 |
| An injured person is evacuated to Rambam hospital in the northern city of Haifa, Israel, May 31, 2010. Clash happened on Monday morning between an international Gaza aid flotilla and Israeli navy, causing at least 19 casualties, Israeli military confirmed. (Xinhua) |
JERUSALEM, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Vice Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon defended on Monday that the violent clash between international activists and Israeli commandos was a "premeditated" event designed by the Gaza-bound international aid flotilla.
"We found weapons aboard the ship for use against the soldiers, " Ayalon said, adding that the behavior of the flotilla members was "an act to break the blockade on Gaza," and not humanitarian, "in intent, methods and results."
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed earlier in the day that more than ten activists aboard were killed during the melee with Israeli naval commandos early Monday morning.
Unconfirmed reports as of Israeli Channel 10 put the lethal tally as high as 19, with at least 26 wounded.
