Turkish journalist: Flotilla controlled by jihadists, planned attacks

[yllus]

Pictures of the, ah, protestors practicing and preparing for confrontation with Israeli forces below. Both the photos and the account of what happened come from a Turkish photojournalist who was aboard the ship at the time.

New Book By Eyewitness Turkish Journalist: Mavi Marmara Militants Planned Attack on Israeli Soldiers to Force Confrontation

We now have the definitive source on the Mavi Marmara affair and it proves Israel was right. The ship was controlled by radical Jihadists who planned to attack Israeli forces and provoke confrontation. The source is a book, including photos, by a Turkish journalist named Şefik Dinç who was on the ship.

Dinç is sympathetic to the militants but also points to the responsibility of the Turkish government and the IHH, the sponsoring Islamist group, for the crisis. His text and pictures show the Jihadists taking out iron bars and clubs, preparing for battle, beating Israeli soldiers, and trying to throw one of them into the sea. Dinç also reports that Israeli soldiers opened fire only trying to rescue soldiers taken hostage. His account corresponds in almost every detail with that given by Israel.

He writes: “When everyone who had been assigned a task reported to their stations, clubs were taken out of a hiding place….In addition to the wooden clubs I’d seen earlier, there were now iron bars as well.” Those passengers not choosing to participate in the attack went down to lower decks. The first three soldiers who landed were beaten and dragged to the upper deck. When they tried to throw a soldier overboard, some non-Jihadi passengers intervened and stopped them; others sought to stop the beatings.

You can see extensive quotes and photographs from his book here.

The report from a very reliable Israeli research center that translated extracts from the book also contains more detailed information than I’ve seen before from the Israeli side about what happened:

“IHH operatives and their supporters fired live ammunition as soon as the first soldiers descended from the helicopter. One IDF soldier suffered a knee injury from a non-IDF weapon as soon as he came on board the ship….IHH operatives used three weapons taken from the Israelis against other IDF soldiers. It appears that two of them were thrown into the sea, as were one or two non-IDF [guns], at least one of which was used to fire on the commandos descending from the helicopter.”

 

[Orignal Earl]

From what I can see, Şefik Dinç never uses the word Jihadists or even radical.
So you have to be careful not to mix the journalist's words with this bloggers words.

 

[Lemon law]

Well no question about it Yellus, if the the people on Turkish ship opposing the illegal blockade had behaved like beaten Palestinians wimps, no loss of life would have occurred, but then again free people are not used to be treated like Palestinians.

Now that the Israeli blockade of Gaza is now declared illegal then and now, future Israeli boarding of Gaza aid flotillas will now be illegal from the get go. Nor will just one journalist be the only credible witness.

But its rather absurd to argue that only Israel has a right to use violence. And if only Israel and not the protesters used violence, it would have made Israel morally superior?

Even Israel admitted their forces were poorly trained.

 

[SamurAchzar]

From what I can see, Şefik Dinç never uses the word Jihadists or even radical.
So you have to be careful not to mix the journalist's words with this bloggers words.

I guess the videos showing the participants of the flotilla claiming they are on a suicide mission didn't get the point across to you.

 

[Orignal Earl]

I guess the videos showing the participants of the flotilla claiming they are on a suicide mission didn't get the point across to you.

I did not see any videos in this guys book.

 

[SamurAchzar]

I did not see any videos in this guys book.

Have fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJxBqiogo0&feature=related

You can send him an encouragement e-card.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Now that the Israeli blockade of Gaza is now declared illegal then and now, future Israeli boarding of Gaza aid flotillas will now be illegal from the get go. Nor will just one journalist be the only credible witness.

What's the mandate of UNHRC to say what's legal and what not? Does it qualify as a court?

But its rather absurd to argue that only Israel has a right to use violence. And if only Israel and not the protesters used violence, it would have made Israel morally superior?

The issue of the Israelis is not that the "protesters" used violence, it's the hypocrite outcry about the results. There was a fuckup of the Israeli intelligence, or else the soldiers wouldn't be sent on the ship with paint ball guns, but rather in full tactical gear and "shoot to kill" orders.

In retrospect, this incident created pretty effective deterrence about such stunts. It's been pretty quiet since then, with no one trying to directly enter Gaza.

 

[Lemon law]

Sammy that proves nothing, people who use violence mat die by violence. Israeli soldiers took the same position. Why is Israeli violence morally superior to the violence of protesters defending their own ship in international waters.

Israeli soldiers committed the violence by boarding the ship, it was not protesters boarding Israeli ships?

