Jewish Federations of North America - Israel Flotilla Incident

8/9/2019 Jewish Federations of North America - Israel Flotilla Incident

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THE JEWISH FEDERATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA

NEWS ALERT: BACKGROUND ON FLOTILLA INCIDENT

As many of you may be aware, a major confrontation took place off Israel's coast earliertoday. We wanted to bring you the most up-to-date information from JFNA's Israeloffice, for your background. We have summarized the major points below. This isfollowed by additional facts and links to other important materials on this incident.

Early this morning (May 31), Israel Defense Forces naval forces intercepted six shipsattempting to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The intercept took place after numerous warnings from Israel and the Israel Navy thatwere issued prior to the action. The Israel Navy requested the ships to redirect towardAshdod, where they would be able to unload their cargo which would then betransferred to Gaza over land after undergoing security inspections. The IDF stressedthat the passengers could then return to their point of departure on the same vessels.

During the interception of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDFnaval personnel with live gunfire as well as light weaponry including knives,crowbars and clubs. The demonstrators had clearly prepared weapons inadvance for this specific purpose.

According to reports from sea, on board the flotilla that was seeking to break themaritime closure on the Gaza Strip, IDF forces apprehended two violent activistsholding pistols. These militants apparently grabbed the pistols from IDF forcesand opened fire on the soldiers.

The activists were carrying 10,000 tons of reported aid to Gaza. Israel provides15,000 tons of aid weekly to Gaza.

As a result of this life-threatening activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means,

including, when they determined that their lives were in immediate danger, livefire. According to initial reports, these events resulted in over 10 deaths amongthe demonstrators and numerous injured.

A number of Israeli naval personnel were injured, some from gunfire and others fromknives and crowbars. Two of the soldiers are moderately wounded and theremainder sustained light injuries.

All of the injured, Israelis and foreigners, are currently being evacuated by a fleet ofIDF helicopters to hospitals in Israel.

Reports from IDF forces on the scene are that some of the participants onboard theships had planned a lynch-mob attack, using lethal force on the boarding forces.

The events are still unfolding. Israeli Naval commander, Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom

is overseeing the activities.In the coming hours, the ships will be directed to the Ashdod port, while IDF naval

forces will perform security checks in order to identify the people on board theships and their equipment.

The IDF naval operation was carried out under orders from the political leadership tohalt the flotilla from reaching the Gaza Strip and breaching the naval blockade.

Other important facts:
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The provocateurs were organized by an Islamist organization that has links tofundamentalist jihadi groups.

The extremists brought small children on board knowing that they intended to violateinternational maritime law.

The activists were carrying 10,000 tons of what they said was aid. Israel transfersabout 15,000 tons of supplies and humanitarian aid every week to the people ofGaza.

"We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violenceagainst us, they are going to have to forcefully stop us," said one of the flotillasorganizers.

Using the Arabic term intifada, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said "We call onall Arabs and Muslims to rise up in front of Zionist embassies across the wholeworld.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this week: "If the ships reach Gaza it is a victory; ifthey are intercepted, it will be a victory too.

Israel left Gaza in hopes of peace in 2005 and in return received more than 10,000rockets and terrorist attacks.

Israel has said that it will deliver any humanitarian aid to Gaza, as it does daily.

No country would allow illegal entry of any vessel into their waters without a securitycheck.

Earlier this week, Noam Shalit, father of Hamas-held Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit,approached the flotilla's organizers asking them to take supplies to Gilad. He wasrefused.

Here are additional resources for further background on this issue:

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Danny Ayalon's press conference on the flotillaincident:

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/137785

Israel Goes on High Alert in the Wake of Flotilla Incident:

http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=28979

IDF Met with Pre-Planned Violence When Boarding Ship:

http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/News/today/10/05/3101.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU12KW-XyZE&playnext_from=TL&videos=KoyKrtEKHmY&feature=sub

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalons Statement: Activists Had Weapons:

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3896588,00.html

Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement about the humanitarian situation in Gaza:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wlWcNXzstI

MFA legal expert Sarah Weiss Maudi explains why the flotilla was not allowed to dockat Gaza:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2W457Ot6qw&feature=channel

Legal Backgrounder on maritime law and other related issues, from MFA:

http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=221580

A fascinating Al-Jazeera report on the flotilla before they left that offers insight into whowas on board. One says: "We are now waiting for one of two good things -- either toachieve martyrdom or to reach Gaza:"

http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2489.htm

Video of a "peace activist" stabbing an Israeli soldier as he boards the boat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buzOWKxN2co

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Expresses Full Backing for the IDF

Prime Minister Netanyahu today spoke by telephone with the relevant security ministersand officials, and was updated on the action and subsequent developments. In hisdiscussions with Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman,Minister Moshe Yaalon, Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Gaby Ashkenazi and ISA Director Yuval Diskin, the Prime Minister issuedsecurity, diplomatic and information directives, reiterated his full backing for the IDF andinquired about the well-being of the wounded.

The National Security Council Counter-Terrorism Bureau (NSCCTB) has released thefollowing statement:

"In response to the events surrounding the protest flotilla, there are growing protests bythe government and public in Turkey. At this stage, relatively quiet demonstrations aretaking place around the Israeli Consulate General in Istanbul and the Israeli Embassy inAnkara. This delicate state of affairs is liable to deteriorate into violent outbreaksagainst Israelis in Turkey.

The NSCCTB's recommendations are as follows:

Israelis due to leave for Turkey should at this stage refrain from travelling until thesituation becomes clear.

Israelis currently in Turkey should remain in their places of residence, avoid city centersand sites in which demonstrations are being held, and monitor developments out ofconcern that the situation could worsen.
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Jewish Federations of North America - Israel Flotilla Incident