Hasbara Fellowships Newsletter, May 31, 2010

Newsletter for May 31, 2010

Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said in a press conference on Monday (May 31) regarding the Turkish-led flotilla that:

"The armada of hate and violence in support of Hamas terror organization was a premeditated and outrageous provocation.
"The organizers are well known for their ties with global Jihad, al-Qaeda and Hamas. They have a history of arms smuggling and deadly terror.
"On board the ship we found weapons prepared in advance and used against our forces. The organizers intent was violent, their method was violent and the results were unfortunately violent. Israel regrets any loss of life and did everything to avoid this outcome."

"Live fire was used against our forces. They initiated the violence, that's 100% clear," said Israeli Government Spokesman Mark Regev in an interview with the BBC.
Israeli soldiers were attacked by extremists with live ammunition, axes, metal rods and blunt instruments while trying to take control of six ships en route to Gaza.
Audrey Bomse, a spokesperson for the Free Gaza movement, said in an interview with the BBC "I cannot say for sure if there were weapons on the ship."

Clear Intent to Cause Violence

A statement issued by the IDF states that the people on board the ship had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for the purposes of attacking the Israeli forces.
"We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence against us," said flotilla organizer Huwaida Arraf. "They are going to have to forcefully stop us."
At least 10 of the extremists aboard the ship were killed in the struggle between them and the IDF forces.

Context

In 2005, Israel withdrew from all of Gaza. Israel relocated thousands of Israeli citizens and soldiers from Gaza in hopes that it would help jump-start the process towards a two state solution.
However, Iran-backed Hamas seized Gaza from the Palestinian Authority's Fatah movement in a bloody coup and established its own government there in June 2007.
Since Israel's withdrawal from the territory, Hamas has fired more than 6,500 rockets and mortars into Israel.
Israel imposed a naval blockade on Gaza after Hamas violently overthrew Fatah in 2007. Said Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs legal expert Sarah Weiss Maudi, "The Hamas regime has bombarded Israeli communities in Israel, Israeli civilians in Israel, with weapons that are smuggled to Gaza by various routes, and one of these routes is the sea. Under international law a maritime blockade is a recognized and legitimate tool that can be used during an armed conflict."
Iran-backed Hamas continues to smuggle weapons into Gaza and uses building supplies delivered there to construct fortified bunkers.
Israel appealed to the convoy of ships - carrying more than 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid - to dock in Israel's southern port of Ashdod so its humanitarian supplies can be delivered by Israel through the Gaza border crossing after they are checked for dangerous materials.