UPDATE: It was report by Al Jezeera that at least 10 activists were killed as Israel Navy opens fire on Gaza aid flotilla.

Over 60 additionally were wounded after the convoy sailing for Gaza Strip ignored Israel’s order to turn back, Turkish news reported. IDF confirms two commandos also wounded.

The flotilla was in international waters at the time.

LAST UPDATE FOR THE NIGHT Yahoo Reporting:

Israeli ships stalk pro-Palestinian aid flotilla

HAIFA, Israel – Israeli warships stalked a flotilla carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists, including a Nobel laureate and a Holocaust survivor heading for the

Gaza Strip on Monday, edging closer to a naval showdown on the high seas.

Huwaida Arraf, one of the organizers, said the six-ship flotilla began the journey from international waters off the coast of Cyprus on Sunday afternoon after two days of delays. She said they expected to reach Gaza, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) away, on Monday afternoon, and that two more ships would follow in “a second wave.”

The flotilla was “fully prepared for the different scenarios” that might arise, and organizers were hopeful that Israeli authorities would “do what’s right” and not stop the convoy, she said.

“We fully intend to go to Gaza regardless of any intimidation or threats of violence against us,” she said. “They are going to have to forcefully stop us.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ml_israel_palestinians

UPDATE: 31st May 10 3 AM

Gaza TV News:

The Flotilla has now changed course and is sailing due west, further into International waters.

The Israeli war ships have pulled back, and are out of range at present.

URL: http://ipad.io/KI8 OR http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/Gaza_TVNews/

UPDATE: Tweets, 7:30 EST

about 8 minutes ago another OK signal from the #Flotilla, they are at Latitude:32.98883 Longitude:33.54669

about 37 minutes ago italian translation of @freegazaorg at @freegazaroma, see also http://witnessgaza.com/it

about 40 minutes ago when twitting about the Flotilla, please use the #Flotilla tag to increase its visibility. #Flotilla

about 54 minutes ago OK signal from Challenger 2 (see http://witnessgaza.com), they are going ahead. #Flotilla

about 2 hours ago Call to the world from the people on the boats. This flotilla is bringing supplies the people of Gaza and are being met by military force

UPDATE: Gush Shalom Coalition against the siege in Gaza

Urgent message:

A demonstration supporting the break the siege flotilla will be held tomorrow, Monday, 31.5.10 at 4:00 pm in front of the Ashdod port, Gate No. 1.

We will be leaving from Levinski garden in Tel Aviv, at 3 pm. We will be using private cars, a bus will be called if necessary. Those who can bring a private car are requested to come to the pick up location to help with transportation.

The humanitarian flotilla is predicted to arrive at the Gaza shore at noon. We expect the ships to be taken over and to be towed in Ashdod port. We will be there to express our solidarity with the flotilla. And will call to break the siege and open the gates of Gaza.

Registration: Ya’acov 050-5733276, 09-7670801. E-mail: manor12@zahav.net.il

UPDATE: The IHH ship Livestream is up showing passengers in life jackets after three Israeli ships confronted the flotilla 78 miles out at sea in international waters. Israel’s block of electronic traffic was apparently overcome by rerouting. This is obviously an act of attempted piracy.

WATCH HERE: http://www.ihh.org.tr/canliyayin/en

Email from one ship:

KEVIN OVENDEN REPORT’S LIVE FROM THE GAZA FLOTILLA!

 
At 22:41pm tonight, preparations aboard the Mavi Marmara are extensive. We are 90 miles away from land – 22 miles further than the Israeli decided 68 mile exclusion zone – but are being approached by an Israeli vessel.

 
Triage is set up and various strategies implemented to resist seizure. The Israeli media is reporting that Israel will deploy a very large naval force. Far from minimising violence, this is an illegal aggressive move which will make it more likely.

 
We are broadcasting live from the ship. Calm and organisation overcome the fear that Israel is trying to instill.

 
Viva Palestina and all aboard are prepared.

 
We are calling on everyone to contact various political leaders to ask them to do everything in their power to ensure the safety of these brave people, and to stand up and add their voice in support of this humanitarian flotilla.

Full details of how they can contact these political figures can be found through following this link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gaza-TV-News/119275738102852?v=app_2347471856#!/pages/Gaza-TV-News/119275738102852?v=app_2347471856

There you will find email addresses, and template letters to use. Full instructions are provided, and we ask that you follow these and show your support for everyone involved.

This is a very serious situation, and we are calling on everyone to play their part in helping ensure their safety, and that the aid reaches Gaza without difficulty.

END
———————
Alice Howard
Viva Palestina UK
Tel: +447889726777
Email: alice@vivapalestina.org
Website: http://www.vivapalestina.org/
Sign up to the Viva Palestina Mailing List http://www.vivapalestina.org/alert.htm
Viva Palestina, helping to make the positive steps in breaking the siege of Gaza!

Keep posted on developments.

12 PM: Israeli war ships surrounded the Flotilla about 45 minutes ago. They have been told that they either be towed into Israel, or be boarded. This is a serious
threat.The Flotilla is 90 from Gaza in international waters.

