Sunday, May 30, 2010

Update: Initial reports – 10 people killed, 30 injured in Israeli attack on freedom flotilla

Watch live streaming video from insaniyardim at livestream.com


The above video is a live feed of Turkish television from the flotilla. If anyone can translate the Turkish, please post any relevant news in the comments.

Follow #flotilla on twitter for the latest updates.

Update (12:45 am 5/31/10): Haaretz is reporting: "At least 10 activists killed as Israel Navy opens fire on Gaza aid flotilla." Al Jazeera's Sherine Tadros just tweeted that Israeli Army Radio is saying "between 10-14 people killed on flotilla."

We have a number of reports from the Mediterranean in the last few hours that the Israeli government is following through on its self-destructive and brutal determination to stop the freedom flotilla, and doing so at night. Live feed shows people still on deck. Isabel Kershner of the Times says Israeli boats have approached in international waters, intending to intercept. AP says that the Israeli navy is "stalk"-ing the flotilla. (Great for the rebranding campaign, huh?) Emails, rumors, follow:

From Iara Lee: israeli navy is already coming toward us/ we are still in intl waters and they are already here/ women are instructed to go downstairs/ men have gas masks and i am not sure what they are instructed to do....

From a friend of the flotilla: I was just told by Audrey, a spokesperson, that Israel told the captain that they're expanding Israel's territorial waters to 68 miles. The boats are at 70 right now with helicopters flying around. I think it's going to be very difficult to get timely and accurate news at this point. Hope I'm wrong.

From Felice: The White House is directing callers to contact the State Department main switchboard and ask for the duty officer responsible for dealing with imminent threats of abduction of American citizens. Please call the State Department as well. 202-647-4000. You can remind them that American citizens are being attacked with American military aid given to Israel and tell them they have ample influence with Israel to keep the flotilla safe.

From Lubna, on board, to Greta:

Urgent we have threat from israel (check out the HELP button on www.witnessgaza.com)

What is happening?

Lubna: two israeli ships coming toward us me.... they contact the ship asked who we are and disappeared, now they getting close to the ship we can see them stay here 3 boats are coming not two 3 israeli boats we are 78 mile from israel

people here put on their life jackets, every body preparing here

we didnt expect them now, we thought they will arrive at the morning.

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