Israel Army Radio reported that at least 10 members of the flotilla of ships carrying hundreds of activists and humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza were killed in clashes with Israeli naval forces.
According to Israel’s private channel 10 television, Israeli marine commandos had opened fire after being attacked with axes and knives by a number of the passengers on board the aid ships, the television said, without giving the source of its information. The station did not say whether the dead and injured were passengers or members of the Israeli navy.
Israel’s army radio said between 10 and 14 people had been killed in clashes which broke out after the passengers allegedly tried to grab weapons off the naval commandos who tried to storm one of the boats. It was not clear whether the clashes were taking place on just one of the six boats making up the aid convoy, and the Israeli army had no immediate comment on the incident.
The Israeli military censor ordered a block on all information regarding those injured or killed during the storming of the ship.
The attack on the flotilla, which included a Turkish-flagged vessel and Turkish crew, may widen a rift between the two countries dating back to Israel’s three-week military offensive on the Gaza strip in 2008. The two countries have a military cooperation accord, but Turkey refused to invite Israel jets to participate in exercises last year.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry condemned the Israeli raid, saying it may permanently damage relations.
According to the ministry’s e-mail statement Monday morning, “By targeting innocent civilians, Israel has once again showed completely clearly that it counts human life and peace-making initiatives as nothing. This regrettable act, carried out in international waters in serious violation of international law, may cause damage to our relations that will be impossible to repair.
Turkish statement said that Israel will have to bear the consequences of this behavior that breaches international law. Whatever the justification, it is impossible to accept such actions against civilians engaged in peace-making activities.
