The “Gaza Freedom Flotilla” set sail last week for the Hamas-controlled Gaza region, claiming to be carrying humanitarian aid. Israeli Navy ships requested late Sunday night that the activists change course from Gaza to Ashdod, where they would be able to unload their aid material, which would then be transferred over land to Gaza after undergoing security inspections.
The activists refused and IDF troops attempting to board a ship were attacked by activists wielding knives, clubs and guns. Nine militants were killed and several soldiers injured - one from a gunshot wound - during the clashes that ensued, creating a new public relations crisis for the Jewish state. - Israel National News
Today, I picked up an ‘Express’ paper (a free daily publication of the Washington Post that reaches an audience of 310,000 per day in Washington, DC) before coming into work and knew exactly what I would find throughout today's edition. To no surprise on the cover it read: “Storm at Sea: Deadly Israeli raid ignites an international uproar” which was supported by the stories, “Global Anti-Israel Rallies Erupt: Protesters, leaders condemn deadly raid on Gaza-bound ships” and another, “Israel Thrown Into Crisis: A deadly assault on a flotilla draws harsh criticism from leaders across the globe.” There’s definitely no anti-Israeli sentiment going on there… Both articles were almost completely dedicated to bashing Israel, with about a paragraph giving their side of the incident. This is published by the Washington Post, mind you, who has one of the largest readership bases. The mainstream media is hell-bent on making this look entirely like Israels fault. The Washington Post is not the only one guilty of providing only one side of the story- virtually every outlet is. What you won't hear is what The First Post has in one of their latest articles, who interviewed Israeli journalist Seth Freedman:
As seen in graphic video of the hostilities, soldiers were tossed by activists from the upper to the lower deck of the ship; at least one stun grenade was hurled at the incoming commandos by resisting activists; poles and clubs were used to beat the soldiers, and only when one was knocked unconscious did the troops respond with overpowering might. Until that point, orders to hold fire appear to have been strictly enforced by the Israeli commandos.
Gaza flotilla participants chanted Islamic battle cry invoking killing of Jews. The name Khaibar mentioned in battle cry was the last Jewish village defeated by Muhammad's army in 628. The battle marked the end of Jewish presence in Arabia. There are Muslims who see that as a precursor for future wars against Jews. At gatherings and rallies of extremists, this chant is often heard as a threat to Jews to expect to be defeated and killed again by Muslims.
After the incident, the media followed up showing massive protests against Israel. However, a correspondent of Bob McCarty's caught video footage of the other side. According to Bob McCarty "Turks living in Tel Aviv join in a protest outside the Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv , protesting the Turkish government’s decision to provoke Israel through its involvement in the so-called “aid flotilla” allegedly bringing aid to the people of the Gaza Strip." (h/t Bob McCarty)
Here are more pictures that McCarty's correspondent got from the protest:
For more on Israel's side of the story, check out this article in the Israel National News.
UPDATE: New post on video footage showing Israeli soldiers being attacked from a top view.