Israeli commandos gun down 19 peace activists in raid on Gaza ships with 28 Britons on board
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU12KW-XyZE&feature=player_embeddedSoldiers fire on civilians after being attacked as they boarded ships
Foreign Secretary William Hague 'deplores loss of life'
Thousands of protesters descend on Israeli embassy in London
Turkey recalls its ambassador and warns of 'consequences for Israel'
Nobel Laureate, Wallander author and foreign MPs on board
Israeli PM Netanyahu cancels Washington summit with Obama
The Foreign Secretary today 'deplored' the loss of life during the interception of a flotilla of ships carrying aid to Gaza.
Up to 19 people were killed after Israeli commandos boarded ships carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid en route from Cyprus.
Another 26 people are being treated in two Israeli hospitals for injuries sustained in the assault.
Details of what happened remain sketchy after Israel imposed a news blackout, preventing activists on board the ships from contacting the outside world.
But it believed troops were attacked with knives and metal pipes as they attempted to board one of the ships from a helicopter.
This video image released by the Turkish Aid group IHH purports to show Israeli soldiers aboard a military vessel in international waters off the Gaza coast
A team of masked Israeli military personnel seen on board one of their ridge boats after the raid
Israeli Navy soldiers stand guard on a missile ship as Israeli Navy intercepts peace boats headed for Gaza
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that shooting started when one of the civilians made a grab for a soldier's gun.
He says hundreds of people on board the ship beat, clubbed and stabbed soldiers, and there was a report of gunfire. He says that forced soldiers to attack.
The soldiers had allegedly wanted to check the cargo on the ship to ensure it contained no weapons.
Netanyahu claims this was done successfully with the first five ships, but the sixth did not cooperate.
The Israeli army confirmed 10 deaths but it's believed there could be as many as nine more victims.
Amid conflicting claims over how the violence started, the Israeli Defence Force released video which it claimed showed peace activists attacking soldiers as they landed on one of the ships from a helicopter.
The shooting was met with international condemnation, led by U.S. president Barack Obama who urged Netanyahu to get 'all the facts' about the raid.
After Netanyahu cancelled planned White House talks set for tomorrow, Mr Obama expressed 'deep regret at the loss of life in today's incident, and concern for the wounded.'
There were claims nine of the victims were from Turkey, prompting the country to recall its ambassador and cancel joint military operations with Israel.
Palestinian rights group Friends of Al-Aqsa said that 28 British citizens were assisting in the breaking of the blockade, including its chairman Ismail Patel.
William 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.
Israeli patrol boats are silhouetted against the backdrop of a large civilian vessel before the pre-dawn assault in which up to 19 people died
An Israeli army helicopter approaching a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza early this morning
A wounded person aboard a Turkish vessel after Israeli commandos stormed a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza
'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.
'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.'
Sheik Raed Salah, the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was reportedly wounded after Israeli commandos stormed six ships off Gaza. Swedish crime author Henning Mankell was also aboard the flotilla
Israeli medics rush an injured man for treatment at the Rambam hospital in the northern Israeli port of Haifa
Israeli soldiers in Tel Aviv attend to a colleague injured after commandos stormed the flotilla heading to Gaza
Mr Hague's criticism of the killings comes after several groups condemned the action taken by the Israelis.
Thousands of anti-Israel protesters descended outside the west London embassy today to voice their anger against the shootings.
Protestors made their way from Downing Street to the Israeli embassy on High Street Kensington, bearing banners with the slogans 'Brits for Palestine' and 'End the siege in Gaza'.
A British woman was today awaiting news of her partner who was aboard one of the Gaza aid ships.
Peter Venner, 63, from Ryde, Isle of Wight, was on the Turkish ship the Mavi Marmara, when it was boarded overnight en route from Cyprus to Gaza.
His partner of 14 years, Rachel Bridgeland, 51, from Bembridge on the island, said she has not heard from him.
'I heard from him just after he set off but I have not heard from him since,' she said.
'His mobile phone just has a message on it he left in Cyprus saying contact was not possible.
'I'm very concerned and waiting by the phone but assuming he's not dead he will be imprisoned by the Israelis and they won't let him make contact.'
