which co-ordinated the flotilla said: "It's disgusting that they have come on board and attacked civilians. We are civilians."
Israeli military spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovitch said: "They planned this attack. Our soldiers were injured from these knives and sharp metal objects ... as well as from live fire." Two of the dead activists had fired at soldiers with pistols, the army added.
Israeli soldiers in Tel Aviv evacuate comrades involved in violent clashes when Israeli navy seals stormed a convoy carrying hundreds of passengers and aid destined for the Gaza Strip
The Turkish Mavi Marmara ship, from the pro-Islamic aid group IHH, and Free Gaza's Challenger 1 are understood to have been boarded by Israeli Navy ships in international waters, 80 miles off the coast of Gaza.
The Israeli army said at least 10 activists - believed to be Turkish nationals - were among the dead.
There were unconfirmed reports that senior Arab Israeli Islamist leader Raed Salah had been severely injured in the clashes.
Protesters block Whitehall opposite Downing Street,
Protests ... anger in Westminster, London
Turkey warned Israel of "irreparable consequences" following the deaths and said the incident was "unacceptable".
A Foreign Ministry statement said: "We strongly condemn these inhumane practices of Israel.
"This deplorable incident, which took place in open seas and constitutes a fragrant breach of international law, may lead to irreparable consequences in our bilateral relations," it added.
Israel blamed the activists for the violence but expressed regret for the deaths.
Israel's prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has cancelled a planned meeting with President Obama to deal with the escalating international crisis over the attack.
Mr Netanyahu is in Canada and had been due to visit the White House tomorrow after a series of increasingly fractious meetings with the US over the stalled Middle East peace process.
Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: "They initiated the violence."
"We made every possible effort to avoid this incident. The servicemen were given instructions that it was to be a police operation and to use maximum restraint.
"Unfortunately they were attacked with deadly force by the people on the boats - with iron bars, knives and live fire."
The Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas described the deaths as a "massacre".
EU ambassadors were holding emergency talks this afternoon to discuss the deaths of a reported 15 people on boats off the coast of Gaza by Israeli forces.
Britain is being represented at the gathering of experts on the EU Political and Security Committee, by Tim Barrow for what was described as "an exchange of views".
One official said it was impossible to predict what stance, if any, the 27-nation meeting would make.
The Swedish crime novelist Henning Mankell was aboard one of the six Gaza-bound ships.
His spokesman Robert Johnsson says he has not been able to reach Mankell since the deadly raid.
Mankell's murder mysteries about the gloomy detective Kurt Wallander have been on best-seller lists worldwide and was turned into a BBC drama starring Kenneth Brannagh.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2993831/Brits-on-board-stormed-ships.html#ixzz0pWes4Miy
I don't see the difference between torpedoing of a ship by a North Korean submarine, and attacking a boat carrying relief supplies. But America will be able to tell us because North Korea will impose immediate sanctions and Israel congratulations.
UNBELIEVABLE, then they cry with the holocaust!! hypocrites!!
This is their viewpoint of civilization and we barbarian Turks (!) can't understand that.Their big brother USA said that they are sorry(!)...I wonder about they are sorry for what?For death people or for alive people on the ship...May be they want all of them death.
Where are the "human rights" where are the civilized Europeans...
Where are the "human rights" where are the civilized Europeans...
There is a difference if the "torpedoed" (?) ship is a militray one, though.
we know,that Israel is sponsored by USA,and because that,Israel can do what ever they want
I'm not defending Israel at all, but we should wait the results of the investigations. and then you can proceed with your bigotry.
@All
(edited)
@All
(edited)
Since when is killing innocent people, the document requires?
What kind of bigotry.And i think you didn't wait the results for using the word "bigotry".
Maybe bigotry isn't the correct word, but I just think it isn't morally just to blame Israel for this, because they make a strong case if they were provoked militarily.
Anyway, hate however you like, I personally just prefer to know all the facts.
Anyway, hate however you like, I personally just prefer to know all the facts.
I think that "if-" statements can be perfectly valid ex-ante, since they just express a potential outcome, rather than grant an actual outcome :P
as far as I know only one of six ships was stormed
there is also available the video of the boarding when lot of rioters attacked those soldiers and most propably scenario is that those soldiers was forced to use weapon.
http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DbU12KW-XyZE%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded
there is also available the video of the boarding when lot of rioters attacked those soldiers and most propably scenario is that those soldiers was forced to use weapon.
http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DbU12KW-XyZE%26feature%3Dplayer_embedded
im with the israeli's here tbh. They warned them not to go repeatedly, the ships wouldnt stop, they kept telling them not to come, they continued. They have a right to defend themselves and what happened when they went on the ship? Oh, the 'peaceful' protesters attacked the troops, again, those troops have a right to defend themselves and if the needed to shoot people to do it, then i have nothing against them for doing it.
Yes, it shouldn't have happened, but these protesters calling for peace are normally the ones that cause all the trouble.
Yes, it shouldn't have happened, but these protesters calling for peace are normally the ones that cause all the trouble.
Israel lost already all his credit in their region, they lost almostly all their credit in the world. The day that their is a president in america who isn't elected with jewish money (that day will come once, the question is only when) they will pay for their crimes.