RUTHFULLY YOURS

Included below are the facts regarding the violence that occurred; the
background leading up to it, including the expressed hope of the
flotilla organizers that violence would be beneficial to their public
relations and the use of children as part of their PR campaign; ithe
reasons for the blockade and the provision of humanitarian goods by
Israel to the Gazans despite their leaders’ continued terrorism
against Israel; and the legal support for Israel’s actions. We have
the essential supporting evidence, including videos, below.

Comments? Questions? Please go to WWW.ZSTREET.ORG
http://www.zstreet.org/and leave your comments so that we all can benefit from everyone’s
suggestions and remarks.

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* Sunday night the IDF forces boarded an Islamist-controlled flotilla
which was bound for Gaza in contravention of the blockade imposed
because of the years-long practice of smuggling support for the Gazan
terrorist activities directed at Israel.

* Israel left Gaza in hopes of peace in 2005 and in return received
more than 10,000 rockets and terrorist attacks.

* The State of Israel approached the organizers of the flotilla –
prior to their departure and late, while at sea – and invited them
to dock at the Port of Ashdod for the sake of transferring their cargo
to Gaza, subject to security inspection. The organizers refused.

* “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.

* Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said this week: “If the ships reach
Gaza it is a victory; if they are intercepted, it will be a victory
too.”

( * The extremists brought small children on board knowing that they
intended to violate international maritime law.

* Passengers on one of the six boats initiated violent clashes.

* While boarding on of the vessels, IDF soldiers were physically
attacked with live ammunition and other weapons, including knives and
clubs, which had been prepared in advance. A weapon belonging to one
of soldiers was snatched and, apparently, a barbarian fired on IDF
forces.

* During the course of the incident, when their lives were put in
danger, IDF soldiers were compelled to employ means to disperse
demonstrations, including live weapons.

* The IDF action was authorized by the Security Cabinet, the Prime
Minister and the Minister of Defense.

* There were nine casualties amongst the flotilla barbarians, and
others injured. Seven Israeli naval officers were also wounded.
/*All*/ of the injured were evacuated to hospitals.

* Responsibility for the violence lies with the organizers and
participants of the flotilla who initiated the violence.

* The entire flotilla was designed as a media stunt and political
provocation by elements that are hostile to Israel, primarily the IHH
– a violent, extremist group which supports terrorist organizations
under the guise of humanitarian activity.

* There is no famine or humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

* Israel has and continues to express its desire for peace and
continues to extend its hand to all those who are willing to
participate in moving forwards to true peace.

VIDEOS (

1. IDF Spokesperson video:(The Israel Navy warns flotilla that the
Gaza region is closed to maritime traffic, and invites the ships to
enter Ashdod port to transfer humanitarian aid.(

http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=52&l=-http—

2. IDF Spokesperson 2nd video taken from helicopter

(http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=53&l=-http–www.youtube.com/watch–Q-v–E-bU12KW-XyZE(

and one by the IDF Navy(

http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=54&l=-http—

And one of the barbarians attacking the IDF soldiers with metal pipes
and fists and throwing one of the soldiers off the ship.

http://www.youtube.com/idfnadesk
&  http://tinyurl.com/39vxnj3
. (COMM. BY GPO)

(4. Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
clips http://www.zstreet.org/emm/lt.php?c=17&m=17&nl=2&s=6305222cd683d56f17b971e92eb841d3&lid=56&l=-http–www.youtube.com/watch–Q-v–E-5wlWcNXzstI

CLOSE-UP FOOTAGE OF MAVI MARMARA PASSENGERS ATTACKING IDF SOLDIERS
http://www.youtube.com/idfnadesk
& http://tinyurl.com/39vxnj3
. (COMM. BY GPO)((

5. Media coverage:

http://www.justjournalism.com/media-analysis/view/peace-activists-or-violent-attackers-how-the-media-narrative-on-flotilla-incident-is-shaping-up(
<http://www.justjournalism.com/media-analysis/view/peace-activists-or-violent-attackers-how-the-media-narrative-on-flotilla-incident-is-shaping-up%E2%80%A8%20>

Regarding claims of Israel violating Laws of the sea (

http://blog.camera.org/archives/2010/05/ny_times_flotilla_coverage_mis.html%20(
<http://blog.camera.org/archives/2010/05/ny_times_flotilla_coverage_mis.html%20%E2%80%A8>

*The Gaza Flotilla and the Maritime Blockade of Gaza(

Legal Background –*

31 May 2010

1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such
blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed
conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has
repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have
been smuggled into Gaza via the sea.

2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under
international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict
at sea.

3. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international
waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of
neutral States.

4. The naval manuals of several western countries, including the US
and England recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval
measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid,
including the requirement of give due notice of the existence of the
blockade.(((5. In this vein, it should be noted that Israel publicized
the existence of the blockade and the precise coordinates of such by
means of the accepted international professional maritime channels.
Israel also provided appropriate notification to the affected
governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla.
Moreover, in real time, the ships participating in the protest
flotilla were warned repeatedly that a maritime blockade is in effect.

Here, it should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the
blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and
appropriate notification has been granted, as above.

Under international maritime law, when a maritime blockade is in
effect, no boats can enter the blockaded area. That includes both
civilian and enemy vessels.

8. A State may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that
violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or
even attacked under international law. The US Commander’s Handbook on
the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to
be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its
port with the intention of evading the blockade.

9. Here we should note that the protesters indicated their clear
intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral
statements. Moreover, the route of these vessels indicated their clear
intention to violate the blockade in violation of international law.((

10. Given the protesters explicit intention to violate the naval
blockade,

Israel exercised its right under international law to enforce the
blockade. It should be noted that prior to undertaking enforcement
measures, explicit warnings were relayed directly to the captains of
the vessels, expressing Israel’s intent to exercise its right to
enforce the blockade.((

11. Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating
in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order
to enforce the blockade. Given the large number of vessels
participating in the flotilla, an operational decision was made to
undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from the
area of the blockade.((

12. Israeli personnel attempting to enforce the blockade were met with
violence by the protesters and acted in self defense to fend off such
attacks.(((

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