Israeli commandos have stormed six ships carrying hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists on an aid run to the blockaded Gaza Strip, leaving at least ten people dead.
This content was published on
1 minute
Reports early on Monday conflicted over what had happened but some said as many as 16 people could have died and up to 30 people may have been wounded in the raid. Israel says it regrets the deaths, which it placed at ten.
Israeli security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said activists attacked the Israeli forces with knives, iron rods and “live fire” as they boarded the boats. The activists say they were unarmed.
The flotilla, which includes three cargo ships and three passenger ships, is trying to draw attention to Israel’s blockade of Gaza, home to 1.5 million Palestinians. The boats are carrying items that Israel bars from reaching Gaza, like cement and other building materials. The activists said they also were carrying hundreds of electric-powered wheelchairs, prefabricated homes and water purifiers.
This is the ninth time that the Free Gaza movement, an international group of pro-Palestinian activists, has tried to ship in humanitarian aid to Gaza since August 2008. Israel has let ships through five times, but has blocked them from entering Gaza waters since a three-week military offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers in January 2009.
Turkey condemned the attacks, saying Israel would have to suffer the consequences. There were no Swiss on the ships.
swissinfo.ch and agencies
Popular Stories
More
AI and medicine
Can AI bridge the access to healthcare gap in sub-Saharan Africa?
Has your continent reached its peak or is there still potential for economic growth?
Some regions of the world are on an upward trajectory with the promise of a steadily improving future. Where do you live? And in which direction is your region or continent developing?
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Switzerland condemns Gaza blockade
This content was published on
The foreign ministry insisted the two sides of the conflict stick to the present five-month ceasefire agreement and comply with humanitarian law. Switzerland is especially concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the tightened measures, enforced by Israel for the past two weeks, the ministry said, adding that relief workers had to have access to ensure…
This content was published on
The politicians sailed to Gaza from Cyprus on a yacht organised by US-based Free Gaza activist group to deliver medical supplies. Speaking from Cyprus on his return, Communist Party parliamentarian Joseph Zisyadis described the living conditions of the population as appalling. Gaza’s population of 1.4 million has been virtually cut off from the world since…
This content was published on
Set up by a Swiss priest in 1952 to care for sick babies in Bethlehem, the hospital has widened its provision to include social work in the Bethlehem-Hebron area. A chunk of the hospital’s funding comes from Swiss churches’ Christmas donations. With unemployment high and 50 per cent of households living on the equivalent of…
This content was published on
This year the donations are more needed than ever as the children’s hospital – the only one in the West Bank – embarks on the second phase of an ambitious expansion and renovation project. The Christmas givings are vital, covering around one-third of the hospital’s budget, as its head of communications Erwin Schlacher explained to…
This content was published on
Toni Frisch, the deputy director-general of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), who ended a visit to Gaza on Sunday, tells swissinfo that Swiss aid did get through but many have to wait. Speaking by phone from the Jordan Valley, Frisch said that people on the ground have difficulty making sense of the…
This content was published on
A photo report by doctors Maja Hess and Ursula Hauser, of the Swiss NGO Medico International Schweiz, who have worked on a mental health programme in Gaza. Their latest visit was in 2008.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.