General Ashkenazi: those who were aboard Turkish ship of flotilla were not related to “humanitarian mission”

PanARMENIAN.Net - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Chief of the General Staff Gabi Ashkenazi held a joint press conference dedicated to the predawn raid on vessels of Freedom Flotilla heading for Gaza. According to Barak, the organizers of the Gaza aid flotilla are to blame for the tragedy.

“The Israeli government has repeatedly offered the organizers of the flotilla to unload the humanitarian aid at Ashdod port and to transfer it to Gaza after its inspection by security service. All the Israeli offers were rejected,” said Barak, adding that the soldiers were forced to open fire to protect themselves.

Meanwhile, Barak stressed that Mavi Marmara, the only ship on which violence took place, was different than the other five ships of the flotilla. He said that five ships carried humanitarians and peace activists but the Mavi Marmara was sponsored by the extremist organization - IHH (Insani Yardani Vakf), and those aboard acted in "extreme violence."

General Ashkenazi noted that those who were aboard the Turkish ship of flotilla were not related to the “humanitarian mission.” According to him, 10 Israeli soldiers were wounded, some of them from gunfire, MIGnews reported.