IDF gets green light from US

That old refrain – “They were asking for it” – has been commonly used by imperialism and by dictatorships the world over to justify the brutal repression of any one who dares challenge their brutal oppression and occupations. And it appears that is still in the vocabulary of US imperialism according to a statement made yesterday by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Criticising the attempts by the Freedom Flotilla II to deliver much needed humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, Ms Clinton said that, “It’s not helpful for there to be flotillas that try to provoke actions by entering into Israeli waters and creating a situation in which the Israelis have the right to defend themselves.”


But it is not true that we will be entering Israeli waters. We will be sailing through Gazan waters. Not that it matters to the Israeli Navy which intercepted last year’s flotilla killing 9 innocent and unarmed activists while the Flotilla was still in International waters – a blatant act of international piracy. Ms Clinton is criminally silent on this and is turning a blind eye towards the use of violence by Israeli forces. Our intention is humanitarian – to break the illegal blockade and deliver vital humanitarian supplies to the people of Gaza. It is the comments and actions of the Israeli military which are provocative.

And one must ask what type of situation are the fishermen of Gaza creating to warrant the regular assaults on their ships by the Israeli Navy? Might it be that they dare to travel outside of the narrow, overfished 5km stretch that they are confined to by the IDF so that they might feed themselves?

Clinton’s comments are disgraceful. She has essentially given the green light to Israeli Defence Forces to use violence against participants in the flotilla. She has ignored the reasoning behind the need for such a mission, the criminal and illegal blockade of Gaza, which is resulting in enormous suffering for the Palestinian masses.

It is now clear that this blockade, while policed and imposed by Israel, enjoys the support of the so-called international community. These hypocrites pretended to support the people of North Africa and the Middle East who rose up against dictatorial and repressive regimes, but now criticise those who seek to assist the Palestinian people. Instead of propping up Israeli military aggression, the International Community should move beyond words and exert pressure on Israel to end its blockade. Until the blockade ends, flotillas will continue. If Ms Clinton wants to see an end to flotillas, she should seek to end the blockade.