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| 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, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Everyone knew there would eventually be a point when the Israeli navy intercepts the pro- Palestinian, Gaza-bound flotilla but nobody predicted it would end in bloodshed and with thousands taking to the streets around the world to protest Israel's actions.
In the event over ten people were killed and many more injured as Israeli commandoes and protesters on board one of the boats in the flotilla clashed.
The jury is still out as to what actually happened and the truth may never be known, but behind the story that was splashed across the international media like no other on Monday is a much deeper issue -- the standoff between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic resistance movement Hamas.
Hamas accuses the "Zionist occupation forces" of trying to starve to death the people of Gaza, while Israel says its stranglehold on the Palestinian coastal enclave is in place in order to prevent Hamas from carrying out "terrorist activities."
Analysts in the region have different opinions over whom to blame in the incident, but they shared view that a reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah will help end the siege, preventing future violence.