William Hague calls for an independent inquiry into the Israeli interception of the Gaza Flotilla

Comments

[Steve]

Hague has shown himself not fit for purpose and must go.

[raymond d]

I would strongly counsel the Tory party leaping on any Anti-Israel bandwagon that is , at this very moment, gathering all and sundry to indulge in another Israeli hate-fest ! "Those who bless Israel will be blessed, those who curse her will be cursed" ! Genesis 12v 3-4 Personally, I believe this country is enough trouble without adding to our woes by bringing the curse of God down upon us by Hague indulging in fashionable Pro-Palestinian rhetoric !

[plod]

I have studied the pictures, the film and the comments of both sides and I have to say that the people on the ship placed themselves in that position willingly.

Had I been one of the Israili Special Forces guys I too would have protected myself and my comrades by opening fire, I am British, does that make us bad? No it does not.

If it was American Special Forces involved then I am sure that the casualty rate would have been much, much higher.

The moral of this story is, they (the crew of the Turkish ship)should have obeyed the rules, they have deliberately risked the lives of others to get publicity for their particular side which is I have to say absolutely disgusting.

[Nick Stave]

Resign Mr Hague.

[Peter T]

Surely it is obvious that this flotilla set sail with the specific intention to creating a confrontation and achieved their aim. What is so hypocritical, however, is the opprobrium heaped upon Israel regarding the blockade of Gaza when many tons of essentials and medicines cross its borders on a daily basis whilst Egypt, who maintains and absolute closure for the transport of goods across its border with Gaza is rarely mentioned.

[Sam R]

Three simple questions which the UN Security Council’s “independent” “enquiry” probably won’t ask: -
(i) Why was a ship supposedly carrying aid having 500 passengers on board?
(ii) If there was nothing in the cargo or elsewhere on board to hide, why was there hand-to-hand fighting to try to prevent the IDF from boarding?
(iii) Why did the organisers refuse the offer from Israel to dock at Ashdod, considering that since January 2009 millions of tonnes of aid and other supplies have been delivered to Gaza through Israel, while the Egyptians have had to impose a blockade on Gaza because of all the breaches by arms-smuggling ?
It would be a better use of their time were our Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to start moves at the Security Council to have the massive build-up of rocketry by Hezbollah in Lebanon be the subject of an independent enquiry than having a go at Israel trying to defend herself.

[Victor M]

"Peace activists" - my ar*e.
They went looking for trouble and got it in spades. They were warned and warned over and over. Israel offered to transport the genuine goods by road from Ashdod. No sympathy from me for the neo-terrorists and their supporters. Turkey wants to join the EU huh !!! What a joke I would rather have Israel.
Shut up Hague there is s*d all you can do about the M/E.

[Olubunmi Adedeji]

Take it easy Hague, "They stumble that run fast" W Shakespeare

[Olubunmi Adedeji]

William Hague read your Bible Genesis 12v 3-4

We already have enough curses rained down on us by the Taliban thanks to Tony Blair! Please do not add this Curse to them!

[yaosxx]

Hague - What a major league jerk!

[Aamir]

Thank you Mr Hague,

We the British Public have had enough of israel's repeated crimes. Their lies can esily be proven to be false as the people on board were shot at even before the israelis came on board so obviously they had to try and defend themselves. But knowing the israeli people, they probably edited the videos anyway. Can never trust them!

[dorsetdumpling`]

William Hague true to form jumps feet first into commentary without doing his research and finding out a) warnings about breaching the blockade were given BEFORE the flotilla set sail and as they approached Gaza both warnings were refused b) invitations to enter Ashdod for inspection of cargo and assistance with the aid across the land borders were also refused c)statements by Huwaida Arraf, a flotilla organizer, foreshadowed the violence with her statement that "They [the Israelis] are going to have to forcefully stop us." and Bulent Yidirim, the leader of IHH, one of the primary organizers of the flotilla, announced just prior to boarding: "We are going to resist and resistance will win." d) the militants whipped up the boarding crowd by chanting "Intifada, intifada, intifada!" The flotilla organizers made clear that their primary goal was to target the maritime blockade. e)Greta Berlin, a flotilla spokesperson, told AFT newsagency on 27 May that "this mission is not about delivering humanitarian supplies, it's about breaking Israel's siege." This fact is demonstrated not only by their words, but by their actions. The soldiers who boarded the vessels (after warnings given and refused) did not carry arms openly, but were met with a violent, premeditated ambush. They were set upon with clubs, knives, axes and heavy objects. They were in mortal danger and had to act accordingly in self-defence. Mr Hague engaged mouth before he consulted his brain. Shame on you.

[Jack Iddon]

If I were a nation outnumbered ten or more to one by enemies who surrounded me and were sworn to destroy me I would feel quite entitled to act as these soldiers did. I might possibly even have been a little more belligerent. If you ask for trouble you will find it as these foolish voyagers did. The only thing that stands any chance of resolving this stand off is discussion. Confrontation will at best fail at worst escalate the discord.

[Rerto Jordans]

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