Scroll to the bottom for the Israeli Defence Force video
One of the activist's vessels decked out in flags of Turkey and Palestine as it set sail on May 22 from Turkey towards Gaza
Israeli Navy soldiers raid on a vessel as the Israeli Navy intercepts peace boats heading for Gaza
A map shows the positions of Gaza-bound protest ships seized by the Israeli military. The route followed by the protest flotilla is marked on the map with a green line, changing course at the time of the deadly raid
Ms Bridgeland explained it was 'nonsense' that those aboard the ships had fought back resulting in the deaths of up to 15 people.
'The people in the flotilla were concerned about this and people were checked because they knew the Israelis would attack.
RAID TIMELINE
Thursday 20th May
Passengers and crew on the lead ship, the Mavi Marmara, meet in the Turkish city of Istanbul. The passenger ship's departure is delayed due to technical problems. The other five ships and boats in the flotilla travel toward the Cyprus rendezvous from elsewhere in the Mediterranean
Saturday 30th May
Barred from docking in the Greek Cypriot port of Limassol, the flotilla groups in international waters to the south of the island. VIPs, such as various members of the European Parliament, are shuttled to the flotilla.
22.41pm
The flotilla, which is still in international waters, is approached by Israeli Defence Force (IDF) ships. The IDF later releases video footage which appearing to show them warning the Mavi Marmara not to continue. The protestors' captain appears to reply: "Negative. Negative. Our destination is Gaza".
Sunday 31st May. Approximately 1am
Having apparently ignored the Israeli's repeated demands dock in Israel's port of Ashdod, the protestors' flotilla sends an "okay signal" message back to base.
Approximately 3.30am
The IDF forces approach the Mavi Marmara by helicopter and speedboat. While people on board the boat insist that they offered no violence, infra-red video released by the IDF contradicts this.
The video shows the first Israeli commando abseiling onto the Mavi Marmara's deck. People are seen grabbing the end of the special forces soldier's abseil rope and tugging it violently. The soldier falls from the abseil rope. The IDF caption reads: 'the first soldier is injured and is thrown to the lower deck.'
Amid chaos on board the Mavi Marmara, one passenger can be seen running with a large pole. Another runs with what the video caption describe as 'a large metal object'. Then the video shows what it claims is 'tens of rioters hit an IDF soldier and try to kidnap him.'
The video clearly shows someone on one of the ship's lower decks throwing what seems to be a stun grenade towards the IDF soldiers. It explodes in the air.
Later another grenade is shown being thrown from the lower deck. The caption describes it as a fire-bomb. Figures are seen scrambling for cover and diving to the floor when it lands.
An al-Jazeera reporter on board the Mavi Marmara says that the passengers offered no resistance. He said that the Israeli soldiers continued to fire at the ship after passengers waved white flags.
After daybreak
The ships are towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod, from where the passengers will be deported.
The Israelis show video footage of metal poles, catapults and stashes of ball bearings which it says were used by the passengers to attack their soldiers.
'They never wanted to take on the Israeli military, they wanted to deliver concrete to Gaza to build schools.'
Ms Bridgeland added: 'The British government does not seem to be doing much, even though they have had 24 hours to find out what's going on, without success.
'I shall be watching Al Jazeera because they had reporters onboard some of the ships.'
Father-of-two teenaged boys, Mr Venner was on his first seaborne trip to help the Gaza population but in January this year he made a land trip across the Egyptian border with aid.
Ms Bridgeland, said Mr Venner was 'an ordinary man' who runs a wood yard but who felt strongly that the Israelis were not treating Gaza fairly by denying them aid.
'He is not a particularly political person, but he felt it was very wrong what was happening in Gaza,' she said. 'He didn't think it was right they were blockaded.'
Pizza shop boss Gehad Sukkur, from Altrincham, Cheshire, was also travelling on the flotilla to Gaza, his friend said.
Friends of Mr Sukkur, who runs a pizza business, said they were yet to hear from him.
Shop worker Adel Lamine said: 'He is from Gaza originally and wanted to go out there and help the people. He also wanted to see relatives before coming back.
'We know he was in Crete before going to Cyprus because he was seen on television there on Al Jazeera.
