A member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) who was onboard the Gaza-destined aid convoy when it came under Israeli fire dismisses allegations that the Freedom Flotilla was carrying weapons.
Haneen Zuabi, a senior member of the Balad party, was among hundreds of activist aboard the Freedom Flotilla, which was comprised of nine ships carrying thousand of tons of humanitarian aid for the impoverished people of the Gaza Strip.
In comments following her release in the Ashdod port on Wednesday, Zuabi disputed Israel’s claims that the ship was carrying weapons for the Palestinian Resistance Movement of Hamas.
“Our goal was to break the siege. We had no plans for a confrontation. Israel carried out a provocative military operation. Israel is used to doing as it pleases with the Palestinians. The main problem is not the ship, but the siege.” She added.
On Monday, commandos acting upon direct orders from Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak stormed the aid convoy, leaving at least 20 people dead and more than 50 others injured.
The member of Knesset also said that Israeli forces were seeking to leave behind a high number of casualties.
“It was clear from the size of the force that boarded the ship that the purpose was not only to stop this sail, but to cause the largest possible number of fatalities in order to stop such initiatives in the future,” Zuabi said.
The assault sent shockwaves around the world, prompting two countries to withdraw their ambassadors from Tel Aviv and many others summon Israeli envoys.
The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting in which the 15-nation body called for an “impartial, credible and transparent” probe into the incident and condemned “those acts which resulted in the loss of … civilians and many wounded.”
HA/SBB/MMN
Press TV