Mavi Marmara Returns to Istanbul

(SALEM / ISTANBUL) - Is it possible for an inanimate object to become a star? The answer is yes and in the spotlight, is the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, now set to finally complete her mission of sailing to Gaza for the delivery of good will and humanitarian aid.

The ship was attacked last May by Israeli military forces as she steamed about 80 miles off the coast of Gaza, in international waters.

Though Gaza was the destination, the Mavi Marmara had never turned toward Gaza, nor did the other vessels in the Freedom Flotilla like Challenger II.

We learned from Mavi Marmara survivor Kevin Neish in Victoria, BC, that the ship he had originally been assigned to in the Flotilla, the Challenger 1, had been sabotaged early in the trip, and this necessitated transferring many people to the Mavi Marmara instead. The act of sabotage that easily could have left Challenger 1 at the bottom of the ocean was almost certainly the work of Israeli agents and this particular aspect of an already harrowing story has seen little light.

The attack on the Mavi Marmara actually happened early in the dark morning hours. After tracking and harassing the ships, Israeli attackers with machine guns boarded the Mavi Marmara by helicopter and boat, summarily executing unarmed peace activists in the process.

Nine were killed, dozens were shot and seriously injured. Their names are included with this article.

Several of the dead had every chance of survival, they were specifically denied medical treatment by the Israeli occupiers and died as a result of a lack of care.

The story of the Mavi Marmara has been written thousands of times already. A book is in print titled, 'Midnight on the Mavi Marmara.

We have carried dozens of articles and first hand perspective interviews, Al Jazeera produced a documentary about it titled, 'Voyage of Life and Death'.

The BBC produced at least one documentary, 'Death in the Med' for their Panorama program, and also had a survivor of the attack, our writer Ken O'Keefe, on their Hardtalk program as a guest.

Even more interesting, is a new Turkish film where a 'Rambo' type character hunts down the men who attacked the innocent unarmed ship's crew, and executes them.

The movie, Valley of the Wolves: Palestine, takes into account the absolute outrage against Israel over the massacre of these unarmed civilians. I can say for certain that this film upsets many in the movement to free Palestine.

Like so man American films that came before, Valley of the Wolves: Palestine embraces the idea of violence and retaliation and it would be hard for anyone to argue that the movie is anything but a direct result of Israel's decision to attack unarmed activists on 31 May.

The agency that legitimized this perilous journey more than any other is the United Nations itself.

A detailed review of the 31 May 2010 incident spells out a story almost identical to the one released shortly after the murderous night by activists who were aboard the ship.

Possibly most damning is the corroboration of the suspicion that Israeli soldiers actually walked around the deck of the vessel executing unarmed activists.

Several had powder burns on their heads and faces from the fatal rounds they received, after already having been shot and brought down to a prone position.

It is a difficult night to comprehend, and it is hard to swallow the fact that Israel not only illegally attacked and boarded the vessel, but utilized the most cold blooded and coward-like tactics ever imagined.

The executions were preceded by the issuance of booklets for the commandos and analysts that contained names and pictures of several of the executed men aboard the ship that night.

This is the announcement from IHH about the Mavi Marmara's return to Istanbul. Specifically, it is a letter to Ken O'Keefe who was a crewman aboard the ship the night it was attacked by Israeli commandos.

On 3lst of May 2OlO, there was a brutal attack in international waters by the Israeli soldiers on the humanitarian aid flotilla that set sail as a collective conscience of the World in order to take humanitarian aid to besieged Gaza.

After the attack 9 of the participants of Mavi Marmara died with more than 50 being injured, Israel confiscated all the ships of the Flotilla. Mavi Marmara has gone through a repair and maintenance keeping its original condition with no change of the sings of attack, after it was released and arrived at Turkey.

IHH-Humanitarian Relief Foundation is organizing a welcoming ceremony for Mavi Marmara on its return to Istanbul on the anniversary of the "Operation Cast Lead" which resulted in to around 1500 innocent Palestinian civilians' death and thousands injured for the memory of the Palestinians and the martyrs of Mavi Marmara.

