Before the movements, it is needed to be shown what flotilla contains and carries to the Gaza then announced the flotilla contains foods, medicines and some materials for construction of home for the people. Nobody had any doubt it was humanitarian movement and many people, all around the world, have supported and some of them were on the aid flotilla such as Irish Nobel laureate Maired Maguire, former US Congresswomen Cynthia McKinney, Swedish best seller author Henning Mankell, Holocaust survivor, some EU parliamentarians and different nations. 

 

But they did not plan one thing that was Israeli military commandos’ assault to innocent people. It was unexpected assault happened because all aid flotilla were on the high sea and Israel does not have any right to attack in there but Israel done. However, Israeli commandos killed 9 people in the high sea that is called “casus belli” in the international law. Then what should the UN and the EU do for this illegal inhuman assault? The voice of the main power were very weak and there were no sharp reaction from the USA, UK, and Germany; only French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouschner and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton call the urgent inquiry of the Israeli assault then UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon followed them. In fact, Israel had violated the international law and as Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan mentions that what Israel is done is called “state terrorism” or “Pirate State”. 

 

The assault has also shown the paranoia of the Israeli government. There were no military equipments or guns which were claimed the flotilla carrying them to Hamas by Israeli government. After assault, the UN Security Council met for emergency session which is called by Turkey to discuss situation. Meanwhile Israeli government has remained lonely in the international diplomacy and cannot defend itself in the base of international law but has had strong lobby in the USA which usually downgrade the voice of opposites. However the international pressure pushed U.S. to sign the condemnation of Israeli. They look like a couple who got married by “Catholic Church” rules. They never abandon each other and this relations never produce any solutions but made it deadlocked issue in the region. The last expression of the Joe Biden in “PBS's Charlie Rose Show” [1] tried to legitimate Israelis flotilla attack, which is shadowing the International law and U.S position in the war on terror.     

 

Aftermath of the Israeli commandos assault in the international water, the EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said “ The EU does not accept the continued policy of closure then it is unacceptable and politically counterproductive. We need to urgently achieve a durable solution to the situation in Gaza”[2]. Since the establishment of Israel, the world has tried to solve this problem but nobody suggests any solution which is acceptable for both sides. It is so difficult to convince Israeli to stop violations of human rights. Ashton was only supported with requesting of “full investigation” by UN Secretary General and some weak voice of leaders.  

 

Despite the good relations of the USA and Turkey, something started changing with Israeli inhuman attack to kill thousands of people two years ago. Israelis have taken all attention of the world when used the cluster bomb in 2008 and “refused to co-operate with Richard Goldstone and described his report as distorted and biased”[3] in 2009.  Because Golstone report mostly concentrated on Israel rather than Hamas. The using of the cluster bomb is on its own matter. Then Mahmoud al-Mabhouh assassination flashed on the world TVs then CCTV records proved the Israeli Mossads agents had made this assassination by using British, German and Australian passport in the hotel’s lift in Dubai. Britain and Australia expelled Israeli diplomats from their land. That was misusing of friendship of fellow States. But Israel never cares of it. It is known that there is no any sanction to prevent Israeli doing naughtiness. Israel never stop troubling the world and “announced to build new homes for Jews in the West Bank that announcement triggers unusually harsh criticism from the United States.”[4] But Israel has acted as blind and deaf against U.S. and international actors. The reason, which gives Israeli to feel confidence, is the U.S. and his allies approach of Middle East policy. 

 

Then it needs to be asked who will stop Israel and why are western powers silent that are always proud to have no or minimum human rights violation and democracy problem? It could be answered as NGOs and IOs which also need to be supported by Israeli NGOs. But in the region, People who “all grew used to seeing the Israelis kill Arabs, maybe Israelis grew used to killing Arabs. Now they kill Turks or Europeans.”[5] This humanitarian organization might not mean a lot for those people but it means a lot for remained people of the world. People are not silent any more as it has seen all around the world. Also the reactions of Israeli government provide the proof of how to become “terrorist state” and killing unarmed people. This military operation to innocent people will not be last but only expecting lessening it.     

 

Israel can introduce some evidence to show how commandos were met in the flotilla or produce many reasons but it cannot change the existence of killed innocent people and breach of international law. The flotilla raid has also demonstrated that “the world is tired of these outrages” [6] and people are much more aware of what is happening in the Gaza. The Prime Minister of Turkey, Erdogan, actually utter the feeling of people, who care of humanitarianism, and impartial but weak people. But bitterly, the White House only express of “regret,” the expectation was a lot from the President Obama, however, President is avoiding to say something make Israel and her lobby unhappy. The UN Security Council only condemns the Israel and ask independent investigation about the flotilla raid. Israel will lead independent investigation but international community might join in that investigation. Does it satisfy people who expect “credible, impartial and transparent investigation of these facts surrounding this tragedy” [7]? 

 

As a conclusion, it is so clear that flotilla aid has attracted a huge international attention and originates condemnation of Israeli government. “But the question that really matters is whether, politically, anything will really change in its wake.”[8]   Also it is known reality that the raid will postpone the peace process in the region.  

 

Akif Karabas, SDE Assistant