EU Demands Restraint, While Israeli Warships Prepare to Intercept Gaza Freedom Flotilla

Israel Dubs Its Planned Attack On Gaza Ships As “Operation Sky Winds”

Saturday May 29, 2010 13:48 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli army and navy, under direct supervision and orders from the Israeli occupation government, prepared a plan dubbed “Operation Sky Wind” to attack the Freedom Flotilla” heading to Gaza and kidnap and the activists onboard.

Israeli sources reported that the navy had concluded all preparations to takeover the Freedom Flotilla, by force in needed, in an attempt to prevent it from reaching the Gaza coast to break the four-year long ongoing siege.

The planned offensive includes four stages;

1. Warning stage; the navy will try to stop the ships from reaching a “line” dubbed
as a red line, should the ships reach the designated line, they will be warned and informed that they “violate the law”.

2. Boarding and controlling the ships; should the ships fail to adhere to the demands of the Israeli occupation forces navy, the navy will attack and control the eight ships carrying nearly 800 activists. The ships will then be taken to Ashdod Port and the activists will be detained in a huge tent installed for this purpose.

3. Deportation by air; Israeli occupation soldiers and policemen would order the detained activists to sign statements accepting to be deported to their countries, and will be deported by air via the Ben Gurion Airport.

4. Arrest before deportation; those who refuse to sign deportation statements, will be arrested, sent to medical examination, then transferred to the Nahshon Brigade which belongs to the Israeli Prison Administration before being sent to Be’er Sheva Prison and likely other prisons.

They will be prosecuted and deported at a later stage.

Some 600 human rights activists boarding the eight solidarity ships heading to Gaza said that they are determined to reach Gaza regardless of Israel’s threats.
Greta Berlin, spokesperson of the Free Gaza Movement, stated that “nothing is going to stop the ships”, and that the human rights activists are determined to break the illegal Israeli siege on 1.5 million Palestinian in Gaza, and deliver the humanitarian supplies.

EU demands 'constructive resolution' to flotilla debate

Published today (updated) 29/05/2010 14:26 Bethlehem - Ma'an -

EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton urged "restraint and responsibility" from the Israeli occupation government and the Freedom Flotilla, as ships set sail from Cyprus en route to Gaza City on Saturday.

Israeli warships are set to intercept the aid fleet, some nine ships loaded with 600 solidarity activists, "with force if necessary," as the activist group insists on proceeding to the Gaza port.

Ashton noted that in the face of threats against the aid flotilla, and activist concerns over the Israeli offer that the aid be sailed to Ashdod, vetted, and transferred in by security personnel were only a ruse and would fail to see aid delivered, "The EU remains gravely concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The continued policy of closure is unacceptable and politically counterproductive."

The statement came one day after EU officials called for an immediate end to the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Ashton asked that parties come to a "constructive resolution" to the standoff, and further pushed for an "immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza."

Israel had earlier called its blockade of the Gaza Strip "a central pillar in the armed conflict with Hamas," while officials have more recently said that the flotilla's arrival in Gaza would strengthen the Hamas movement and lend it credibility.

For their part, the flotilla organizers have refused allegations that they are supporting Hamas, even after a request to bring a message to captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was turned down, sparking further cries that the group was for Hamas and against Israel.

A statement from the flotilla described the group as "a coalition of non-governmental organizations [with] no links with any government," and further acknowledged to Israeli detractors that the flotilla was "going to a territory ruled by a government that you refuse to talk to, and we are willing to deliver your message to the authorities of Gaza."

The statement, released on Wednesday following the controversy over refusing to deliver a package to Shalit, said organizers expected "Israel to behave according to the standards of every civilized, law-abiding nation and refrain from interfering when our Freedom Flotilla sails to Gaza to deliver reconstruction material and humanitarian aid to the besieged population of Gaza."

Israeli anti-flotilla activists set sail to intercept boats

The Israeli activist group StandWithUs continued its campaign against what it calls the "anti-Israel" boats which the group says support the Hamas government in Gaza, and announced the launch of six boats from the Israeli port of Ashdod on Friday afternoon.

Organizers said journalists were aboard each of the vessels, along with large banners reading "Free Gaza From Hamas," the slogan adopted by the group in an effort to persuade the Freedom Flotilla from continuing on to the Gaza Port.

"Those on board were wearing blood-stained t-shirts" with the slogan, organizers said in a statement, and supporters handed out " copies of it's Hamas charter booklet, among other literature" to onlookers.

"It is so clearly evident that the world needs to see what the true situation is," one StandWithUs official said, while a statement outlined the position of the group, that "the boats are a media stunt to get international attention and support for Hamas in Gaza."

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