The assault on the Gaza humanitarian fleet wounded many and claimed lives of at least 10 people. As per the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli army reported that at least ten militants were killed and six were wounded by the Israeli naval commandos in the attack that took place on Monday morning, the 31st of May 2010. The assault initiated at two o’clock in the morning from a Turkish ship on the humanitarian fleet that wanted to break the Gaza blockade. Other sources, including a string of Israeli television reported that the death toll reached up to sixteen.
The injured were transported by helicopter to a hospital in Ashdod, an Israeli city.
Furthermore, the Israeli military sources suggested that the commandos were met with strong resistance from men armed with bladed weapons and the situation degenerated into a massacre when one of them grabbed the weapon of a soldier and opened fire.
On Sunday, 30th of May 2010, a Turkish ship led the convoy carrying 600 passengers leaving the international waters of Cyprus to visit the Gaza Strip, some 400 km away. The “freedom flotilla” defied Israeli orders to turn back.
The reactions are already numerous. The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas called for an “intifada” to the Israeli embassy in the world. Turkey warns Israel against “irreversible consequences” on bilateral relations.
The Minister of Trade and Industry has regretted over the incident as it has caused severe effects on the balance sheet. In an editorial column, Gideon Levy, an Israeli journalist wrote that on 30th May the Israel’s strategy with the flotilla to Gaza was purely an act of utter stupidity.