Second Gaza flotilla still on track, Israel preparing for “extreme violence”
By Madison Ruppert
Editor of End the Lie
(Photo: IDF)
As the day nears when many brave souls from countries around the world put their life on the line to bring desperately needed aid to the embattled people of Gaza, the Israeli Navy has once again made it clear they will do whatever it takes to stop the flotilla. Absurd, baseless justifications are still being thrown around, like the notion that these peace activists are actually supporting terrorists. These are the same “supporters of Hamas” that attempted to defend themselves with sticks, pieces of scrap metal, chains and knives while being boarded and attacked by IDF commandos.
I have reported previously on the insane rationalization utilized by some supporters of Israel’s brutal aggression, some going as far as to call the flotilla an attack on Israel’s sovereignty. One blogger had the gall to call the attempted humanitarian aid mission a “preplanned attack” and called the activists futile attempt to defend themselves “lynching.” These clearly nonsensical statements are unfortunately still being leveled at the courageous activists.
In an article published in the Jerusalem Post today, we read, “We expect the flotilla to set sail later in the week,” a military source said. “We are preparing for various scenarios, from no violence to extreme violence.” Based on their reaction to the attempts to fend off their attack on the last flotilla, one might think that they are leaning toward the “extreme violence” end of the spectrum. You would not be foolish for doing so.
As per usual, the bought-and-paid-for bureaucrats in Washington fully support Israel’s human rights violations and enforcement of unjustified blockades on a nation that has been invaded and attacked non-stop for decades. The State Department has warned American activists planning on joining the flotilla in their attempt to alleviate the suffering of innocent Palestinians of the real possibility of them facing criminal prosecution.
No longer are charity, selflessness and kindness respectable and desirable traits. Nowadays you get arrested for attempting to feed hungry, homeless Americans or executed for trying to bring aid to Palestinian children. Why are some of the world’s most powerful nations taking such a blatantly hypocritical stance? The United States justifies the daily attacks on Libya as humanitarian intervention, yet when people actually attempt non-violent humanitarian intervention they are threatened with legal action.
In today’s world, humanitarian laws and aid only count when our supposed leaders say so. This usually involves a considerable gain for certain corporations, individuals and governments. One would think that a group like Amnesty International, allegedly devoted to defending human rights around the globe, would take a stand on this and participate in these noble efforts, right?
Well, AI sure makes it seem like they would, based on their characterization of the inquiry into the original Gaza flotilla attack. In a public statement, AI rebuked the report as a “whitewash.” But Amnesty International isn’t quite as impartial and fair as they make themselves out to be.
Prof. Francis A. Boyle (Professor of International Law, Univ. of Illinois, Champaign) from an interview with Dennis Bernstein:
“Amnesty International is primarily motivated not by human rights but by publicity. Second comes money. Third comes getting more members. Fourth, internal turf battles. And then finally, human rights, genuine human rights concerns. To be sure, if you are dealing with a human rights situation in a country that is at odds with the United States or Britain, it gets an awful lot of attention, resources, man and womanpower, publicity, you name it, they can throw whatever they want at that. But if it’s dealing with violations of human rights by the United States, Britain, Israel, then it’s like pulling teeth to get them to really do something on the situation. They might, very reluctantly and after an enormous amount of internal fightings and battles and pressures, you name it. But you know, it’s not like the official enemies list.” [Source]
So will they be assisting the people putting their lives on the line to defend the rights of the human beings living in Gaza under constant attack by the state of Israel?
Officially, no. I could not dig up a shred of evidence that they, as an organization, are supporting this humanitarian mission. They vocally condemn the blockade and the Israeli response to the last flotilla but their silence on this second attempt is telling.
That is not to say that there are not members of Amnesty International who will be going. Steven Fake of Louisiana will be on the American ship called the Audacity of Hope. Although, he in no way is an official representative from what I gather, he is, according to his bio on the above linked page about the passengers of the American ship, a member and nothing more.
The Israeli government has also warned journalists that being part of the flotilla will get them banned from Israel for an entire decade.
I find it quite disturbing that groups like Amnesty International, who purport to be fighting for the human rights of every single person around the globe to be silent at times like these. It is before the attack on the flotilla that these groups can make a difference, not after the activists have already been injured or murdered by the IDF.
Currently the Audacity of Hope is being detained in a Greek port and the United States has already said they will do nothing to protect their citizens involved in the aid mission from the murderous IDF commandos. An Israeli Law Center, Shurat Hadin, has filed a civil lawsuit against the organizers of the Audacity and reportedly placed an anonymous complaint to the harbormaster of the Greek port, falsely asserting that the ship was not safe for travel and that they were a terrorist organization.
“Bauer’s suit [the man being represented by Shurat Hadin] seeks to confiscate 14 ships outfitted with funds “unlawfully raised in the United States by anti-Israel groups, including the Free Gaza Movement.” The lawsuit contends that furnishing and outfitting the ships, which are being used for hostilities against a U.S. ally, violates American law.”
The fact is, there are no hostilities against a U.S. ally. There are several ships filled with peace loving human rights activists attempting to break through an inhumane blockade and example of illegal collective punishment (a violation of international human rights law). There are no terrorists seeking to arm Hamas. The original flotilla was not a “pre-planned attack.”
Virtual Jerusalem falsely asserts, “the terrorists had prepared lethal weapons and brought on board two guns for a planned confrontation with the Navy.” While knives are lethal weapons, so are forks, fists, and pencils. If they were actually terrorists prepared to confront the Navy, why did every single Israeli soldier walk away from the confrontation while 50 activists were wounded, some critically, and 9 murdered, some of which were victims of summary execution?
I challenge you to watch the following footage of the first flotilla assault and ask yourself which party looks like they are carrying out a pre-planned attack.
Israeli Attack on the Mavi Marmara, May 31st 2010 // 15 min. from Cultures of Resistance on Vimeo.
If this were true, why did every single country on the United Nations Human Rights Council (except the United States of course) condemn the Israeli brutality?
Hopefully the Israelis will feel the international pressure and react to the situation in a much more humane and rational way. Maybe they will even find it in themselves to treat the Palestinians like human beings and allow aid to be brought to them by sea. While this would be a glorious day for humanity, I’m not holding my breath.
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Madison Ruppert is a Los Angeles-based independent journalist and researcher as well as the founder, owner, administrator and editor of EndtheLie.com. He has no affiliations with any government agencies, political parties, non-governmental organizations, or economic schools. He is available for freelance writing assignments and appearances or interviews in any format. He can be reached by emailing