odlum833
June 2nd, 2010, 01:37 AM
Gaza flotilla: Israel to free detained activists
23:19 GMT, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 0:19 UK
Hillary Clinton: "The situation is Gaza is unsustainable and unacceptable"
Israel says it will release all the foreign nationals seized on board an aid flotilla trying to break its blockade of Gaza.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it hoped deportations would be completed within 48 hours.
At least nine pro-Palestinian activists died when Israeli commandos raided the six-ship convoy early on Monday.
Amid international criticism Israel says its troops acted in self-defence, but campaigners deny this.
The incident has sparked widespread concern and led to calls for Israel to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has maintained control of Gaza's airspace and territorial waters, as well as most of its land borders, since withdrawing troops and settlers from the territory in 2005.
According to the UN, Gaza receives about one-quarter of the supplies it used to receive in the years before the blockade was tightened in 2007.
Israel and Egypt sealed off the territory after militant group Hamas seized power there in 2007.
Obama condolences
Amid ongoing diplomatic concern at the incident, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the situation in Gaza "unsustainable".
She said on Tuesday that Washington would support an Israeli investigation of the raid but it must be "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent", as called for by the UN Security Council.
And President Barack Obama was reported to have called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to express his condolences over the loss of life on the Turkish-registered lead vessel.
Mr Erdogan has described the assault as a "bloody massacre" and said must be punished. He said Israel should not test Turkey's patience.
Turkey, formerly a close ally of Israel, has been one of the states most vocal in its condemnation of the raid.
Diplomatic sources in Ankara have said at least four of those killed were Turkish.
Irish concern
Meanwhile, another ship carrying aid has set sail for Gaza intending to challenge the Israeli blockade, organisers said.
Greta Berlin, of the Free Gaza Movement, said on Tuesday the MV Rachel Corrie would "be there within the week".
Five of those on board are Irish, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire, prompting Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen to appeal for its safe arrival in Gaza.
"If any harm comes to any of our citizens it will have the most serious consequences," he told parliament on Tuesday.
He said Dublin had asked Israel to ensure the boat "complete its journey unimpeded and discharge its humanitarian cargo in Gaza".
Israel seized more than 670 people with the ships and deported 50 early on Tuesday.
But officials faced mounting calls on Tuesday to free those still be detained.
"All foreign nationals who were on board the fleet and were arrested will be deported from Tuesday night," Mr Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
The expulsions would be carried out by Thursday, according to Israeli military radio.
Eyewitness accounts of the raid from some of those activists released earlier cast doubt on Israel's version of events.
Israel said its soldiers were attacked with "knives, clubs and other weapons" when they landed on the Turkish passenger ship Mavi Marmara and had opened fire in self-defence.
German politician Norman Paech said he had only seen wooden sticks being brandished as troops abseiled on to the deck of the ship.
And Israeli Arab MP Haneen Zuabi told a press conference that troops began firing while still in the helicopters hovering over the ships.
The six ships, carrying more than 100 tonnes of aid and 700 campaigners, had sailed from Cyprus in a bid to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.
Israel had warned organisers that the flotilla would not be allowed to arrive.
Following the Israeli raid, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ordered the border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to be opened.
The Rafah crossing has been closed since 2007, although special medical cases are occasionally allowed through.
The Egyptian state news agency said the latest opening was to allow humanitarian aid through. It is not clear how long it will be kept open
BBC
Irish media say that 2 ships including the Irish vessel will arrive in Gazan waters tomorrow evening. I wonder what the outcome will be this time around. Not that I agree with these leftist loons completely btw. The aid is one thing but some of these people are nutters.
23:19 GMT, Tuesday, 1 June 2010 0:19 UK
Hillary Clinton: "The situation is Gaza is unsustainable and unacceptable"
Israel says it will release all the foreign nationals seized on board an aid flotilla trying to break its blockade of Gaza.
The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it hoped deportations would be completed within 48 hours.
At least nine pro-Palestinian activists died when Israeli commandos raided the six-ship convoy early on Monday.
Amid international criticism Israel says its troops acted in self-defence, but campaigners deny this.
The incident has sparked widespread concern and led to calls for Israel to lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Israel has maintained control of Gaza's airspace and territorial waters, as well as most of its land borders, since withdrawing troops and settlers from the territory in 2005.
According to the UN, Gaza receives about one-quarter of the supplies it used to receive in the years before the blockade was tightened in 2007.
Israel and Egypt sealed off the territory after militant group Hamas seized power there in 2007.
Obama condolences
Amid ongoing diplomatic concern at the incident, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the situation in Gaza "unsustainable".
She said on Tuesday that Washington would support an Israeli investigation of the raid but it must be "prompt, impartial, credible and transparent", as called for by the UN Security Council.
And President Barack Obama was reported to have called Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to express his condolences over the loss of life on the Turkish-registered lead vessel.
Mr Erdogan has described the assault as a "bloody massacre" and said must be punished. He said Israel should not test Turkey's patience.
Turkey, formerly a close ally of Israel, has been one of the states most vocal in its condemnation of the raid.
Diplomatic sources in Ankara have said at least four of those killed were Turkish.
Irish concern
Meanwhile, another ship carrying aid has set sail for Gaza intending to challenge the Israeli blockade, organisers said.
Greta Berlin, of the Free Gaza Movement, said on Tuesday the MV Rachel Corrie would "be there within the week".
Five of those on board are Irish, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire, prompting Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen to appeal for its safe arrival in Gaza.
"If any harm comes to any of our citizens it will have the most serious consequences," he told parliament on Tuesday.
He said Dublin had asked Israel to ensure the boat "complete its journey unimpeded and discharge its humanitarian cargo in Gaza".
Israel seized more than 670 people with the ships and deported 50 early on Tuesday.
But officials faced mounting calls on Tuesday to free those still be detained.
"All foreign nationals who were on board the fleet and were arrested will be deported from Tuesday night," Mr Netanyahu's office said in a statement.
The expulsions would be carried out by Thursday, according to Israeli military radio.
Eyewitness accounts of the raid from some of those activists released earlier cast doubt on Israel's version of events.
Israel said its soldiers were attacked with "knives, clubs and other weapons" when they landed on the Turkish passenger ship Mavi Marmara and had opened fire in self-defence.
German politician Norman Paech said he had only seen wooden sticks being brandished as troops abseiled on to the deck of the ship.
And Israeli Arab MP Haneen Zuabi told a press conference that troops began firing while still in the helicopters hovering over the ships.
The six ships, carrying more than 100 tonnes of aid and 700 campaigners, had sailed from Cyprus in a bid to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.
Israel had warned organisers that the flotilla would not be allowed to arrive.
Following the Israeli raid, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak ordered the border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip to be opened.
The Rafah crossing has been closed since 2007, although special medical cases are occasionally allowed through.
The Egyptian state news agency said the latest opening was to allow humanitarian aid through. It is not clear how long it will be kept open
BBC
Irish media say that 2 ships including the Irish vessel will arrive in Gazan waters tomorrow evening. I wonder what the outcome will be this time around. Not that I agree with these leftist loons completely btw. The aid is one thing but some of these people are nutters.