The program will be held at 11:00 am on the 26th of December 2010 at Saraybumu, Istanbul from where it set sail for Gaza, with the participation of national and international NGOs, intellectuals, activists, media, singers, etc.

With this opportunity, the brutal attacks and killings of Israel on the Flotilla as well as Gaza will be once again highlighted and the World will be called out to end the attacks and the siege imposed on Gaza.

We will be pleased to have you, the friend of Palestine, with us on the return of Mavi Marmara that has become the symbol of all the oppressed and victims of the World in order to strengthen their hope of life. where peace and justice prevail.

These are the men whose lives were snuffed out by Israel 31 May 2010:

43-year old Vahri Yildiz was a fireman who worked in the town of Adiyaman. Married and father of four children, he was one of the many people who cared enough about the people of Gaza to take time off, far more than he anticipated as it turns out, and be a part of the Freedom Flotilla.

Israel's answer for him? Vahri was hit by five bullets, among them a fatal one in the chest.

Bear in mind that Israel has stated publicly that they used rubber bullets. First, rubber bullets are made of metal, surrounded by rubber.

I don't believe Israel's military would have sent soldiers on a mission to kill peace activists with rubber bullets. It is not to say that they didn't have some weapons with these rounds, but the ones that killed the Mavi Marmara crew and passengers, like Vahri Yildiz, were killed with standard Israeli military bullets.

One person many were almost instantly familiar with, was an American resident aboard the Mavi Marmara; 19-year old Farrakhan Dogan, a student in secondary School who had hoped and trained and planned to become a doctor.

This was a young man that was well liked by others aboard the Mavi Marmara; they appreciated his depth for such a young man, and knew he sincerely cared about the people of the Gaza Strip.

Farrakhan's father is Doctor Ahmed Dogan, an Assistant Professor at the University of Irkiis; the young man was following his father's footsteps, that is what he meant to do. He is one of the people slaughtered by the Israeli military while working as an unarmed peace activist. Farrakhan held dual citizenship, both Turkish and American, and has two brothers.

Israeli military that overtook and illegally boarded the Mavi Marmara, shot this teenager five times – from close range, in the right side of his nose, in the back of the head, in the back and twice in the left leg.

41-year old Cengiz Okez was from Iskenderun, he was married, and the father of three children who were fourteen, twelve and nine years old. Cengiz is pictured here with his youngest daughter.

Like many people murdered that fateful night, Cengiz was a volunteer who chose to dedicate his time toward helping and saving the people of Gaza, who have been living in rubble since Israel's attack in 2008 and 2009 called "Operation Cast Lead" which was extremely successful, in terms of casting lead.

Over 1400 mostly civilians in Gaza were killed as a result of the attack. Israel specifically targeted homes, educational facilities, including a United Nations School, and hospitals and medical facilities. Israel has allowed minimal construction supplies in since the attack.

Israel's treatment of this man? Four gunshot wounds: back of head, right side of face, back, left leg.

47-year old Cengiz Sunqur was from the city of Izmir. A married father of seven children; he is another one of the activists who chose to take part in the volunteer effort to aid the people of Gaza.

On the Website American for a free Palestine, a woman named Pam wrote: "There are no words to adequately offer consolation to your wife and children. I only hope that the international community will insist that justice is served, that you and your comrades do not die in vain."

Another comment from a person named Marianne, speaks to the damage that Israeli politics invoke. She offered these words to Cengiz: "The courage of these men and the pain of their dreadful but heroic deaths - such a loss. The inhumanity of the Israeli soldiers and the Israeli government is not to be believed, were it not visible every day, every single day, in Palestine, and everywhere supporters of Israel try to defend the indefensible. My heart aches for the families of these good men. Would that we could all so brave. Free Palestine!"

Cengiz Sunqur was killed by Israeli commandos aboard the Mavi Marnara. He died from one gunshot wound to the front of neck.

