It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the confrontation that took place off Israel’s coast on May 31, 2010.   The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee and the Robert and Esther Heller Israel Advocacy Initiative support Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens. 

Our community deeply regrets the loss of human life.  We pray for the safety of Israel and her citizens.

Situation summary:

Israel left Gaza in 2005 with the hope of peace and in return was inundated with more than 10,000 rockets and terrorist attacks.  The naval blockade of the Gaza strip was put in place in January 2009 as a result of the use of Gaza’s shore by the Hamas terror organization.  According to an IDF spokesperson, “the presence of its operatives on the shoreline and in the open sea constitutes a threat against the citizens of southern Israel.” 

In the early morning of May 31, Israel Defense Forces naval forces intercepted six ships, which were part of a flotilla, attempting to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The intercept took place after numerous warnings from Israel and the Israel Navy.  The Israel Navy requested that the ships to redirect toward Ashdod, where they would be able to unload their cargo, which would then be transferred to Gaza over land after undergoing security inspections. It is important to note that no other country would allow illegal entry of any vessel into their waters without a security check.  The IDF stressed that the passengers could then return to their point of departure on the same vessels without delay.  Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza have proceeded this way for over a year.

Israel exercised its sovereign rights under international law to board the ships and escort them to Ashdod.  Five of the ships complied peacefully and there were no injuries or loss of life.  IDF naval personnel, armed with paintball rifles, boarded the sixth ship, the Mavi Marmara, and were instantly attacked with live gunfire as well as light weaponry including knives, crowbars, slingshots and clubs. The demonstrators had prepared a cache of weapons in advance for this specific purpose.  According to reports, IDF forces apprehended two violent activists. These militants apparently grabbed pistols from IDF forces and opened fire.  As a result, naval forces employed riot dispersal means which included (ordered only to be deployed under life-threatening circumstances), live fire. According to initial reports, this resulted in nine deaths and numerous injured.

A number of Israeli naval personnel were injured, both from gunfire and other weapons. Two of the soldiers are seriously wounded and the remainder sustained light injuries.   All of the injured, Israelis and activists, were evacuated by a fleet of IDF helicopters to hospitals in Israel.  All ships were redirected to the port in Ashdod as IDF naval forces performed security checks of the people aboard the ships and their cargo. 

Additional notes:

The Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), one of the primary organizers of the flotilla, is a Turkish humanitarian relief fund with radical Islamic anti-Western orientation.  Besides its legitimate philanthropic activities, it supports radical Islamic networks, including Hamas and Hezbollah, and in the past, even global jihad activities.  "We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence against us, they are going to have to forcefully stop us," said one of the flotilla's organizers.  The extremists brought small children on board knowing that they intended to violate international maritime law.

The activists were carrying 10,000 tons of supplies which Israel has now completely delivered to Gaza.  It is important to note that Israel transfers approximately 15,000 tons of supplies and humanitarian aid every week through its border with Gaza.  Read the Israel Ministry on Foreign Affairs' full report on Israeli humanitarian aid to Gaza published on May 25, 2010.

Action Steps you can take:

1. Support Israel’s right to defend itself and it's citizens.  Know the facts. Correct inaccurate  

2. Contact elected officials and urge them to support Israel’s legal right to uphold the maritime blockage on Gaza. Government contact information is listed HERE.

3. If you feel media reports are biased against Israel, feel free to share the points above with local media outlets.  Stress the need for fair and honest reporting of the facts of the flotilla seizure in Gaza. Media contact information is listed HERE.