31/05/2010 Israeli occupation forces massacred 19 activists on board the Gaza-bound “Freedom” flotilla Sunday overnight and Monday, according to the Israeli TV. 60 other people were also injured. Early reports put the death toll at two then ten.
 
The killing took place in international waters. Among the injured, leader of the Islamic Movement's northern branch in the occupied territories Sheikh Raed Salah whose injuries were serious, according to reports. Dr. Hani Suleiman, head of the Lebanese mission was also injured in the Israeli attack.
 
Al-Jazeera Channel reported that the Israeli takeover of the vessels has been completed and the ships were dragged by the Navy to the Ashdod Port. Sixteen detainees from one of the Gaza aid flotilla ships underwent an examination by the Israeli Interior Ministry, and were transferred by Israeli occupation guards to the Ela Prison in Beersheba.
 
A Turkish charity involved with the flotilla told AFP in Gaza that at least 15 people were killed in the Israeli navy raid, most of them Turkish nationals. "Fifteen people were killed in the raid, most of them Turkish nationals," said Mohammed Kaya, who heads the Gaza branch of the IHH, a Turkish charity involved with organizing the fleet of aid ships.
 
The Israeli occupation army said that "more than 10 people were killed" when Israeli navy seals stormed the aid. "From an initial report, more than 10 passengers were killed," an Israeli army spokesman told AFP in what was the first official confirmation of deaths on board the convoy.
 
Few hours later, a Greek non-governmental organization said Monday that Israeli forces in helicopters and inflatable boats fired on a Greek vessel in the aid convoy attacked while heading for Gaza.
 
The Boat For Gaza group said the Sfendoni was attacked alongside the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara. "There was an attack with live bullets against the Greek boat Sfendoni and the Turkish boat Mavi Marmara, with helicopters and inflatable boats," the Greek organization said in a statement.
 
It said the attack took place in international waters about 80 nautical miles from the coast.
 
Boat For Gaza said it was told about the attack by activists on another Greek vessel, the Eleftheri Mesogeio, which was also seized by the Israeli navy, said the statement.
 
The statement said the Eleftheri Mesogeio tried to keep going toward Gaza. It quoted one of the activists on board, Takis Politis, as saying Israeli commandos had boarded the vessel.
 
The statement said that before the satellite telephone line was cut, Politis was heard shouting "they are coming on board with grappling irons, we are under arrest."
 
Earlier, Israeli marine commandos had opened fire as they stormed one of the ships the (Mavi Marmara). Israeli television justified the commandos’ massacre claiming that the soldiers were attacked with knives and axes, but did not elaborate. The Israeli censor blocks all reports on the activists murdered on the flotilla.
 
According to a reporter on one of the ships, the Israeli occupation army raided all vessels from the sea and air at the same time and informed all of the passengers that they were under arrest.
 
The Israeli vessels attacked the flotilla in international waters with aerial reinforcement, using gas. A Qatari television channel broadcast live the dramatic images from the ships, with Hamas spokespeople giving interviews and vowing to punish Israel for "the new crime".
 
The images showed Commando soldiers with their faces covered. A fighter in uniform, wearing a gas mask, tried to block the camera with his hand, while more and more troops raided the ship after sliding down from a helicopter using a rope.
 
One of the passengers on the ship called out to the Navy vessels, "Don't attack us. We are unarmed civilians. There are injured people onboard."
 
The calls were first made in English, and were later joined by Knesset Member Hanin Zuabi (Balad), who called out to the ships in Hebrew.
 
ISRAEL CLAIMS PASSENGERS ‘STARTED THE VIOLENCE’
Meanwhile, Israel blamed activists on board the Gaza aid ships for the bloodshed which broke out. "They initiated the violence," Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claimed. "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."
 
Israeli army spokesman General Avi Benayahu said he did not know who ordered a naval commando to open fire on the Freedom Flotilla. "I don't know who gave the order to shoot, it is too early to determine," he told army radio. "The navy acts in accordance with orders and the rules for opening fire are very clear. The soldiers had been warned not to give in to provocations."     
 
Moreover, following the Israeli massacre at sea, the Israeli Transport Ministry instructed the Israeli cruise ship Magic 1 not to dock in Turkish ports. The ship is carrying 850 Israeli passengers and was en route to Antalya. It was diverted to Cyprus.