The Flotilla Atrocity, a Blessing in Disguise

The May31 Israeli high-sea raid on the Gaza-bound Turkish aid ships Mavi Marmara was not a surprise. Throughout its history, the Zionist entity has been known for civilian massacres, collective punishment, illegal occupation, and breaking of international laws. In 1981, Israeli warplanes attacked Osirak, Iraq’s nuclear facility, a Syrian site in September 2007, and eastern Sudan in February 2009 that killed 50 civilians. To mention a few horrendous massacres perpetrated by the Israelis during the past few decades, Qana massacre, Sabra and Chatilla in the 1980s, Hebron in 1994, Jenin in 2002, and Gaza in 2009 that left 1470 dead.

However, the botched raid on the Turkish flotilla has caused an international uproar, because it resulted in the killing of nine innocent lives in international waters. The outcry included accusations of war crimes, banditry, and piracy. Moreover, the flotilla was carrying necessary humanitarian aid to imprisoned Palestinians in Gaza, not arms. In other words, Israel could not justify its massacre by claiming that it was acting in self-defence, as it used whenever it broke international laws or launch aggressions. Israeli officials’ ridiculous claim that it was carrying terrorists was a lie that did not convince even their citizens. Aboard the Marmara were pro-Palestinian activists, including citizens of USA, Canada, and other European nations.

Fortunately, the Israeli misadventure has been a blessing in disguise, because the flotilla has achieved more than its intended objective. Firstly, the international community, including Europe, has been swift and harsh in condemning the Israel’s atrocity. The rouge state has faced increasingly sharp international denunciation, and further diplomatic isolation as a pariah nation. For instance, Nicaragua severed ties with Israel; South Africa withdrew its ambassador from Tel Aviv; and Vietnam postponed the Israeli President’s scheduled visit. Further, the Israeli ambassadors were summoned in Sweden, Denmark, France, Ireland, and Greece. In addition, both Turkey and Greece have cancelled joint military exercises with the Israeli army. However, like his predessors when it comes to Israel, the American President has issued a vague statement.

Secondly, the Marmara massacre has prompted heated debate on the Gaza blockade. Governments around the globe as well as world public opinion have raised concern about the three-year-old blockade. Israel and Egypt imposed the blockade after Hamas took over the Strip in 2007. Their intention was that hardships would weaken and isolate Hamas among Gazans. However, it has caused enormous suffering for the territory’s 1.5 million residents. The economy has collapsed; unemployment has risen to 56 percent; and poverty has tripled. In other words, it is collective punishment for the entire population of the enclave. Amnesty International says it harms the most vulnerable, such as children, who make up more than half of Gaza’s population, the elderly, the sick, and impoverished. As a result, the Strip has become a cesspit of despair that bred more militancy.

The Israeli assault on the Marmara has built an international pressure to ease the blockade. In the aftermath of the raid, Egypt declared that it would leave the border with Gaza open indefinitely for humanitarian aid and remove travel restrictions. Even though it was a positive step, the Egyptian decision was a political, rather than a humanitarian one based on principles. Egypt’s regional influence has diminished, especially with Turkey’s rising role. Moreover, the Egyptian regime has faced an intense popular discontent and pressure to ease the embargo. The European Union called Israel’s closure of Gaza “unacceptable.” However, the American President has issued a lenient statement that called border restrictions “unsustainable.”

Although UN Security Council called for international investigation on the flotilla atrocity, Vice President Joe Biden stated that the Jewish state was acting in self-defence. It is needless to mention that the United States has always been supportive of its infallible ally terrorizing the Middle East with apparent impunity. Consequently, solipsist Israeli leaders approved their own investigation, allowing the participation of two foreign observers of their choice, one from Canada, whose Prime Minister is more supportive of the Zionist entity than George W. Bush was.

It is worth mentioning that when the Palestinian Liberation Front seized the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro in 1985, and killed one American citizen, a different measure was adopted. Led by US, the international community made it international crime under the “Convention of the Suppression of Unlawful Against Maritime Navigation Safety,” to seize a ship or harm its passengers. However, it seems to be irrelevant to mention such a precedent, because one American life is more precious than that of nine non-American. Moreover, it is heinous crime when Palestinians shed blood, whereas blood shedding by God’s chosen people is not.

If such a despicable act, that is, the Marmara atrocity had been carried out by Iran or Syria, US and its allies would have imposed embargo and sent aircraft carriers. However, when “Middle East’s lone demoracry” violates human rights and breaks international laws and norms, even statements by the American Adminstration are shy and carefully worded in order to avoid antagonizing the Jewish lobby and embarrassing America’s impeccable ally.

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