Survivors of Israeli Attack on Mavi Marmara React to Netanyahu Apology

Israeli PM apologizes to Erdoğan for deadly attack on flotilla ship in 2010.

trt-world.com

(SACRAMENTO, CA) - In a most unusual and unexpected move, the prime minister of Israel apologized for a deadly attack on a peace ship three years ago that left nine dead, including a young Turkish/American citizen named Furkan Doğan.

Furkan Doğan - among the first to die

The Mavi Marmara, a Turkish ship that was part of a Gaza peace flotilla, was attacked in international waters on 31 May 2010. Nine unarmed peace activists and reporters were shot to death by Israeli forces. Those aboard the ship hailed from 37 different countries. Israel initially claimed that they only used "rubber bullets" and that was just the first point of frustration for human rights activists who decried the act widely.

Salem-News.com was in touch with more than one person aboard the ship, right until the moment when Israel jammed their communications and their Internet signals and live TV shots went dead.

Israel was charged with war crimes and United Nations members overwhelmingly agreed that Israel was guilty of very serious human rights violations, as the majority of the victims, the UN investigation revealed, were killed "execution style". Examples of this were recorded by Iara Lee, a Brazilian activist and journalist, and actually carried past the intense Israeli arrest and searches that followed the attack on the ship.

Kevin Neish photo courtesy: straight.com           Iara Lee photo courtesy: facebook                          Ken O'Keefe Salem-News.com photo

Kevin Neish shows Israeli 'hit list'. Photo Iara Lee culturesofresistance.org

The crew aboard that ship was unarmed, when they knew they were under attack, a handful created weapons, pipes and slingshots. Israel played this up to no end. Israel, invading a ship as pirates in an explicit, no-holes-barred attack in international waters, that involved snipers in helicopters putting rounds through the foreheads of photographers, complained to the world that the people they attacked attempted to defend themselves, the nerve of those Arabs!

All I know, is that the brave people aboard the Mavi Marmara who were shot as their unarmed vessel came under attack in the wee hours of that unforgettable morning by Israeli helicopters and gunships, must have been terrified. Our writer and friend Ken O'Keefe, who personally disarmed two of the Israeli commandos, is one who survived, another is Kevin Neish who was instrumental in making sure cameras recorded the 'hit list' taken off of an injured Israeli soldier who received medical treatment aboard the Mavi Marmara.

Indeed, Israeli press and even The BBC's Jane Corbin, went to great effort to side with the Israeli military. Corbin's program 'Death in the Med' features an Israeli soldier directly stating, "They wanted to kill each and every one of us". The BBC was dead wrong.

As the video 'Mavi Marmara Witness' (below right) which I produced in the summer of 2010 explains, Ken O'Keefe had the Israeli's weapons and never used them. As Ken said, "I am a combat trained Marine veteran I served in Desert Storm, I know how to use a weapon and believe me those Israelis would have been dead; I had their weapons in my hands, but that was never our intent".

Ken O'Keefe made this statement about the Netanyahu apology:

"I ask any and all sane people to consider if it were their brother, their father, their husband who was murdered, would an apology and money be sufficient for you? Taken a step further, understanding that ballistics evidence makes crystal clear that several of the men were not just murdered, but executed, with bullets entering their heads at point blank range while they were on the ground and already injured from bullet wounds, I say again, would an apology and some money be sufficient to qualify as justice for you?

"Taken another step further, those men died for a very specific reason, they died because they refused to accept the unacceptable and what is unacceptable is the collective punishment of 1.6 million people in Gaza, over half of which are children. Those of us who are sane cannot accept such things, sanity requires that we do something lest we sacrifice our humanity. So let us be clear, these murdered/executed brothers saw the children of Gaza as sane people do, as children who deserve our love and our attention and our commitment. There is only one thing that will even come close to justice and that is a 100% end of the blockade and massive compensation to the traumatised, injured, grieving people of Gaza, as well as the complete rebuilding of Gaza. Insincere apologies offered and accepted by corrupt governments in nothing more than theatre, it is an insult to the memory of those martyred on the Mavi Marmara and to the people of Gaza themselves."

The injured Israeli soldiers were taken to the ship's medical room, treated for the injuries they received boarding the ship, and then released. Jame Corbin misled viewers greatly.

Kevin Neish tells us:

"The most important concern of all the survivors and the martyrs’ family members is that as part of any compensation agreement, is that the Israeli blockade of Gaza must be lifted. I see some mention of lifting the blockade in the new press releases but i want to see iron clad commitments to lift the blockade otherwise it is all just media spin.

"As in this mention from a press release today. It sounds very fuzzy and ambiguous to me and so easy for Israel to walk away from.

"The statement from Turkey said an agreement also had been reached on the issue of compensation and that Israel had lifted restrictions on the movement of goods to Gaza as long as "calm" lasts.

"The bottom line is that Zionism, is racist and in the long run it must be changed to end their “war” with Palestine, but this agreement may be a step in the right direction if Israel is sincere".

