Кратко: несколько недель пытались отговорить участников от этой затеи, безрезультатно. Нынешней ночью, в 70-80 милях с каждым из шести кораблей связались с предложением идти в израильский порт, где после досмотра груза его бы переправили в Газу по земле. Отказались. Тогда уже послали коммандос. Тех на борту встретила агрессивная толпа с ножами, трубами и дубинками. Пырнули в живот одного израильтянина, отобрали оружие у другого и использовали против солдат. Тогда уж пришлось открывать огонь на поражение для самозащиты.
The operation is still ongoing, some 70-80 miles from out coast. Forces were met by formidable resistance, perhaps unprecedented. I can tell you what I already know with absolute certainty. During the night, we tried to open a channel of communications with the flotilla. Each of the six ships was contacted, offered to dock in the Port of Ashdod to transfer aid via land crossings to Gaza. All requests were met with refusal.
The commander of the navy, Admiral Eliezer Marom is personally overseeing the operation, present at the command post at sea.
Diplomatic efforts were made ahead of last night, then we did everything possible to reach out to the vessels, and only after all measures failed were naval commandos sent in. there was approximately 570 people. Commandos describe “a lynch” along with unexpected violence and hostility. One solder was stabbed in his abdomen. They did not act as “peace activists”. One soldier’s weapon was grabbed away and used against the force.
I cannot say if there were other weapons on the vessel.
We did not encounter peace activists, but violent people with knives, pipes, batons and weapons. Our force was indeed in life-threatening danger. They had to open fire. Reports indicate 10 or so dead. Our force sustained injuries as well, one soldier in moderate condition.
The injured were transported by chopper to hospitals. In the coming hours, the vessels will be taken to an Israeli port and they will be combed to see who is on board and exactly what cargo is carried.
It is important for me to stress the mission is the result of numerous failed attempts at diplomacy, and this was a planned and premeditated media and physical attack against our forces, orchestrated by Hamas and Iran, seeking to continue importing weapons into Gaza.
As a person and the IDF spokesman, I express sorrow of the entire incident, but when soldiers face large knives, batons and weapons, they are compelled to defend themselves.
We cannot know exactly who is on the vessel. During recent weeks, we used all channels at our disposal to advance diplomacy and dialogue, and all efforts were refused…