Original TEXT:

On Sunday, at 9AM EST (4PM Cypress), the flotilla finally left for Gaza.


Slide show from the Challenger 1 (on of the small passenger boats), Mediterranean Sea, 30th May 2010, in the morning prior to departure.

There is livestreaming from the IHH Turkish passenger ship, now en route to Gaza, as shown here:

Photobucket

Click here for the LIVESTREAM: http://www.ihh.org.tr/canliyayin/en

(UPDATE: It is night now on the sea.

Here is another livestream from the Greek-Swedish ship, which is running older video, presumably until day break.

http://digitalship.shiptogaza.gr/2010/05/1600.html

Link to the livestream from the IHH Turkish ship may be temporarily broken. There was some earlier expressed fears that Israel may attempt to block these connections, in order to interfere with footage of events when the convoy reaches Gaza. I will replace the link if it does not revive.)
Messages from the flotilla received this morning:

This one came from VIVA PALESTINA’S CREW MEMBER KEVIN OVENDEN (Viva Palestina is the British org):

At 08.50 am today we are awaiting the arrival of the European parliamentarians, who begin to shuttle from Northern Cyprus to our staging ground in international waters to the south of the island where they will board the lead ship. The decision by the Greek Cypriot government not only not to allow the flotilla to harbour there, but also to object to, and twice prevent, the departure of a parliamentary delegation directly by sea to join the convoy is creating something of a scandal in Greece and beyond.

Cyprus recently elected its first ever Communist President, earning him the moniker the Fidel Castro of the Mediterranean. If this recent shabby episode is anything to go by, Akel, the Cypriot Communist Party, would be better served by its previous policy of supporting a left of centre figure for the highest office. The last such president allowed friends of Palestine to
muster there.

Five vessels are ready to go – three cargos and two passenger, three Turkish and two that sailed from Athens – one Greek and one Greek-Swedish. They are larger boats and the clear lesson is that for such an operation a few larger and well fitted vessels are more effective than a larger number of smaller boats.

A coalition of organisations and initiatives has come together in this flotilla, but the Turkish IHH has set the standard by raising around 20 million USD and setting about the mission with elan, peerless organisation and a collegiate approach that belies the extent to which they are responsible for the impressive force that is gathered now in the Eastern Mediterranean.

To my mind, the lessons are worth learning now, for whatever the outcome of the next 48 hours, there will be another sea mission to Gaza – and it will need to be even bigger and broader.

A small boat has pulled alongside with the parliamentary delegation. They will now join us on the Mavri Marmara and then it’s all a question of timing:when to start the 18 to 20 hour journey down to Gaza so as to avoid giving the Israeli forces the best conditions to attack us.

Fatima Mohammadi added these remarks in another message:

If allowed in, this will be my third humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza. Each convoy has had its difficulties and its joys. The difficulty of this current convoy is that nearly 800 volunteers aboard 6 ships are attempting to enter the besieged strip through International waters -a completely legal activity – despite constant threats by the Israeli government to block, arrest and deport the entire convoy. These threats have two effects in my opinion: 1) they highlight the severity and depth of the siege that Israel has imposed on Gaza for nearly four years, showing Israel to be the vicious occupier and instigator of hostility in the region that we know them to be and 2) they strengthen the resolve of volunteers around the world, on this convoy and beyond, who are aware of the plight of the Palestinians and who actively seek a resolution to the unjust occupation and continued colonization of Palestine. Of course, the joy of this convoy is the real potential it has to finally end the siege on Gaza if it gains enough international support and attention in the upcoming hours.

Currently, we are anchored in the Mediterranean Sea about a 6 hour sail from Cyprus, where we have been awaiting two final ships. A Greek ship carrying members of Parliament from half a dozen European countries has just arrived, and the Irish boat, the MV Rachel Corrie follows shortly. We will soon set sail towards Gaza, straight towards the threats of Israel to stop us at all costs, including by use of force. Rest assured, however, regardless of their tactics to stop us – force or delay – we will not turn back nor will we allow Israel to board our ships (The ships are now on their way).

It is imperative to reiterate that this is an unarmed humanitarian aid convoy carrying the better part of one thousand volunteers from 1½ years of age to 88 years of age, from more than 30 countries. We have the official support of the governments of France, Mexico, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Italy and the European Union. Unfortunately, my own country is not on that list…the United States. As they are a stall-worth supporter of Israel, that is hardly surprising.

What is surprising, however, is that although I was the only American on board as an IHH participant, I have been joined by a few US citizens from the Free Gaza movement and discovered that we are 11 in all including ex-military and government personnel, dual citizens, activists and medical volunteers. Most have been to Gaza at least once and are “used to” dealing with the threats of oppressive regimes and direct conflict with their police and military forces. And most of us still hope and expect the United States to take an openly supportive role of this convoy and to pressure Israel to allow our convoy into Gaza to deliver aid.

In sum, we, the Americans on board the ships, and the collective “we,” volunteers and people of conscious from around the world, are relying upon the support of our fellow citizens and our respective governments to pressure Israel to 1) allow this humanitarian aid convoy into Gaza and 2) once and for all end this crippling and unjust siege of Gaza.

God’s speed, as they say.

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