Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Israel Slaughters Activists

In a late night raid yesterday, heavily armed IDF paratroopers boarded and attacked activists on ships part of the Freedom Flotilla in international waters. The flotilla was headed for the Gaza Strip carrying relief supplies. Early reports indicate nearly 20 activists where killed.

International journalists on board the flotilla for weeks reported there were no weapons, and broadcast live footage documenting the assault. Once the IDF pacified the ships, however, they instituted a media blackout.

The activists are now being held and, according to Sherine Tadros of Al Jazeera "undergoing extensive security checks" at a "detention center." Of over 600 volunteers on board, already at least 450 have been arrested and jailed. In addition to peace activists, multiple politicians, journalists, film-makers, authors and average citizens were on board. Citizens representing countries from Israel, the United States, Canada, Europe (UK, Ireland, Germany, Greece, Holland, etc.) and the Middle East (Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey, etc.) were on board.

The flotilla was carrying humanitarian supplies for the symbolic relief of the Gaza Strip, which has been under a blockade by Israel since 2008. Goods and supplies are kept from entering Gaza from anywhere, and Egypt has also closed its border to Gaza citizens, under pressure from the United States government, a staunch ally of Israel.

With over 1.5 million people living in Gaza, which has been subjected to repeated attacks by the Israeli military including the destruction of food supplies, fuel supplies and infrastructure, Gaza can be described as nothing else but an apartheid ghetto. The strategy of the conservative Israeli government seems to be intended to starve out the Palestinian people of Gaza.

Sadly, the majority of Gazan's are or are descendants of refugees from other parts of Israel due to the many racial conflicts and ethnic cleansings that have taken place since the 1948 Palestinian War up to this very day.

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Posted by Unknown at 5:56 AM
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