In addition to those killed, scores were shot.

Israeli forces refused to allow medical treatment for the shooting victims and more than one died while waiting for medical assistance.

The attack took place at zero dark thirty against the people aboard the ill fated ship in the Mediterranean.

Salem-News.com covered the news relentlessly, while most U.S. news agencies simply ignored it, or parroted the Israeli statements that somehow made the people seeking to help a million starving kids in Gaza have food, medicine and building supplies, seem like terrorists.

After seizing the ship, the only food the Israelis allowed through were packets of potato chips and candy bars, nothing of substance. Medical supplies intended for Gaza never reached there, and Israeli 'commandos' stole credit cards from the activists and used them all over Israel.

These are all just a small handful of the myriad stories that emerged and we covered from this terrible night.

Salem-News.com reports from the first day of the attack on the Mavi Marmara May-31-2010: UN Security Council Holds Emergency Session on Israel's Deadly Interception of Aid Convoy - Salem-News.com May-31-2010: Israel: The Madness of Arrogance - Dr. Alan Sabrosky Salem-News.com May-31-2010: U.S. Memorial Day Overshadowed by Israel's Deadly Attacks on Humanitarian Relief Ships - Tim King Salem-News.com May-31-2010: International Activists Cause their own Deaths by Attacking nonconfrontational Israeli Commandos - Belén Fernández Special to Salem-News.com May-31-2010: Israeli Deputy FM Ayalon Lies Through His Teeth About the Flotilla Massacre - Commentary by Mary Rizzo Special to Salem-News.com May-31-2010: What if Iran Had Carried out the Gaza Carnage? - Kourosh Ziabari Salem-News.com May-31-2010: Israeli Butchery at Sea - Gilad Atzmon for Salem-News.com May-31-2010: World Outcry Over Israeli Flotilla Attack - Ma'an News Agency special to Salem-News.com May-31-2010: Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Speaks Out Over Flotilla Massacre - Salem-News.com May-31-2010: Time to Redefine U.S.-Israel Foreign Policy - Ralph E. Stone Salem-News.com May-31-2010: Massive Protests Planned Over Israel's Pirate Massacre in International Waters - Mazin Qumsiyeh for Salem-News.com May-31-2010: GAZA Flotilla Massacre - By Israel Shamir Special to Salem-News.com May-31-2010: Israel Attacks Unarmed Americans in International Waters - Tim King Salem-News.com

Israel vehemently continuously denied having done anything wrong at all.

The fury against their position became so intense that a movie was produced in Turkey called 'Valley of the Wolves Palestine', in which a Turkish Special Forces operator and his colleagues track town the Israelis responsible for the Mavi Marmara attack, and shoot them dead.

The 2011 Turkish action film directed by Zübeyr Şaşmaz stars Kurtlar Vadisi. I have included it for anyone who is interested in seeing a high quality film, complete with English subtitles, that looks at the event with the Mavi Marmara through a perspective that has never been seen in Hollywood.

The film, which was shot in part on the actual ship where the attack took place, was an expression over how Turkish people felt about this attack that Israel walked away from without even a slap on the wrist.

Now, years later, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologizes?

Indeed, that is what the headlines reflect today. The deadly attack that took place in international waters, dealt Israel one serious publicity blow.

At first they said no live rounds were used, which we quickly learned was a complete fabrication by the Israeli government.

Then, Israel released alleged radio messages from the Mavi Marmara that stated, "Jews back to Aushwitz", and "Let's remember 911 guys".

Here is a transcript of the audio released by the IDF:

CLIP #1 (AUDIO ONLY):

CLIP #2 (AUDIO/VIDEO)

ISRAELI SHIP: "This is the Israeli Navy, you are approaching an area which is under a naval blockade."

MAN'S VOICE 1: "Shut up, go back to Auschwitz."

WOMAN'S VOICE: "We have permission from the Gaza Port Authority to enter."

MAN'S VOICE 2: "We're helping Arabs go against the US, don't forget 9/11 guys."

It only took a few hours for Israel to admit that the recordings were not real, but that is how they play their game. Even a cursory examination of international law clearly verifies that Israel committed an act of piracy on the high seas.

The attack on this unarmed Turkish ship by Israel nearly brought two countries into a serious military conflict, as North County Public Radio in California reported today:

At one point, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called the incident a "cause for war." Nine people died in 2010, when Israeli commandos boarded a flotilla that was trying to break an Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.

But then Friday, Erdoğan received a totally different message from Netanyahu. Netanyahu called him and apologized for the 2010 Israeli raid of a flotilla that left nine people dead. The flotilla had set out to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid, the ships were all intercepted by Israel. The Mavi Marmara received the worst attack.

"PM Netanyahu made it clear that the tragic Consequences of the Mavi Marmara flotilla were not intended & that Israel is sorry for loss of life," Ofir Gendelman, the prime minister's spokesman said on Twitter. "PM Netanyahu apologized to the Turkish ppl for any mistake that could have led to loss of life, agreed to complete the compensation agreement."

