ISRAEL/JERUSALEM: Israeli foreign ministry official condemns 'provocation' of Gaza aid convoy after deadly clash

Record ID: 401076

  • Title: ISRAEL/JERUSALEM: Israeli foreign ministry official condemns 'provocation' of Gaza aid convoy after deadly clash
  • Date: 1st June 2010
  • Summary: ASHDOD, ISRAEL (MAY 31, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ASHDOD PORT SHIPS AT SEA
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3LPWYQ4X38Q08TROBUM43U2FY
  • Story Text: The deputy Israeli Foreign Minister said on Monday (May 31) that the humanitarian convoy en-route to Gaza was working "in aid of terrorist organisations."
    "The armada of hate and violence in support of Hamas terror organisation was a premeditated and outrageous provocation. The organisers are well-known for their ties to global Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas. They have a history of armed smuggling and deadly terror, " Danny Ayalon told a news conference.
    His comments came after Israeli commandos intercepted Gaza-bound aid ships and at least 10 activists on board were killed in violence that threatened to plunge Israel into an international diplomatic crisis.
    "On-board the ship we found weapons prepared in advance and used against our forces. The organisers intent was violent, their method was violent and the result were unfortunately violent. Israel regrets any loss of life and did everything to avoid this outcome," added the deputy FM.
    Israel's military said troops came under gunfire and knife attack during the take-over.
    A diplomatic furore took shape, especially with long-time Muslim ally Turkey whose flag some of the six ships carrying aid and foreign activists, were flying.
    Israel has said it was absolutely determined to maintain its blockade of the Gaza Strip, a territory of 1.5 million people that is controlled by Hamas Islamists opposed to U.S.-mediated Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
    Israel's Western allies have been critical of a Gaza embargo that it insists has not led to humanitarian crisis in the impoverished enclave, and which it says is aimed at preventing arms supplies from reaching Hamas by sea.
    It has previously halted such activist ships, although some others have reached the Gaza Strip before.
    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas -- whose Fatah faction lost control of the Gaza Strip in fighting with Hamas in 2007 -- declared three days of mourning in the Palestinian territories.
    Turkey said it "strongly protested" against the military action, calling the interception of the ships unacceptable and cautioning in a statement issued by its Foreign Ministry that "Israel will have to endure the consequences of this behaviour".
    Captured ships were sailing towards Israel's southern Mediterranean port of Ashdod, Israeli media said.
    The convoy set off in international waters off Cyprus on Sunday (May 30) in defiance of the Israeli-led blockade and warnings that it would be intercepted.
    The flotilla was organised -- among others -- by a Turkish human rights organisation. Turkey had urged Israel to allow it safe passage and said the 10,000 tonnes of aid the convoy was carrying was humanitarian.
    Turkey, long Israel's best Muslim friend and a key ally in a hostile Middle East, was highly critical of Israel's attack on Gaza 18 months ago, in which 1,400 Palestinians were killed.
    Relations between the two states are now distinctly chilly and bloodshed at sea will do nothing to improve them.
    The United Nations and Western powers have urged Israel to ease its restrictions on Gaza to prevent a humanitarian crisis. They have been urging Israel to let in concrete and steel to allow for post-war reconstruction.
    Israel says food, medicine and medical equipment are allowed in regularly.
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