And no Israelis were killed, but 9 or so Turks were. So Israelis used a higher level of violence.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Have fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihJxBqiogo0&feature=related

You can send him an encouragement e-card.

Ah cool, a 20 second youtube video. That should be enough for any man to make solid decision on something.
Besides we are talking about this book, no?

 

[SamurAchzar]

Sammy that proves nothing, people who use violence mat die by violence. Israeli soldiers took the same position. Why is Israeli violence morally superior to the violence of protesters defending their own ship in international waters.

Israeli soldiers committed the violence by boarding the ship, it was not protesters boarding Israeli ships?

Who said Israel's violence was superior? I don't even know if the boarding was legal or not, although I assume Israel consulted through and through before proceeding with that. I'm just saying that's to be expected. If the protesters wanted to live, they wouldn't resist - just like what happened on all the other ships. As the video I posted earlier hints, they had other ideas in mind.

And no Israelis were killed, but 9 or so Turks were. So Israelis used a higher level of violence.

Raise the issue with the UN; how could their commandos be so inconsiderate to kill instead of being killed themselves.

From the accounts I read (some of them were interviews with the Commandos in hebrew) once soldiers where taken by the protesters inside the ship to use for bargaining, they received shoot to kill orders and consequently broke into where the soldiers were held and killed most anyone there. Would the Navy Seals act any differently? I sure hope not.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Ah cool, a 20 second youtube video. That should be enough for any man to make solid decision on something.

Well I'd rather it was a manifest of 2 hours explaining his motives to become a martyr, but this is all you get. You can view it in a loop if that helps.

Besides we are talking about this book, no?

No, we're talking about the flotilla.

 

[Lemon law]

Sammy says, "No we are talking about the flotilla."

Well earth to Sammy, we are likely going to be talking about a whole bunch more flotillas now that Bozo Netanyuhu refused to extend the settlement freeze. And some may come escorted by war ships. Be they Turkish, Russian, EU, or whatever, the Israeli international credibility has taken a huge hit in the past decade.

And that is just a tiny amount of the world pressure options that can be used to finally move Israel toward a Palestinian State.

But point granted Sammy, you think the world will never dope slap Israel and I say its a matter of time. But if we get more flotillas for Gaza, Israel better be damn sure of their now likely non-existent right to board ships in international waters. And since Egypt also asked Israel to extend the settlement freeze and Israel did not, Egypt could simply allow flotilla ships to dock at Egyptian port and the Israeli blockade of Gaza will be total toast.

The time for Rhetoric is over, now events, not necessarily war events, will become the new currency in a new chapter.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Sammy says, "No we are talking about the flotilla."

Well earth to Sammy, we are likely going to be talking about a whole bunch more flotillas now that Bozo Netanyuhu refused to extend the settlement freeze. And some may come escorted by war ships. Be they Turkish, Russian, EU, or whatever, the Israeli international credibility has taken a huge hit in the past decade.

Even looking past the inexistent connection between settlements in Judas and Samaria and the blockade on Gaza - which is another entity controlled by other people - I find it somewhat amusing and mildly disturbing that you think the EU would send war ships to escort future flotillas.

You really do think someone truly cares about the Palestinians other than a feel-good pet cause, eh?

 

[Freshgeardude]

Ah cool, a 20 second youtube video. That should be enough for any man to make solid decision on something.
Besides we are talking about this book, no?

and absolutely no one is drawing an opinion based on a 20 second clip. the clip just adds the the more evidence that supports israel's account of the incident

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

From what I can see, Şefik Dinç never uses the word Jihadists or even radical.
So you have to be careful not to mix the journalist's words with this bloggers words.

True. Seems what he actually said was that 7 out of 9 of those killed considered themselves "martyrs." A jihadist or radical would never say such a thing, eh?

 

[EagleKeeper]

Sammy says, "No we are talking about the flotilla."

Well earth to Sammy, we are likely going to be talking about a whole bunch more flotillas now that Bozo Netanyuhu refused to extend the settlement freeze. And some may come escorted by war ships. Be they Turkish, Russian, EU, or whatever, the Israeli international credibility has taken a huge hit in the past decade.

And that is just a tiny amount of the world pressure options that can be used to finally move Israel toward a Palestinian State.

But point granted Sammy, you think the world will never dope slap Israel and I say its a matter of time. But if we get more flotillas for Gaza, Israel better be damn sure of their now likely non-existent right to board ships in international waters. And since Egypt also asked Israel to extend the settlement freeze and Israel did not, Egypt could simply allow flotilla ships to dock at Egyptian port and the Israeli blockade of Gaza will be total toast.

