[gusunsuth]

White House 'deeply regrets' loss of life on Gaza flotilla

UN calls for full inquiry after Israel Navy commandos storm international aid boat; European Union condemns incident.

The White House on Monday said it "deeply regretted" the loss of life and injuries sustained in the clashes after Israel Navy troops stormed a convoy of international activists bringing aid to the Gaza Strip, leaving at least 10 people dead.

"The United States deeply regrets the loss of life and injuries sustained, and is currently working to understand the circumstances surrounding this tragedy," said White House spokesman William Burton.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for a full investigation and expressed shock at Israel's storming of the flotilla.

[Nafheense]

The Israelis do whatever they want simply because the world allows them to. Disgraceful.

[YmolafBp]

Israel is claiming the organisation delivering the aid have ties with terrorists. Suprise, surprise...

Partial list of passengers on board:

*USA

Greta Berlin. Co-founder of the Free Gaza Movement

Hedy Epstein (86) St. Louis, Missouri.

Katherine Elliott Sheetz (63) Woods Hole, Mass.. Registered Nurse. Master's degree.

David Schermerhorn (80) Deer Harbor, Washington State. Commercial film producer.

*UK

Alex Harrison (32) London. Solidarity worker.

Theresa McDermott (43) Edinburgh, Scotland. Logistics worker.

Denis Healey (55). Captain.

*IRELAND

Caoimhe Butterly 31. Human rights activist.

Mairead Maguire 66 Belfast. Nobel Peace Laureate.

Mark Daly 37 Kerry. Senator.

Shane Dillon (36) Dublin. Seafarer.

Fiachra O Luain 28 Carndonagh.

*HOLLAND

Annekarijn de Jong (29) Weesp. PhD researcher.

*BELGIUM

Griet M.A. Deknopper (Margarita) (32) Halle. Solidarity activist and teacher trainer.

Inge Neefs (26) Ghent. Studied educational sciences and holds a master in anthropology.

*GREECE

Giorgos Klontzas (39)

Agios Nikolaos. Professional diver and sailor.

*POLAND/UK

Ewa Jasiewicz (31) London, UK / Otwock, Poland. Journalist, community and union organizer, and solidarity worker.

*PALESTINE

Lubna Masarwa (32).

Huwaida Arraf (33) Ramallah, Palestine / Washington D.C. / Detroit, MI. JD. American University Washington College of Law. Twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Nader El Sakka (58) Hamburg.

*GERMANY

Annette Groth 56 Berlin, Member of Parliament in the German Bundestag.

Inge D.M. Höger 59 Herford. Member of Parliament in the German Bundestag

Matthias Jochheim 61 Frankfurt. Physician and psychotherapist.

Prof. Dr. Norman Paech 72 Hamburg. Member of Parliament in Germany's Bundestag. Professor of Public Law at the University in Hamburg.

[Romobencience]

Israel is a big freaking terrorist country. Why would the boat obey their orders? Were they in Israel sea? I don't think so.

And I highly doubt the activist attacked, this is just a damage control tool from Israel.

Enough is enough.

[PPActionnGuys]

Israel is a big freaking terrorist country. Why would the boat obey their orders? Were they in Israel sea? I don't think so.

And I highly doubt the activist attacked, this is just a damage control tool from Israel.

Enough is enough.

Shame on you Jaime. Don't you realize how poor and downtrodden those Israelis are despite being send billions from the rich boys in the US and how VULNERABLE they must be what with having more nukes than any other country on earth? [/sarcasm]

[Ettiominiw]

Israel is a big freaking terrorist country. Why would the boat obey their orders? Were they in Israel sea? I don't think so.

And I highly doubt the activist attacked, this is just a damage control tool from Israel.

Enough is enough.

Yeah, they were definitely not in Israeli seas. The boat was attacked on international waters. Israel previously warned the aid organisation behind this that they aren't allowed to send their aid to Gaza.

What Israel is doing to Gaza and the palestines is just disgusting. The people in Gaza have hardly no access to medical aid, food and the children can't get any education all because Israel is blocking and controlling everything that goes in and comes out of Gaza.

Who the hell drops commandos from a helicopter directly into a humanitarian aid ship in INTERNATIONAL waters? That is a whole new level of arrogance Israel is showing. I'm glad the world is finally condemning these jackasses.

[KimLinbert]

Poor Turkey,they just wanted to help Palestinian people in Gaza for food allowance but Israel didnt allow somehow,it's so sad.

[wsbizwsa]

Sorry but I'm team Israel. We Jews don't even move an muscle without being certain of what's going on, there's many Hebrew spies and they might have learned something they're not telling.

[snunsebrugs]

Sorry but I'm team Israel. We Jews don't even move an muscle without being certain of what's going on, there's many Hebrew spies and they might have learned something they're not telling.

LMAO. Some of those people aboard were from my country. I can confirm that we are not 'hebrew spies'. Your opinion is deluded and ignorant. And I would be ashamed to be Israeli.

[standaman]

Good question. But apparently only Arabs/Muslims are terrorists.

[bapimporb]

i dont know enough about what happened to place blame on any one side so i'll just say that my thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.

[Pheboasmabs]

Israel responds:

The BBC's Wyre Davies in Ashdod, Israel, says:

An Israeli army spokesman said the activists refused an order not to go to Gaza with their boats laden with humanitarian aid and instead dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod.

The army says its troops were attacked by the activists with axes, knives and firearms.

At least four Israeli marines were injured, said a spokeswoman, including one who was shot when his gun was snatched by an activist.

There's now a state of alert across Israel.

riiight.

[Diondra]

Shame on them.

I'm team Palestine/Flotilla. Look at Israel turn this around on the Palestinians and make up a terrorist story in defense. UH.

[sjdflghd]

Sorry but I'm team Israel. We Jews don't even move an muscle without being certain of what's going on, there's many Hebrew spies and they might have learned something they're not telling.

Now even you are from Israel accept you are not RIGHT.It was all planned and when Turkish boat comes in Gaza seas,Turkish boat has been attacked by your country.Turks were there for no bad intention.And history pages should write this as heinous event.

[paypaltoegold1]

The truth will come out anyway since there are so many survivors. And the world will RIGHTLY believe the humanitarians over some gung-ho marines.

[seosoftseo]

Good question. But apparently only Arabs/Muslims are terrorists.

If this were Iran attacking a US ship.... it would be called terrorism.

This is Israel attacking a civilian humanitarian boat in international waters. Oops, say sorry and keep moving like nothing happened.

Did you see the video of Israel propaganda spreading on youtube? They zoomed in on a little scratch on some douchebag's face. WOW. The activists on board were throwing chairs and fighting back! OMG! I get it Israel: They totally deserved it! *sigh* Even though the Israeli commandos stormed the boat while shooting.... Yeah, those chairs must have really hurt.

[Lxbsvksl]

This is really sad. May all the ones who lost their lives on board to help Gaza rest in peace.

[Controller]

LMAO. Some of those people aboard were from my country. I can confirm that we are not 'hebrew spies'. Your opinion is deluded and ignorant. And I would be ashamed to be Israeli.

how do u confirm that exactly? just wondering?

[ancexttew]

Shame on them.

I'm team Palestine/Flotilla. Look at Israel turn this around on the Palestinians and make up a terrorist story in defense. UH.

Even though this was a peaceful aid mission by a group of international supporters from all around the world! Including a nobel prize winner and former ambassadors. ALl they tried to do was help the people of Gaza who have suffered from the Israeli blockade.

[cheaploans]

yes i heard abou this today.sad.