'I don't know what boat he was on. None of his friends have heard from him yet, we are really worried.'
He said it was his manager's first such aid visit to the Palestinian city.
He added that Mr Sukkur was aged 39, married with children and had lived in the UK for the past 10 years.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled plans to meet U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday in the wake of the attack.
'Netanyahu decided to cut short his visit to Canada and return to Israel early,' the statement said on Monday. Mr Netanyahu has been in Canada since Friday for talks with government leaders.
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.'
Palestinian rights group Friends of Al-Aqsa said there has been no communication from its colleagues since the 'inexcusable attack'.
The Stop The War Coalition (STWC) said the action 'should see Israel condemned under international law'.
A Palestinian activist clutches her face in Ramallah after she was shot by Israeli soldiers during a protest against the interception of aid ships sailing to Gaza
Palestinian colleagues place the woman on to the back of a truck after she was shot by Israeli soldiers
Turkish and international activists speak to a television reporter shortly before Israeli warships attacked
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 claimed.
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.
Dr Fintan Lane, Fiachra O Luain and Shane Dillon, all from Ireland, were on Challenger 1 which had travelled from Cyprus in the first wave of the flotilla.
Hasidic Jews, a group who traditionally do not agree with Israel's action against Palestine, join pro-Palestianian campaigners in Whitehall
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Whitehall as news of the attacks and the deaths spread
The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) said it has not been able to contact any of its members on the ships.
Dr David Landy, IPSC chairman, also accused Israel of breaching international law.
Dr Landy claimed: 'The fact that Israel would allow its forces to kill and wound international human rights activists shows the world once again that Israeli is a rogue state that acts with impunity.'
Internet footage has emerged showing pandemonium on board the Mavi Marmara, with activists in orange lifejackets running around as others tried to help a colleague lying on the deck.
A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London said today: 'We have no doubt regarding the real intention of the flotilla. It's not about humanitarian aid.
'You can see clearly from the footage that when they boarded they were attacked with knives and sharp metal objects and left with not much option but to respond.
'There was no intention whatsoever to use any of the weapons soldiers naturally carry. As soon as the soldiers boarded they were attacked by knives and life-threatening objects.
'In the first few seconds the soldiers tried to protect themselves with their hands and avoid using the guns.'
The flotilla left the coast of Cyprus yesterday afternoon. Three Israeli navy missile boats are understood to have mobilised after dark to challenge it.
The boats were carrying building materials, crayons, chocolate for children, medical supplies including a CT scanner, a complete dental surgery, and paper for schools, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said.
ATTACK ON PEACE ACTIVISTS ADDS TO ISRAEL'S DIPLOMATIC WOES
Two murder suspects follow Hamas commander Mahmud al-Mabhuh in Dubai in January this year
The incident poses a fresh challenge to Israeli diplomats who have scrambled over the past year to contain the fallout from other incidents, from evidence that Israel forged the passports of friendly states to accusations that it committed war crimes during a war in the Gaza Strip.
Here are some of the other diplomatic storms faced by Israel over the last year.
DUBAI ASSASSINATION
Britain and Australia have expelled Israeli diplomats after concluding that Israel forged British and Australian passports used by the assassins of a Hamas leader.
Israel has neither confirmed or denied a role in the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a Hamas military commander who was assassinated in a Dubai hotel room in January.
Britain said such misuse of British passports was 'intolerable'. Australia said it was not the behaviour of 'a nation with whom we have had such a close, friendly and supportive relationship'.
SETTLEMENT ROW WITH U.S.
Israeli plans for new Jewish settlement on occupied land in East Jerusalem triggered unusually harsh criticism from the United States in March when it damaged Washington's efforts to revive the Middle East peace process.
The announcement, made during a visit to Israel by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, temporarily set back U.S. efforts to bring about indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the project was an insult. Israeli PM Benajamin Netanyahu said he was blindsided by planning bureaucrats and apologised to Biden.
THE GOLDSTONE REPORT
Israel has sought to rebuff the conclusions of a U.N. inquiry that found it guilty of committing war crimes during a 2008-2009 offensive in the Gaza Strip.