The time for Rhetoric is over, now events, not necessarily war events, will become the new currency in a new chapter.

Maybe Egypt should then shoulder the responsibilty of Gaza. Food and power.

Gaza has demonstrated that theor leadership does not want a peace process anyhow; treat the two areas seperately. Let the West Bank worry about the settlements; let Gaza depend onthe Arab nations agin for survival.

 

[SamurAchzar]

Gaza has demonstrated that theor leadership does not want a peace process anyhow; treat the two areas seperately. Let the West Bank worry about the settlements; let Gaza depend onthe Arab nations agin for survival.

Very true, I find it hard to believe these two will ever reunite unless Hamas takes hold of the West Bank, which neither Israel, the West or Arab countries will allow.

If anything, I'd bet on some temporary agreement for the West Bank only. Gaza is doomed for failure, isolated, murderous and starved.

 

[Orignal Earl]

True. Seems what he actually said was that 7 out of 9 of those killed considered themselves "martyrs." A jihadist or radical would never say such a thing, eh?

In his book, Şefik Dinç mentions that the volunteers on board the Mavi Marmara held lively discussions about the possibility of Israel attacking the ship. The operatives were ready for any scenario and even expressed their readiness to die, as long as the “siege” was broken (pp. 23-24). That description matches the information we have collected, according to which seven out of the nine people killed had declared themselves one way or another willing to die as shaheeds prior to the violent confrontation (see our July 12, 2010 Information Bulletin: “According to well-documented information, seven of the nine Turks killed in the violent confrontation aboard the Mavi Marmara had previously declared their desire to become shaheeds (martyrs). Eight of them belonged to Islamist Turkish organizations and not one of them was a peace activist or human rights worker&#8221.

The journalist said they expressed a readiness to die. You are confusing the article writers and the journalist
A readiness to die can be said of a lot more then just jihadists or radicals.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

The journalist said they expressed a readiness to die. You are confusing the article writers and the journalist
A readiness to die can be said of a lot more then just jihadists or radicals.

You're splitting hairs here to try to absolve the IHH members involved.

Let's face the facts. This flotilla planned and purposefully wanted this confrontation. Certain members on the ship were looking for a conflict. They instigated this with a specific purpose and with malice aforethought.

Then they got what they asked for and people are supposed to blame Israel? I don't think so. Stop trying to make apologies for a bad decision on their part.

 

[Orignal Earl]

You're splitting hairs here to try to absolve the IHH members involved.

Let's face the facts. This flotilla planned and purposefully wanted this confrontation. Certain members on the ship were looking for a conflict. They instigated this with a specific purpose and with malice aforethought.

Then they got what they asked for and people are supposed to blame Israel? I don't think so. Stop trying to make apologies for a bad decision on their part.

Im not making any apologies or trying to absolve anyone.
All I've done is point out your error and the error in the OP.
Both trying to put words into the journalists mouth.

 

[Lemon law]

Very true, I find it hard to believe these two will ever reunite unless Hamas takes hold of the West Bank, which neither Israel, the West or Arab countries will allow.

If anything, I'd bet on some temporary agreement for the West Bank only. Gaza is doomed for failure, isolated, murderous and starved.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gaza may be isolated and starved, but at least they don''t have to put up with Israeli settlement. And who knows, if Egypt opens their borders to Gaza import and exports, Gaza may gain recognition as a Palestinian State well ahead of the West Bank as Gaza gains economic self sufficiency. Saudi Arabia has already pledged at least four billion in aid
to Gaza and that could help spur Gaza development.

As for the West bank and East Jerusalem, A viable State of Gaza might be the end of Fatah.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Im not making any apologies or trying to absolve anyone.
All I've done is point out your error and the error in the OP.
Both trying to put words into the journalists mouth.

Both are making reasonable statements based on the evidence provided. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

 

[Scotteq]

Both are making reasonable statements based on the evidence provided. If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

..then it's all propaganda provided by murderous Zionists and the Enemies of Islam?? :sneaky:

No.. wait... :\

 

[CitizenKain]

The journalist said they expressed a readiness to die. You are confusing the article writers and the journalist
A readiness to die can be said of a lot more then just jihadists or radicals.

Exactly. Knowing you are on a boat that Israel is just itching to drop in and shoot people on, you have to be prepared.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

Israel should just have let them pass into the territory with the warning that if you enter we will defend our territory and if they did, they should have blown them out of the water.

No international waters bullsheit, proper warning, problem solved.

Israel tried to be nice and save lives but the fuckups would have none of it, they deserved what they got and the rest should stand trial in Israel.