What were they thinking? The Israelis must have known there were numerous journalists accompanying the Gaza aid flotilla. An Al Jazeera reporter managed to broadcast the landing of commandos until he was blocked by on-the-spot military censorship.
Reporters without Borders issued a statement condemning the Israelis for putting so many journalists in harm's way by the use of "disproportionate force." The Guardian has more detail.
What I find puzzling is why the Israelis would take such an action in the presence of journalists. Maybe it was the journalistic coverage that was the problem. The Israelis feared the Palestinian supporters would score a publicity coup if permitted to land, as other aid ships had been quietly permitted to land.
So, rather than lose face, they decided on this pre-emptive strike that, unfortunately, was a best-laid plan that ganged agley. Among the dead is a 19-year-old American youth with five gunshot wounds, including four bullets to the head, it has been reported.
Aside from the al Jazeera reporters, other journalists detained included Australians and Bulgarians, according to the Guardian report.
Considering the showdown that was coming, I'm unsure why (it appears) no Israeli journalists were on the flotilla. Who waved them off?
Neither were any American or British correspondents listed as aboard.
Freedom House lists what it regards as the most despicable human rights regimes in the world here:
WorstOfTheWorst2010.pdf .
Clearly, none are friends of freedom of speech and press.
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