Netanyahu's phone call to Erdogan took place in a trailer at the airport in Tel-Aviv, from where President Obama was embarking for Amman. President Obama picked up a phone for part of the call, according to a senior administration official.

The Jerusalem Post explains further:

"Ankara expelled Israel's ambassador and froze military cooperation after a UN report into the incident, released in September 2011, largely exonerated the Jewish state.

"Israel has voiced 'regret', short of the full apology demanded, and has offered to pay into what it called a 'humanitarian fund' through which casualties and relatives could be compensated.

"An improvement in Israel-Turkey ties would help regional coordination to contain spillover from the Syrian civil war."

Israeli Humor

Israeli humor over their government's attack on a ship that was part of a Gaza peace flotilla, was a real item for a while.

Comments on our stories about the flotilla tragedy as well as articles generated by mainstream Israeli press, were dismissive and as always, the word "terrorist" was used sometimes multiple times, even within a single paragraph.

The Israeli government even parodied the song 'We are the World' that was performed by a number of famous stars in 1985, which I have included, if you think you have the stomach for it.

Everyone should see this to really appreciate the attitude, make that arrogance, that Israel showed. It was truly a remorseless killing, and the media worked with Israel to concentrate on the activists who swung lead pipes at their attackers. The Israeli commandos who launched a lethal raid on a ship that wasn't even in Israeli waters.

Which brings us back to Jane Corbin and The BBC. Ken O'Keefe, as a western spokesman for the people of Gaza, is more than dynamic, he is unstoppable. His brain never stops thinking about the peril faced by children there as well as everyone else, every day. Ken has spent long periods of time living in Gaza amongst the broken people who lost so many loved ones during 'Operation Cast Lead' which destroyed hundreds of buildings including numerous hospitals and schools, killing more than 1400 people, mostly civilians, and nearly 400 of them were children.

The Mavi Marmara and the other ships in the flotilla carried material that could have helped human beings live better. This apology from Netanyahu doesn't mean much.

The people who were killed by Israel 31 May 2010:

Cetin Topkoogelo

Cetin Topkoogelo, a 54-year old former Taekwondo champion who worked as a coach for the Turkish national team, was shot three times by the Israeli Defence Force 'commandos' who raided the Mavi Marmara. He was shot once in the back of his head, once in his hip and once in his belly.

Underscoring the tragedy of this highly accomplished man's loss, is the fact that he died as his wife tried to save him.

Mavi Marmara survivors Kevin Neish and Ken O'Keefe, both recalled during interviews how Arab Knesset Member Haan Zoabi repeatedly asked the Israeli's who took control of the vessel to take their wounded and transport the ones who could be saved.

The answer from the IDF soldiers was to train their weapons at Zoabi and say, "take another shot and we will shoot you in the head." Efforts to save Cetin Topkoogelo and others who died were all unsuccessful.

Vahri Yildiz

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.

They have the power of a regular bullet, especially when fired at close range.

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.

Farrakhan Dogan - American

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.

Cengiz Okez

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.

Cengiz Sunqur

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.

Necdet Yidirim

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

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.

Ali Heyder Bengi

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

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.

Sources:

Oct-20-2010: Israel's Murder of Furkan Doğan

Mar-22-2013: The Jerusalem Post:

Mar-22-2013: Israel Apologizes To Turkey Over 2010 Flotilla Raid by Eyder Peralta NPR

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Mavi_Marmara

You can write to Tim at this address: tim@salem-news.com.

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With almost 25 years of experience on the west coast and worldwide as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor, Tim King is Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. His background includes covering the war in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, and reporting from the Iraq war in 2008. Tim is a former U.S. Marine who follows stories of Marines and Marine Veterans; he's covered British Royal Marines and in Iraq, Tim embedded with the same unit he served with in the 1980's.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing from traditional mainstream news agencies like The Associated Press and Electronic Media Association; he also holds awards from the National Coalition of Motorcyclists, the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs; and was presented with a 'Good Neighbor Award' for his reporting, by the The Red Cross.

Tim King reporting from the war in Iraq

Tim's years as a Human Rights reporter have taken on many dimensions; he has rallied for a long list of cultures and populations and continues to every day, with a strong and direct concentration on the 2009 Genocide of Tamil Hindus and Christians in Sri Lanka. As a result of his long list of reports exposing war crimes against Tamil people, Tim was invited to be the keynote speaker at the FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America) Conference in Baltimore, in July 2012. This is the largest annual gathering of North American Tamils; Tim addressed more than 3000 people and was presented with a traditional Sri Lanka ‘blessed garland’ and a shawl as per the tradition and custom of Tamil Nadu

Tim specializes in writing about political and military developments worldwide; and maintains that the label 'terrorist' is ill placed in many cases; specifically with the LTTE Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, where it was used as an excuse to slaughter people by the tens of thousands; and in Gaza, where a trapped population lives at the mercy of Israel's destructive military war crime grinder. At the center of all of this, Tim pays extremely close attention to the safety and welfare of journalists worldwide.