upds Flotilla activists: 9 Swedes – Mankell, 2 Australian detained

Info from yahoo.com

STOCKHOLM (AFP) – Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell, author of the Wallander detective series, is one of nine Swedes held in Israel Monday after landing from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla attacked by Israeli commandos, Sweden’s foreign ministry said.

Mankell “has been detained … In all, nine Swedes have been detained,” ministry spokesman Anders Joerle told AFP, adding that they were not all being held at the same place and some had been imprisoned while others had simply been taken into custody.

“I think Henning Mankell is just being held in custody. I’m not sure. The Israelis have him in some kind of detention,” he said.

Some of the Swedes had been very slightly injured, Joerle said, adding that some Swedes believed to have been travelling with the flotilla when it was attacked early Monday had yet to be reached.

The nine Swedes have reportedly been given the choice between accepting to be deported or to be tried at a israeli court.

Info from www.adelaidennow.com.au

TWO Australians are in an Israeli detention centre after they were caught up in a deadly clash over an aid mission to Gaza.

Fairfax journalist Paul McGeough and photographer Kate Geraghty were travelling with a flotilla which tried to breach an Israeli blockade in an attempt to deliver aid to the besieged Palestinian territory

Contact with the two Australians was lost for some hours, sparking fears for their welfare.

Peter Fray, editor of the Fairfax publication The Sydney Morning Herald, confirmed that they were safe “and being processed in an Israeli detention centre”.

“We remain hopeful that they will be allowed to do their job, and that they will have a terrific story to tell when they are released,” Mr Fray said in a statement.

McGeough’s last audio transmission before the clash revealed Israeli forces were using the cloak of darkness to approach the aid vessels.

“There’s white wakes on black water. Search lights on one of the cargo ships and from the Turkish ferry are picking up the zodiacs now,” he reported.

Updates on Flotilla activists & Greeks (23:20)

Flotilla Activists Disembarking at the Ashdod Port – Video released by Israeli Defence Forces

According to state NET TV correspondent Panos Xaritos (23:00 News)

– All flotilla ships, including Mavi Marmara, have cocked at Ashdod sea port

– No Greeks dead or injured

– 36 Greeks were on the flotilla ships

– 3 Greeks have been detained and are kept on Bersheba prison for failing to cooperate with the Israeli Forces, that means they refused to give their identities. Please, read also below from Haaretz.com

– 3 Greeks are to be deported

– From total 745 passengers, 150 have been checked – until 2 hours ago.

No official information about the number and citizenship of deads. Media talks from 10 to 19, majority of them being Turks

No official information about the number of injured – I had posted earlier about 14 Turks injured whose names have been revealed in www.zaman.com.tr 

I am not sure I heard correct that Panos Xaritos talked about 100 injured.

Information from: www.haaretz.com

“Nine activists aboard the ship were killed and several more wounded in the clashes that erupted with Israel Navy troops at 4 A.M. on Monday. Eight of the Israeli soldiers were wounded, two of them seriously.

The other ships were towed to port over the course of the afternoon, with dozens of the activists detained for refusing to sign Israel’s deportation orders. Only some 25 of the activists agreed to the order.

Israel Prisons Services incarcerated at least 32 of the activists who were aboard the Gaza aid flotilla, at least 16 of them for refusing to identify themselves.

At least two of the activists who were wounded on the ship were detained after refusing treatment at the Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. Some 34 of the foreigners were treated hospitals across Israel for their wounds.

Israel has said it will deport the roughly 700 activists in the flotilla. But those who refuse to cooperate will be jailed”

 

 

Anti-Israeli Protest in Athens

 

Some 2.500 protesters gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in Athens.

The demonstration ended in clashes between protesters and police. Protesters threw water bottles and cups full of coffee, stones and wooden sticks to the policemen, who answered with tear gas.

Freedom Flotilla:Tornment of Information Droplet

 

Israel has imposed a total information embargo, including electronic communications with the ships of the Freedom Flotilla.

