Up to 19 killed as Israeli commandos storm Gaza aid fleet

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JESSORE: A bunch of flowering Jamrul (star apple), before being shaped into its matured form, presents a beautiful sight. The picture was taken at Ghosh Para. — Banglar Chokh

ASHDOD, Israel, May 31 (AFP): Israeli navy commandos stormed a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters Monday, killing up to 19 pro-Palestinian activists in a pre-dawn raid that sparked global outrage.
The bloody ending to the high-profile mission to deliver supplies to the besieged Gaza Strip plunged Israel into a serious diplomatic crisis on the eve of talks in Washington between US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As Israel pointed the finger of blame at passengers for initiating the violence, accusing them of using deadly force, activists from the ships countered with their own descriptions of how events unfolded in the raid which took place at around 5:00 am (0200 GMT).
Live footage from the Turkish passenger boat, which was posted all over the Internet, showed black-clad Israeli commandos rappelling down from helicopters and clashing with activists, as well as several wounded people lying on the deck of the ship.
Israel claims the troops returned fire after they were attacked with live rounds, knives and clubs, but flotilla organisers insist the soldiers started shooting the moment they hit the deck.
Only limited footage of the incident has been broadcast as communications with the six ships participating in the flotilla appeared to have been scrambled during the operation.
The Israeli army insisted its troops opened fire only after they were attacked with knives, clubs and even live fire.
"As a result of this life-threatening and violent activity, naval forces employed riot dispersal means, including live fire," an army statement said, adding that it appeared as if the passengers "were planning to lynch the forces."