Situation Summary:Early
on the morning of May 31, Israel Defense Forces naval forces
intercepted six ships attempting to break the naval blockade of the Gaza
Strip.
The intercept took place after numerous warnings from
Israel and the Israel Navy that were issued prior to the action. The
Israel Navy requested the ships to redirect toward Ashdod, where they
would be able to unload their cargo which would then be transferred to
Gaza over land after undergoing security inspections. The IDF stressed
that the passengers could then return to their point of departure on the
same vessels.
During the interception of the ships, the
demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF naval personnel with live gunfire
as well as light weaponry including knives, crowbars and clubs. The
demonstrators had clearly prepared weapons in advance for this specific
purpose.
Resources:1. For a detailed analysis on the incident and its
broader implications, please
click here to read a piece published by the Washington Institute for
Near East Policy.
2.
The UN Security Council released a statement that
condemned Israel's actions and called for an impartial investigation into the
confrontation. Similarly, the statement called Israel's blockade of Gaza
unacceptable and counterproductive. To read a summary of the proceedings
at the emergency session at the UN Security Council,
click here.
3. To read the remarks by Ambassador Alejandro Wolff,
Deputy Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations, at the Emergency
Session of the Security Council,
click here.
4. Israel's Foreign Minister Lieberman spoke with UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about the flotilla incident following the UN
Security Council Resolution. To read more,
click here.5. Fact sheet on
the legality of the maritime blockade
click here.
Responses from Israel:For the most up to date resources from Israel's
Foreign Ministry,
click here.
For the full statement by Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu on the flotilla incident,
click here.For the statement made by Israeli President Simon
Peres,
click here.To read excerpts from a
press conference with Defense Minister Barak, Chief of Staff Ashkenazi and
Naval Commander Marom,
click here. 
