Son of Brewster Mass man aboard ship raided by Israeli commandos

[grassfed]

A Brewster resident whose son was on board one of a flotilla of ships raided by the Israeli Navy today said his son does not appear to be among nine people believed killed and that messages posted to a Facebook page indicate the attack was unprovoked, contrary to Israeli statements on the raid.

Joseph Bangert said he believed his son, Fiachra Ó Luain (left), was "awake and alert" when Israeli helicopters and boats approached the flotilla, which had pro-Palestinian activists aboard and was attempting to bring aid to the Gaza strip.

Bangert said Israeli commandos stormed the lead ship and began firing without provocation.

"They evidently just hit the deck shooting," Bangert said. "All they had on that vessel were wheelchairs, medical equipment, and construction supplies. I'm very, very upset."

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(snip)
Ó Luain, whose uncle is a resident of Harwich, Mass., lives in County Donegal, Ireland, but has visited the Cape often. Bangert said he was supposed to be aboard a 1,200-ton cargo ship, named "Rachel Corrie" in honor of a 23-year-old American who was run down in 2003 by an Israeli Defense Forces bulldozer as she and others tried to prevent the Israelis from tearing down Palestinian homes.

[UndertheOcean]

1. :(