I don't think anyone reasonable believes that Israel wanted this scenario. HOWEVER, I think what's pissing everyone off is how Israel is handling the aftermath. Who hit who first? What are we in grade school? Landing on a ship flying Turkish standards in international water, questionable. Killing international aid workers? Who in their right mind would ever think that would be a good idea?! And who in their right mind think the rest of the world will buy any weak excuse for killing said aid workers. IDF really need to own up. Claim at least some responsibility and promise to review protocol so this will never happen again. SOMETHING other than posting videos on youtube.

Elite troops armed with 'huge weapons' only managed to kill 9! Why do they bother to interview liars?

Yes. And you still are.

This israeli operation went wrong. To train on all kinds of scenarios, is not easy though. I am sure that, right now. persons from the various branches are analyzing the sequence of events. Many of the talkbacks, shows only emotions and too little analytical thinking, this mixed with harsh words, will lead no where. The ongoing and negative political fallout ( for Israel ) has to be dealt with ( there is an tradition here ). Question remains, what action will be taken when another ship(-s) tries to enter Gaza ? More emotions and less intelligence ? In aviation we use the term.. " your attitude determines your altitude" - right now Israel seems to be grounded.

Aid workers do not attack soldiers with knifes and iron rods. And, by the way, the "Palestinians" have just build some fancy restaurants and Olympic size swimming pools. The situation in the Gaza Strip does not seem to be that bad, does it?

Turkey is just changing alliances for at least 3-4 years now and is also trying to break up with the western alliance. Their goal is to become the leader of the islamic world as well as the arab world (already under heavy islamization) because the EU is (righfully) rejecting their accession. This change for Turkey would be fruitful only if they become antisemite, hum sorry antizionist, I forgot the new term.

isn't that what hamas did in cast lead, oh so they were counting on him getting hurt, now everything is clear, thanks

I would suggest you watch at least one of the videos of the raid. The commandos were being attacked, 4-5 to one. If being faced with imminent danger to your life is a weak excuse for self defense, what do you make of the excuse the "activists" use for attacking the IDF commandos in the first place? Or is self defense not permitted when it comes to Jews? It sure seems like that's what many people think these days. And what do you make of the fact that there was absolutely no violence on the other five boats? I am afraid you are wrong about what's pissing people off. The demos started before the boarding even began. It's silly to suggest that all the thousands of half-wits all around the world are chanting "death to Jews" only because the Israelis are clumsy at press conferences and do not intend to review protocol (incidentally, that is being done as we speak) As for responsibility, there is absolutely no reason whatsoever for IDF to claim any. From all the information available: 1. the flotilla had stated its full intention to break Israeli laws and deliver contraband. 2. Israel has jurisdiction over waters off Gaza coast under Oslo accords. 3. There is a state of war with Hamas regime in Gaza and Israel is exercising its legal right to blockade Gaza in order to prevent weapons and dual-use materials from reaching the enemy. 4. The ships were contacted repeatedly and offered to have the humanitarian cargo inspected and delivered over land, according to the existing protocol. They were warned that failure to follow the protocol or to stand down will result in naval action. 5. The ships refused to do either and were boarded. Boarding and inspection of suspicious ships flying flags of neutral parties in international waters is clearly permitted under the applicable wartime laws and IN NO WAY CONSTITUTE PIRACY. 7. About 100 people on one of the ships launched an attack against 30 or so commandos. 8. Unable to subdue the attackers, the naval commandos opened fire in self defense with light sidearms. 9. Some of the commandos, attackers and possibly bystanders were hurt. So far I see no reason for Israel to take any responsibility except, IMHO, for sending an insufficient force to deal with the situation.

No. There isn't much to say. The blockade was announced. Israel -- just like any country -- is well within her rights to blockade a hostile territory. Hamas has announced that it is in a state of "war" with Israel. The ship was ordered to turn back. It refused. The ship was ordered to heave to. It refused. It tried to run the blockade. You pays your money; you takes your chances. And as we now know, this vessel was hardly on a humanitarian endeavor. And the videos are really clear. We know EXACTLY what happened. You can put whatever anti-Semitic and anti-Israel spin you want on it, George. The camera doesn't lie. Neither does the contraband found aboard the vessel. Sorry. You're wrong (oh, well, there's a surprise!).

The whole idea behind these pro-Palestinian stunts is to provoke an Israeli response that will bring on sanctions and boycotts of Israel. The scenarios will change but Palestinians will repeat the exercise many more times in the future. The Palestinians count on people in the US and EU being too naive to understand the propaganda targeting them. We will see just how dumb they are.

They came armed to hurt as many soldiers as possible. Peaceful boats carrying peaceful protesters don't carry weapons. The more I read about what happened to our boys on that ship - the happier I feel they got what they deserved. They don't care about the Palestinians they've got nothing else better to do.

The “human rights” activists armed with clubs and knives sailed in support of “peace-loving Gazans” who elected Hamas with a charter that reads: “Israel, by virtue of its being Jewish and of having a Jewish population, defies Islam and the Muslims…. Muslims will fight the Jews and kill them; I indeed wish to go to war for the sake of Allah! I will assault and kill, assault and kill, assault and kill.” The last ships that Israel Defense Forces stopped at sea the Karine-A and the Francop carried hundreds of tons of weapons from Iran aimed at murdering Israelis. IDF has the right to inspect the cargo of every ship attempting to reach those who seek to destroy Israel.

