Posted on 05/31/2010 2:14:48 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Russia's Foreign Ministry criticized on Monday an Israeli raid on ships taking humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip in which at least 10 people were killed.
A statement on the ministry website said Russia expressed "condemnation and deep concern" over the incident and called for a full investigation.
The ministry also called the use of "weapons against citizens and the seizing of ships in open waters with no legal grounds a gross violation of commonly accepted international legal norms."
It also said the events proved the "necessity to halt the Gaza blockade."
The international community, presidential administrations and other leaders also strongly condemned the attack calling for an end to the Gaza blockade.
Arab media said 16 people were killed and more than 30 injured when the Israeli military stormed the six-ship Freedom Flotilla carrying some 10,000 tons of aid to Gaza and 600 human rights activists earlier on Monday.
The Israeli Army's press service confirmed the deaths of more than 10 people, adding that four Israeli commandos had been injured in the attack.
Media said that Turkish, U.S., British, Australian, Greek, Canadian, Malaysian, Algerian, Serbian, Belgian, Irish, Norwegian, Swedish and German citizens were on board of the vessels.
Israel, which has enforced an almost constant blockade against Gaza since the radical Islamic group Hamas took control of the enclave in summer 2007, earlier called the mission a "provocation" and threatened to intercept the ships and deport those onboard.
Attack on Gaza aid flotilla "barbaric" - Russia's Council of Muftis - Moscow, May 31, Interfax - Russia's Council of Muftis has expressed indignation over Israel's naval attack against a convoy of ships carrying aid to the Gaza Strip."The humanitarian convoy was barbarically attacked in a robust measure, which has nothing to do with the convoy's peaceful mission," deputy head of the Spiritual Muslim Board for Russia's European part, Damir Gizatullin, told Interfax-Religion.
"All of us must protest against the Israeli government's barbaric actions. The time has come to end the bloodshed," he said.
"This problem must find a legal and political solution," Gizatullin said.
"The UN Security Council must be called to make the Israeli leadership answer fully for destroying a humanitarian convey in neutral waters," he said.
Compare Israel’s measured approach to that of the
Russians when dealing with Islamic terrorists.
Zero moral authority on the part of the Russians.
Too bad. Oppose Islamic terror or be prepared
to be overrun.
Exactly why is it a Russian official should be believed on any subject, ever?
Defacto anti-Jewish sentiment from the rooskies.
Really. Israel needs to answer for the flotilla's illegal provocation? I think Israel showed great restraint (as always) by not blowing their sorry carcasses out of the water.
I know a lot of Russions, some of which are members of my family. I can tell you one (little know) fact about Russians: All Russians are drama queens. Once you understand this, everything else about them makes sense.
FU Russia
My last gf was a Russian and I had to hang around her Russian friends as well. Couldn’t agree more.
My favorite Russian told me the Russian character is the result of the Tartar invasion. The ferocious Tartars slaughtered every resistant Russian and let only the most craven ones live. Then the intermarrying started. Upshot, a split personality in which the vicious bully coexists with the complete doormat. They try to be the former, but if intimidated or overpowered they rapidly morph into the latter.
If Russia wants to support terrorism Russia can have terrorism. Those are the kind of chickens that do come home to roost.
The Russians are evil liars.
Yep.
They try to be the former, but if intimidated or overpowered they rapidly morph into the latter.
Vague. More than 10? How many is that?
Is it not strange that they still have not stated how many died, and who these people were?
Well, now, this came out of left field! /sarc
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