Hamas refuses aid until hostages are freed

[IndianaGreen]

Hamas refuses aid until hostages are freed

Thursday 03 June 2010

Gaza's Hamas administration has confirmed that it will not allow goods from an aid flotilla raided by Israel to enter the blockaded territory until Tel Aviv has released all those it detained in the savage attack.

The Freedom Flotilla ships which were seized in the raid on Monday were loaded with over 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid.

On Tuesday the Israeli Defence Force public relations unit released a video of boxes and supplies from the flotilla ships being loaded into lorries bound for Gaza.

But Palestinian border officials have refused to let the cargo into the coastal enclave.

Addressing a Gaza City press conference on Thursday, Social Welfare Minister Ahmed al-Kurd branded the Israeli delivery a "media campaign" meant to "divert the attention of the world from their act of piracy" in which at least nine Turkish civilians died.

Mr Kurd alleged that the goods brought to Gaza were broken or missing parts.

Among the items delivered were a set of electric wheelchairs which had reportedly had their batteries removed.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/91137

Here is the misleading CNN story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x316837

This is the same CNN that only showed the IDF's videos and only allowed Israel government spokespersons to appear on TV--No Palestinian voices were aired.

[EFerrari]

1. I just found another gem being used by IDF: video from all the cameras

and phones and other machines they confiscated. There were some 40 journalists in the flotilla and the first thing IDF did on most vessels was to grab the cameras and phones.

Israel's use of 'captured' video draws criticism

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's military is using video confiscated from people on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla to justify opening fire during its deadly raid on the ships, drawing sharp criticism Thursday from foreign correspondents who say some of the footage was shot by journalists.

At least two videos posted to the army spokesperson's YouTube channel are labeled "captured" from the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish ship Israeli commandos stormed in a nighttime raid Monday that left nine people dead.

The military allowed some journalists to board vessels used in the raid, and several dozen reporters were on board the flotilla's six ships as well. Video of the operation is playing a major role in Israel's and pro-Palestinian activists' efforts try to push their version of events.

Israel says the commandos resorted to force only after activists attacked them with knives, crowbars and clubs, as well as two pistols wrested from soldiers. Activists who had set sail for Gaza with 10,000 tons of aid, hoping to break Israel's 3-year-old blockade of Gaza, say the commandos fired first.

http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Bloody-Israeli-raid-on-flotilla-sparks-crisis-506803.php

[ConsAreLiars]

2. I'm a bit unclear about when siezing a ship in international waters makes stealing all the property

carried by the passengers, as well as the ships and cargo, OK.

I;ve seen the nonsensers say that when the pirates are of one nationality, or frightened or delusional, it makes it OK to mass murder 10 or so and shoot another score or three, even though none were armed. After all, being cowardly and frightened excuses any insane act.

But how to excuse stealing everything the passengers had in their possession other than the clothes they were wearing and their passports and ID. (I guess they gut a bit busted for stealing passports and ID when committing another murder, so they maybe were wary of doing more of that,)

And everything else, The answer is as obvious as why the IDF edited footage is widely replayed and the voices of the survivors are never heard. To destroy the evidence. Yet one more crime.