Gaza.

News Round Up

Channel 4 News: Expert in maritime security criticises Israeli strategy

…the commandos are designed to conduct a counter-terrorism operation, which is combating ideologically-based opponents who are trained to kill people, and are threatening lives.

“On the other hand, a constabulary situation is like walking into a riot and trying to control it.

“It’s like the difference between the SAS storming into the Iranian embassy, as opposed to breaking up an anti-capitalism demonstration in the City. You wouldn’t want the SAS going into the latter.”

BBC: ‘Witnesses cast doubt on Israels convoy raid’ - Bayram Kaylon a Turkish activist on the Mavi Marmara said:

“The captain… told us ‘They are firing randomly, they are breaking the windows and entering inside. So you should get out of here as soon as possible’. That was our last conversation with him.”

The Guardian: Matan Vilnai, Israeli Deputy Defence Minister hints, at sabotage - something which was already suspected by the activists:

…asked on Israel Radio whether there had not been a smarter alternative to direct assault. He answered that “all possibilities had been considered,” adding: “The fact is that there were less than the 10 ships that were due to participate in the flotilla.”