Opinion and analysis

Israel's attack on Flotilla violates international law

Jinan Bastaki 6 June 2010


In the aftermath of Israel’s 31 May attack on the Freedom Flotilla that left nine dead and scores wounded, each side claimed their actions were protected under international law. While the Israelis cited self-defense, and the Flotilla passengers reiterated that they were peace activists on a humanitarian mission that were attacked in international waters where neither Israel (nor any other state) has any claim. Jinan Bastaki comments for The Electronic Intifada. 

You will have no protection

Alice Walker 4 June 2010


For one thing, as soon as I wrote those words I was able to weep. Which I had not been able to do since learning of the attack by armed Israeli commandos on defenseless peace activists carrying aid to Gaza who tried to fend them off using chairs and sticks. I am thankful to know what it means to be good. Alice Walker writes for The Electronic Intifada. 

Global boycotts of Israel intensify after bloody Flotilla attack

Adri Nieuwhof 4 June 2010


Israel’s bloody attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on 31 May killing at least nine and injuring dozens of activists carrying humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip, has already intensified global actions for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it respects international law and human rights. Adri Nieuwhof reports for The Electronic Intifada. 

The day the world became Gaza

Ali Abunimah 4 June 2010


Since Israel’s massacre of over 1,400 people in Gaza global civil society movements have stepped up their campaigns for solidarity with Palestinians. Governments, by contrast, carried on with business as usual. Israel’s lethal attack on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza may change that, spurring governments to take unprecedented action to check Israel’s growing lawlessness. EI’s Ali Abunimah comments. 

The urgency of this moment

Radhika Sainath 2 June 2010


Israel has sent the world a loud message: we will do whatever we want wherever want. So what if we kill civilians in international waters? In response, the world gets the typical excuses and rationales it has come to expect from the United States, Egypt, and all the other states that should be levying demands on Israel to free Palestinians from siege, occupation and apartheid. Radhika Sainath comments for The Electronic Intifada. 

A massacre is not a massacre

Ghassan Hage 2 June 2010


I don’t write poems but, in any case, poems are not poems. Long ago, I was made to understand that Palestine was not Palestine; I was also informed that Palestinians were not Palestinians; They also explained to me that ethnic cleansing was not ethnic cleansing. And when naive old me saw freedom fighters they patiently showed me that they were not freedom fighters, and that resistance was not resistance. 

The Flotilla attack and Turkey's views of Palestine

Murat Dagli 1 June 2010


Turkish society has been deeply divided over many issues, from political allegiances to cultural preferences. The public sphere in Turkey is more a realm of appropriation and exclusion than one of mutual agreement and consensus building. However, when it comes to Palestine — as the current furor of Israel’s attack on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza — demonstrates, there is a surprising consensus. Murat Dagli comments for The Electronic Intifada.