Report from IHH Regarding Israeli Crimes Against the Flotilla

The Israeli military operation was hostile from the very beginning.

Photo courtesy: FreeGaza.org

(ISTANBUL) - In the early morning hours of May 31, 2010, six ships of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla were in international waters, 75 miles away from the coast of Israel.

At around 3:00 am Cyprus time, Israeli warships were following the flotilla along with nearly 30 zodiacs that it. The captains constantly repeated on the radios that the ships were traveling in peace and carrying nothing but humanitarian and construction aid to the people of Gaza.

At 4:10 am, messages from the ship, Defne, stated, "Mavi Marmara, all of the Israeli boats and ships are approaching you." Shortly after, when most of the passengers on the Mavi Marmara were performing their morning prayers, pursuit boats carrying masked, armed soldiers came alongside all six ships of the Flotilla).

At least 10 Israeli soldiers were in every boat, and they began shooting as they tried to get on board the Mavi Marmara. Then tear gas bombs and stun grenades were thrown onto the ship to cause panic and confusion. The third sound was the constant one of machine gun fire. At the same time the zodiacs came from the sides of the Israeli gunboats, armed soldiers rappelled down from military helicopters shooting as they descended.

This operation was hostile from the very beginning with Israeli troops firing indiscriminately at passengers in some cases and shooting others in the head at point blank range. Israeli soldiers did not open fire on the ships as a warning. They opened fire to kill. Two of the first people shot on deck were shot in the head, and were killed instantly.

For a detailed report on who IHH is, why they joined the flotilla and what happened on that fateful morning, please download the report at freegaza.org/attachments/1234_Mavi%20Marmara%20Report.pdf The coalition who organized this flotilla is in the process of filing suit against this Israel aggression in a variety of countries and with a variety of international organizations.