An aid worker in the humanitarian relief organization (IHH) of the city of Malatya, Necdet Yidirim was married and also was the father of a little girl aged three years.

A comment about Necdet reads: "It is obvious from your choice of career that you were a man of integrity and compassion. You should never have had to pay for those ideals with your life. We are so sad to see, once again, the terrible pain and suffering exacted on families because of the Occupation."

The integrity of anyone who is willing to risk their life for the benefit of others is large. Of course Necdet like many people aboard the Mavi Marmara, like Cinematographer Iara Lee, say they expected a problem from Israel, but not in the form of a deadly attack in international water.

Israel's reaction to the presence of Necdet Yidirim on the Mavi Marmara that night? He was shot to death. The autopsy revealed two gunshot wounds; one to the right shoulder and one to the left back.

Kovdit Kililar, the 38-year old Web editor of the charity: The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief or IHH was married and father of two children.

IHH is a Turkish non governmental humanitarian relief organization active in more than 100 countries, that has existed since 1992. They do a lot of good work and other than in this particular case involving Israel, highly regarded. Israel has tried very hard to tie the work of the IHH to jihadists, but there is no evidence of it. Their goal in this mission was the same as the others; they were trying to break the siege of Gaza to deliver humanitarian relief.

Israeli soldiers who illegally boarded the Mavi Marmara attacked Kovdit Kililar. He was killed by a single bullet that hit him between the eyebrows as he raised his camera to photograph the commandos landing on the Mavi Marmara. This aspect of the story is particularly infuriating for those of us who work in dangerous areas as media with the understanding we won't be killed for performing our jobs.

29-year old Ali Heyder Bengi of Diyarbakir, was a graduate of Al-Azhar University in Cairo's Department of Arabic literature. He was married and the proud father of four children.

A comment left in his regard, states: "I cried all the way through these pictures. What fine looking human beings. What a noble ideal they were all murdered for : caring for fellow human beings in " the world's largest ever outdoor concentration camp.

"Shame shame shame on the silent governments of the world who say little or nothing about this crime against humanity by the Zionazi Entity : the Racist Jewish Nation - homeland for the Jews. Shame !"

Ali Heyder Bengi was shot six times, including once in the abdomen. Six times. Pam from Americans for a Free Palestine wrote: "Six times--how incredibly cowardly and dispicable. How can the world argue that this hero and his comrades were anything but murdered. I am so sorry for your family who will deeply miss this courageous man with such a gentle face."

Ibrahim Bilgen was a distinguished A 61-year old Turkish politician, engineer and activist who was married with six children.

A comment left online with his photograph reads: "Few politicians take such courageous risks as you did. Such a loss to your country and people, but most of all to your family. There is no excuse or lie that can explain this kind of carnage visited upon unarmed people delivering humanitarian aid."

Israel didn't allow this man's life and spirit to continue after that fateful night on the Mavi Marmara. Ibrahim Bilgen was shot once in the right temple, once in the right side of his chest, once in the back and once in the hip. Doctors performing an autopsy on Ibrahim found something of interest; the discovery of a tiny bag containing pellets, still intact in his brain, which the report said was fired from a hunting rifle.

So much for the rubber bullet theory. The Israelis don't even necessarily use accepted standard military weapons. Like their one sided politics, everything about Israel is a basic free-for-all.

In regard to defending its public relations image over this deadly military debacle, the Israeli government hired musicians to rewrite the song "We are the World" - created by Michael Jackson and dozens of top performers in the 1980's, in the form of a parody.

The video and song mimicked the people you see here; fathers of little children murdered by the Netanyahu government under utterly criminal circumstances.

Netanyahu, who heads a government responsible for killing Palestinians every day and behaving in ways very similar to the Nazi's of the 1930's and 1940's. That song was horrible and badly written and defiled humanity all by itself. Somehow I doubt Israel needs new tools for pulling off that job.