Israel

[Nightwatch]

Nightwatch weiss wohl grade selber nicht was er verteidigt...

Ich verteidige die Israelische Marine, deren Boaring Partys heute morgen von einem bewaffneten Mob mit Eisenstangen, Messern, Macheten und Schusswaffen angegriffen wurden.

Abgesehen davon hat sich dieses Ereignis außerhalb israelischer Gewässer abgespielt.

Israel hat eine Blockade über den Gazastreifen verhängt und führt Krieg gegen die dortigen Machthaber. Das heißt es kann jedes Schiff das Kurs auf den Gazstreifen nimmt notfalls mit Gewalt stoppen.
In welchen Gewässern dies stattfindet ist nicht relevant.

The operation is still ongoing, some 70-80 miles from out coast. Forces were met by formidable resistance, perhaps unprecedented. I can tell you what I already know with absolute certainty. During the night, we tried to open a channel of communications with the flotilla. Each of the six ships was contacted, offered to dock in the Port of Ashdod to transfer aid via land crossings to Gaza. All requests were met with refusal.
The commander of the navy, Admiral Eliezer Marom is personally overseeing the operation, present at the command post at sea.
Diplomatic efforts were made ahead of last night, then we did everything possible to reach out to the vessels, and only after all measures failed were naval commandos sent in. there was approximately 570 people. Commandos describe “a lynch” along with unexpected violence and hostility. One solder was stabbed in his abdomen. They did not act as “peace activists”. One soldier’s weapon was grabbed away and used against the force.
I cannot say if there were other weapons on the vessel.
We did not encounter peace activists, but violent people with knives, pipes, batons and weapons. Our force was indeed in life-threatening danger. They had to open fire. Reports indicate 10 or so dead. Our force sustained injuries as well, one soldier in moderate condition.
The injured were transported by chopper to hospitals. In the coming hours, the vessels will be taken to an Israeli port and they will be combed to see who is on board and exactly what cargo is carried.
It is important for me to stress the mission is the result of numerous failed attempts at diplomacy, and this was a planned and premeditated media and physical attack against our forces, orchestrated by Hamas and Iran, seeking to continue importing weapons into Gaza.
As a person and the IDF spokesman, I express sorrow of the entire incident, but when soldiers face large knives, batons and weapons, they are compelled to defend themselves.
We cannot know exactly who is on the vessel. During recent weeks, we used all channels at our disposal to advance diplomacy and dialogue, and all efforts were refused…

early this morning, idf naval forces intercepted six ships attempting to break the naval blockade of the gaza strip. This happened after numerous warnings from israel and the israel navy that were issued prior to the action. The israel navy requested the ships to redirect toward ashdod where they would be able to unload their aid material which would then be transferred over land after undergoing security inspections. During the intercept of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the idf naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs. Additionally one of the weapons used was grabbed from an idf soldier.
The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose.
As a result of this life-threatening and violent activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means, including live fire.
According to initial reports, these events resulted in over ten deaths among the demonstrators and numerous injured, in addition, more than four naval personnel were injured, some from gunfire and some from various other weapons. Two of the soldiers are moderately wounded and the remainder sustained light injuries. All of the injured, israelis and foreigners are currently being evacuated by helicopter to hospitals in israel.
Reports from idf forces on the scene are that it seems as if part of the participants onboard the ships were planning to lynch the forces.
The events are ongoing, and information will be updated as soon as possible.
Israeli naval commander, vice admiral eliezer marom is overseeing the events.
In the coming hours, the ships will be directed to the ashdod port, while idf naval forces will perform security checks in order to identify the people on board the ships and their equipment. The idf spokesman conveys that this event is currently unfolding and further details will be provided as soon as possible.
This idf naval operation was carried out under orders from the political leadership to halt the flotilla from reaching the gaza strip and breaching the naval blockade.
The interception of the flotilla followed numerous warnings given to the organizers of the flotilla before leaving their ports as well as while sailing towards the gaza strip. In these warnings, it was made clear to the organizers that they could dock in the ashdod sea port and unload the equipment they are carrying in order to deliver it to the gaza strip in an orderly manner, following the appropriate security checks. Upon expressing their unwillingness to cooperate and arrive at the port, it was decided to board the ships and lead them to ashdod.
Idf naval personnel encountered severe violence, including use of weaponry prepared in advance in order to attack and to harm them. The forces operated in adherence with operational commands and took all necessary actions in order to avoid violence, but to no avail.