* I previously used “Zionist entity” just to state my anger by using the Islamic resistance rhetoric but a German friend of mine sort of persuaded me about possible anti-Semitic connotations and I now decide to switch back to normal coverage. Wikipedia entry on Zionist Entity does not explicitly imply anti-Semitic usage of the term but I will still follow Christian’s recommendation.

follow up in the next post.

19:30– Let me have a look around and will be back probably towards midnight…

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update 12 June 2010: on the heat of the incident I have penned down some angry remarks, I regret now. I want to apologize to those who have a conscience but not to those who defend the murder of activists…  and now I am deleting some of the wordings…

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I was expecting this: Israel would arrest and deport activists. I can understand that they would not let aid go to Gaza.  This is what humans do. But no, Israeli leaders prove themselves to be murderers…

Israeli soldiers lower the Turkish flag in a Gaza post. Protest photos from Istanbul here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkP97gHZ9DE

via Protesters marching to Taksim…

More photosfrom Taksim demonstrations today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlQfsV0lS_c&feature=youtube_gdata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wExyiIoNndc&feature=youtube_gdata

Nineteen activists killed by Israeli commandos aboard aid convoy bound for Gaza

Monday, May 31, 2010

Over nineteen Free Gaza Movement activists died yesterday when Israeli Defense Force commandos boarded vessels in international waters attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Reports say over 19 people are dead and over 30 were injured, including a captain. There is a radio and satellite blackout from the ships, which are now under Israeli control.

Turkey calls for Security Council meeting over Israel

Turkey recalls envoy, calls UN meeting on Israel

Turkey, Germany, France Lead Condemnation of Israeli Ship Raid

May 31 (Bloomberg) — Turkey said its relations with Israel may not recover, and European nations including Germany and France issued condemnations after Israeli troops stormed an international aid flotilla bound for Gaza, killing at least 10 people.

The youngest member of the flotilla…

Verhofstadt calls for inquiry into Gaza aid ship deaths

from ALDE News

Aid flotilla plans to reach Gaza on Monday

A convoy of ships containing activists and aid destined for the blockaded Gaza Strip of Palestine prepared to steam on Sunday south from Cyprus to reach Gaza early Monday.

Twitter accused of censoring Israeli flotilla attack tweets ? Hashtags down | TechEye

from CyberLaw Blog by admin

Twitter accused of censoring Israeli flotilla attack tweets ? Hashtags down | TechEye: ?Twitter accused of censoring Israeli flotilla attack tweets?

The recent Israeli attack on a flotilla of aid-worker ships in Gaza prompted a huge response on Twitter, but many users are now accusing the social media website of censoring material relating to the event.

Digital Agenda for Europe overshadowed by Israel

by Grahnlaw

I meant to write about the TTE Council?s conclusions on the Digital Agenda for Europe, but after the bloodbath by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on board the flotilla heading towards Gaza, I don?t feel up to it right now.

Gaza flotilla drives Israel into a sea of stupidity

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc addresses the media in Ankara May 31, 2010. Turkey will cancel three planned joint military exercises with Israel in protest over the storming of Gaza-bound aid ships by Israeli commandos, Arinc told a news conference.? Read more »

REUTERS/Umit Bektas

MENA: Rage after Israel Attacks Gaza-bound Flotilla

from Global Voices Online by Amira Al Hussaini

By Amira Al Hussaini

Emotions are running high across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), after Israel attacked a peaceful flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to besieged Gaza – and the Twittersphere is ablaze.

EU strongly condemns Gaza flotilla attack

from EurActiv.com by Georgi

About 15 people were killed today (31 May) when the Israeli navy intercepted ships carrying aid and pro-Palestinian activists toward the Gaza Strip. The bloodshed sparked strong reactions of condemnation from the European Commission, the European Parliament president and major political groups.

Why the Gaza boat deaths are a huge deal

from FP Passport by Blake Hounshell

While we don’t yet know all the facts, the apparent killing of at least 10 people aboard a ship bound for Gaza with humanitarian aid already has all the hallmarks of a massive public-relations disaster.

It does sound like there might have been some kind of violent response from the activists on the boat, and the Israeli military is claiming its forces encountered ?live fire and light weaponry including knives and clubs.”

Israeli Prof. Shinar Criticizes Storm on Aid Ships

from Bianet :: English

Prof. Shinar, specialist on peace journalism, expects harsh international criticism of Israel’s attack on the aid ships. “The flotilla should have been allowed passage. Israel is not going to benefit from this operation. The actual core of the problem is not being discussed”.

Israelis told to avoid Turkey after flotilla raid

from Yahoo news

Israel has advised its citizens to avoid travel to Turkey following massive protests there against a deadly Israeli military raid on an aid flotilla bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip.

Turkey brims with anger over Israeli armed action

from Yahoo news

Turkey told Israel that it would “suffer the consequences” after at least 10 pro-Palestinian activists were killed when Israeli commandos boarded a convoy of aid ships heading to Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian activists from Turkey, wearing life jackets, hold a news conference on board the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara as they sail in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea as part of a humanitarian convoy late May 30, 2010. About 15 people were killed on Monday when the Israeli navy intercepted a convoy of aid ships that activists were trying to sail to the Gaza Strip, Israel’s Channel 10 private television network said. Earlier, a spokesman for the Free Gaza Movement which organised the six-ship flotilla said at least two were killed. Picture taken May 30, 2010. REUTERS/Erhan Sevenler/

Bulent Yildirim, head of Turkey’s Islamic and pro-Palestinian rights group, The Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), talks to activists on a Turkish ship as they sail in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea as part of a humanitarian convoy May 30, 2010. Activists sailing an aid convoy to Gaza said two people were killed and about 30 wounded on Monday when Israeli forces boarded a Turkish ship that was part of the flotilla which Israel had vowed to stop. There was no immediate comment from Israel, where public radio quoted an unnamed Arab journalist aboard a ship as saying the navy intercepted the activists and that shooting was heard. REUTERS/IHH/Handout

Former U.S. diplomat had joined Gaza flotilla

from FP Passport by Blake Hounshell

A retired U.S. diplomat, Edward L. Peck, was among 11 Americans who had joined the flotilla of activist ships that were forcibly diverted Monday from Gaza, where they were planning to unload humanitarian supplies and demonstrate their ability to break the years-long Israeli blockade on the impoverished Palestinian territory.

more protest photos here..