So far only the names of 14 injured Turkish citizens have been revealed. The Isr. FM has passed the list to Turk. FM.

here the list http://zaman.com.tr/haber.do?haberno=990278&title=israilin-saldirisinda-yaralananlarin-isimleri-aciklandi

The tornment of information droplet continues to punish the relatives and friends of the Gaza flotilla activists.

latest news from state NET TV correpsondent Panos Xaritos

According to information from Israeli Foreign Ministry

– there are no Greeks among the dead or injured

– Captain of Sfendoni is not reported as injured

– 14 Greeks are to be deported from Israel

– There is a group of injured but their identity or nationality has not been known as they refuse to give information and ask to be trasnported for treatment abroad.

– Sfendoni, Gaza (turkish) & Challenger are in Ashdod port.

– Free Mediterranean is entering the port now.

– Mavi Marmara is off shore

there will be an official press conference by IFM in 40 minutes from now (18:20)

Attack Video released by Israeli Army

This video has been youtubed by Israeli Defence Forces!

It shows the live moments as israeli soldiers come down from the helicopters on Mavi Marmara

the accompanying text: by IDFnadesk

” Early this morning, IDF Naval Forces boarded six ships attempting to break the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip. This happened after numerous warnings from Israel and the Israeli Navy that were issued prior to the action. The Israel Navy requested the ships to redirect toward Ashdod where they would be able to unload their aid supplies which would then be transferred over land after undergoing security inspections.

During the boarding of the ships, the demonstrators onboard attacked the IDF Naval personnel with live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs. Additionally one of the weapons used was grabbed from an IDF soldier. The demonstrators had clearly prepared their weapons in advance for this specific purpose.

As a result of this life-threatening and violent activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means, including live fire.

According to initial reports, these events resulted in over ten deaths among the demonstrators and numerous injured, in addition, more than four naval personnel were injured, some from gunfire and some from various other weapons. Two of the soldiers are moderately wounded and the remainder sustained light injuries. All of the injured, Israelis and foreigners are currently being evacuated by helicopter to hospitals in Israel.

Reports from IDF forces on the scene are that it seems as if part of the participants onboard the ships were planning to lynch the forces.
The interception of the flotilla followed numerous warnings given to the organizers of the flotilla before leaving their ports as well as while sailing towards the Gaza Strip. In these warnings, it was made clear to the organizers that they could dock in the Ashdod sea port and unload the equipment they are carrying in order to deliver it to the Gaza Strip in an orderly manner, following the appropriate security checks. Upon expressing their unwillingness to cooperate and arrive at the port, it was decided to board the ships and lead them to Ashdod.

IDF naval personnel encountered severe violence, including use of weaponry prepared in advance in order to attack and to harm them. The forces operated in adherence with operational commands and took all necessary actions in order to avoid violence, but to no avail.”

I wonder if they have a video with the  point of view of the activists!

Kaan: Youngest Gaza Activist on Board of Mavi Marmara

Kaan Cetin is one year old.

Kaan is on board of  Mavi Marmara together with his mother. His  father Ekrem is officer at Mavi Marmara  stormed by  Israeli army. there are no news about their fate….

DHA-story in Milliyet  & Hurriyet newspapers

http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/14891959.asp?gid=373

http://www.milliyet.com.tr/geminin-en-kucuk-yolcusuna-ne-oldu-/turkiye/sondakika/31.05.2010/1244834/default.htm

upd 4 (15:44) – No Greek among the deads -Click to locate ships to Gaza

No Greek is among the dead, according to state NET TV correspondent, Panos Xaritos, currently in Ashdod/Israel.

There have been rumors since the morning that one Greek sailor has been slightly injured. No official confirmation yet. Israel has imposed a strick  news embargo, it does not even inform Governements about the situation of their citizens boarded on the Ships to Gaza.

Unconfirmed reports speak of 19 deads (majority of them being Turks) and 60 injured.