South African jurist Richard Goldstone's report found both Israel and the Hamas movement that controls Gaza guilty of war crimes, but focused more on Israel. Israel refused to co-operate with Goldstone and described his report as distorted and biased.
More than 1,400 Palestinians were killed in the three-week conflict, which Israel launched with the declared aim of halting rocket fire from Gaza into Israel. Thirteen Israelis were killed.
NUCLEAR PROGRAMME
Israel, widely assumed to have the Middle East's only nuclear arsenal, has faced renewed calls to sign a global treaty barring the spread of atomic weapons.
Signatories of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) last week called for a conference in 2012 to discuss banning weapons of mass destruction throughout the Middle East.
Last week's declaration was adopted by all 189 parties to the NPT, including the United States. It urged Israel to sign the NPT and put its nuclear facilities under U.N. safeguards.
Pictures of activists with sticks bludgeoning an Israeli soldier as he tried to land on a boat from a helicopter were shown by Turkish channel NTV.
Satellite news channel al-Jazeera reported from the lead Turkish ship saying Israeli forces fired and boarded, leaving its captain wounded.
Nobel peace prize winner Mairead Maguire was on board the Irish ship MV Rachel Corrie which left in the second wave of the flotilla.
Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, 85, and several EU MPs are also believed to have been part of the flotilla.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the interception and said it was summoning the Israeli ambassador.
It also cancelled joint military operations.
The Israeli army said four soldiers were wounded, including one hit by live fire.
Mark Regev, a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in Canada, said: 'We did not want to see confrontation.
'We made repeated offers to the boats that they come to the (Israeli) port of Ashdod unload the humanitarian cargo, and we guaranteed to pass all humanitarian items through the crossings to the Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, they rejected our offers and chose the path of confrontation.'
The head of the Gaza Hamas government, Ismail Haniyeh called the attack 'brutal'.
Israeli forces were on high alert on the Gaza, Syrian and Lebanese borders as well as around Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Arab-populated areas of northern Israel.
At the White House, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was still planning to meet President Barack Obama on Tuesday, a spokesman said Washington was trying to understand what happened.
Officials with Netanyahu in Canada said he had no plans to fly home early or cancel Tuesday's meeting with Obama.
Those talks had been expected to focus on U.S. efforts to move along tentative negotiations with Abbas. But peace talks, mediated by Obama's envoy, seem unlikely to go anywhere for now.
Israel's Arab enemy Syria, which hosts exiled leaders of the Hamas movement that rules Gaza, called for an emergency Arab League meeting.
The Cairo-based League condemned what it called Israel's 'terrorist act'.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called it 'inhuman'. Tehran urged the world to isolate Israel.
More worryingly for Israel, its friends also showed little sympathy. The outrage, which included U.N. condemnation of civilian deaths in international waters, sounded at times more uniformly hostile to the Jewish state than during its offensive in Gaza 18 months ago, which killed 1,400 Palestinians.
That war Israel justified by Hamas rocket fire on its towns. But it has found it harder to win understanding for the embargo which still limits supplies to 1.5 million people in Gaza, including concrete the U.N. says is need to repair bomb damage.
U.N. officials responsible for aid in Gaza said: 'Such tragedies are entirely avoidable if Israel heeds the repeated calls of the international community to end its counterproductive and unacceptable blockade of Gaza.'
The European Union called for an immediate inquiry into deaths aboard aid ships seized by Israel's navy on Monday and urged Israel to allow the free flow of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
The EU also called an emergency meeting of member states' envoys to Brussels to discuss the incident.
'High Representative Catherine Ashton expresses her deep regret at the news of loss of life and violence and extends her sympathies to families of the dead and wounded,' said a spokesperson for Ashton, the EU's foreign policy chief.
'On behalf of the European Union she demands a full inquiry about the circumstances in which this happened.
The spokesperson said Ashton reiterated the EU's position regarding Gaza's closure.
'The continued policy of closure is unacceptable and politically counter-productive. She calls for an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of the crossing for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza,' the spokesperson said.
A European Commission spokesman said separately EU ambassadors would meet later on Monday but gave no details.
The EU has a 300 million euro ($367.5 million) aid budget for the Palestinians.
Video of the incident provided by the Israeli Defence Force
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