Click to locate ships to Gaza

http://marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?centerx=30&centery=25&zoom=2&level1=140

in www.marinetraffic.com click World map and  box 172

for example Eleftheri Mesogeios – Free Mediterranean – is off  Isreals’ coast

upd 3 (14:25): Ship to Gaza – 19 deads? Greece condemns the Israeli Attack

Latest unconfirmed reports speak of 19 deads & some 60 injured. No names or nationalities revealed until now- No official information from Israel.

The Attack Video

The attacked has been condemmned by Greek Foreign Ministry and all oposition parties.

upd 2: Full List Greek+ intern. Passengers in Gr-Ships to Gaza

Full List Greek & international Passengers on the two Greek Ships to Gaza + two Greeks in Mavi Marmara.

List as posted in digital ship to Gaza http://digitalship.shiptogaza.gr/2010/05/blog-post_7010.html

Mavi Marmara

Επιβατηγό “Mavi Marmara”

Επιβάτες Έλληνες Greeks

Επιβάτες Α.Δ.

Πλειώνης Δημήτριος

Χατζηστεφάνου Αριστείδης – Κυριάκος

Sfendoni

Επιβατηγό “Σφενδόνη”

Επιβάτες Έλληνες Greeks

Πλήρωμα Α.Δ.

Μπούκας Θεόδωρος ΑΒ4672563

Παπακινός Πέτρος ΑΕ2514227

Παπαδημητρίου Απόστολος ΑΒ2943726

Αυγήρης Σπυρίδων ΑΗ0928911

 

Επιβάτες Α.Δ.

Ennafaa Elaati Άδεια παραμονής GR 1374098 JA62877 (Τυνησία) Tunesia

Kampani Chalent AB9814381

Βαλκάνος Νικόλαος AH1712019

Γελάλης Δημήτριος ΑΕ5079839

Κιτίδη Αικατερίνη AB0317013

Κυρίλλου Δήμητρα ΑΒ0706506

Λιερός Γεώργιος ΑΒ6668484

Τραβάλου Αφροδίτη ΑΒ7361295

Τσιγαρίδας Χρήστος ΑΗ1492275

Free Mediteraanean

Φορτηγό “Ελεύθερη Μεσόγειος”

Επιβάτες Έλληνες και Σουηδοί Greeks & Swedish

Πλήρωμα Α.Μ.

Στυλιανάκης Ζαχαρίας 5914

Κληρονόμος Εμμανουήλ 48013

Χρυσοχοϊδης Νεκτάριος 84967

Μισεμικές Γεώργιος 32188

Γρηγορόπουλος Μιχαήλ 48710

Μπόλος Νικόλαος 17401

Επιβάτες Α.Δ.

Damolin Mario Giovanni C8Y678KY3

Dror Feiler 81019877

Faraggi Marcello E123583

Henning Mankel 80121313

Mehmet Kaplan 25001019

Saman Ali Abdulla 56733132

Sommer – Houdeville Thomas Georges 099K61732

Viktoria Strand 52102503

Γασπαράτου Ευγενία ΑΒ1361949

Θεοχαροπούλου Αικατερίνη ΑΑ3371929

Καρατζάς Γεώργιος ΑΒ3706053

Καρυπίδης Ιωάννης

Κοσματόπουλος Νικόλαος ΑΑ 1889989

Λάμπρου Ηλίας ΑΗ1670097

Μαθιουλάκης Εμμανουήλ ΑΒ0216465

Μουστάκας Ανδρέας – Μάριος ΑΗ1540407

Ναϊμ Ελγαντούρ ΑΒ6279135

Παπαδοκωστόπουλος Αριστείδης ΑΒ8783619

Πισσίας Ευάγγελος AA3171886

Πολίτης Παναγιώτης ΑΕ3655859

Συγγελάκης Πολυάνθης ΑΒ2312574

Τζιούμπας Αθανάσιος ΑΒ6842931

Τικτόπουλος Μιχαήλ – Αχιλλεύς ΑΒ0010473

Ψαρά Μαρία ΑΒ0276873