Is never ending retaliation what brings young moral democrats to attack a boat, at night, and shoot at human beings when, surprise, these otherwise valiant commandos discover they're not welcome???? If a Swedish, or Turkish, or French Peace Corps was to come down from helicopters in a Tel Aviv garden, would the people around react by surrendering immediately, or by trying courageously to send them away? Such a crazy scenario might happen, since the IDF performed an act of war by international standards: the blockade against Gaza is not agreed upon by the United Nations; and Turkey did not agree with the attack on its boat. So much for the "legal" grounds of Tsahal's recent feat. Where will this lead Israel ? Remember the nazis, some of you? Back then, they too were obeying orders, they too were "legitimately" trying to expand their Reich, with methods we're now supposed to despise, rather than imitate.

The Palestinians are known liars. Just like they say kassam rockets have no warheads, and suicide bombers are "legitimate resistance". So too there was no "lake of blood." We know that 10 mujahadeen mercenaries were killed. These people apparently had nothing to do with "humanitarian aid" and were most likely Pakistani and Yemeni mercenaries (and Turkish mercenaries too) who were going to stay in Gaza in order to bring a little more Al Qaeda jihad to the region.

"International aid workers"??!?!?!? And just which aid agency do they work for? UNICEF? Save the Children? Oxfam? The answer, of course, is that there are no recognized aid agencies involved in this scam. Are Islamic mercenaries from Pakistan and Yemen suddenly "aid workers"? As for Jerry's "weak excuse", I'd like to give Jerry a gun, then while he's thinking about it I'll take a knife and start stabbing him. I wonder if Jerrry will open fire or let me exercise my "legitimate right to resist the occupation"? Of course it's not a good idea. The bad idea was letting the phony "aid" flotilla get as far as it did. Israel should have severed diplomatic relations last week when it became clear that Turkey was instigating an international incident. Do you really think the Turks give a damn about Gazans?

logic to you? maybe it does you did claimed to be stupid.

'lake of blood' is a saying in Turkish that is commonly used in nationalist and religious texts. Especially used to describe Canakkale war in WW1. It is an exeggeration, and reminds people of nationalistic feelings of Turks. Just like these words I believe there are many things that show the action of Marmara is provokation. Since the ship set sail, It was possible to see the posters of it in everywhere in the city. If your intention is helping people, why would you tell it to everyone?

1) Where is all this illegal contraband and weapons you keep speaking of? Do you mean the wheelchairs, and pharmaceutical aid? Do you mean the ‘sticks’, kitchen knifes and toy catapults? Wow, when is the IDF going to put all these lethal weapons on display so the world can have a good giggle? 2) Why did you lie about losing a child to a terrorist attack? What drove you to make up this story? Was it to curry favor with other readers/posters? Do you feel ashamed about such a vile lie? Lastly Sarah B why won’t you answer these questions?

I believe there were some naive peace activists who join with a good goal and the terrorists recruited them and their families as a cover for a trap prepared for IDF, the same way they used in Lebanon war when the used the children as a human protecting.

Turkey is causing alot of trouble again, they need to step out of other nations, they should first of all bring peace to its ouwn country, give KURDS freedom..obviously they have forgotten how many KURDs were killed by them...TURKEY STOP INTERVENING...Israel has the right to ensure security for ISRAEL AND PALESTINE.

And here we go again. On one side we have a video of assault on IDF soldiers. On the other side we have STATEMENTS OF ACTIVISTS, not supported by any proof. And the world believes "activists". I just hope that one day you will wake up to the same threats as Israel and then maybe you will see, who do you support. But it will be too late.

So Matty struck the very first blow and he hurt Lord Donald sore.. You have a little problem, I think, Matty. You are one of those, who is deeply sure that he is very good informed and knows all the truth. But you are just one more victim of pallywood. And, btw, you struck the first blow after being caught sleeping with Lord Donald's wife.

Well said you have mentioned the facts...the key issue here is Turkey a country which have murdered thounsands of kurds and they are talking about peace...its very funny..tirkey should get out..they should first of all freed their own people send aid to kurdistan...

This is non other than a plot to firmly cement turkeys stance with the islamic brotherhood, and Israel was the means. As the nations are ganging up against little Israel, may the people of Israel unite as one force against the lies of the enemy!

Islamist-Jihadists like to cry baby about lake of blood when ten of their fellow terrorists were killed. Did they ever show remorse when 19 of their fellow Islamist-Jihadist terrorists attacked America and murdered 3000 Americans in cold blood on 9/11? NO! Why should the Obama administration be so obsessed with the scoundrels of the Middle East? Obama has been wasting time on this crap when America's backyard has been 'bleeding' with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that threatens to destroy America's Southern coastlines and states? We need an American President that focuses on America's problems. We do not need an Islamist-Jihadist President. In fact, Congress should wake up and start impeaching Hussien for incompetence and endangering America's national security in his inability to stop the oil spill in the Gulf, as well as, cowing to the Islamist-Jihadist world that is crusading Jihadism by sponsoring Islamist-Jihadist terrorism around the world.

It is clear that you support the pro-Hamas flotilla, that is nice. Do you also support Hamas' stance that calls for the extermination of the Jews? Do you also support the Hamas' stance that Abbas and Fayyad are American puppets and traitors who must be hanged? Do you agree that Abbas illegally stole the PA elections and is an illegitimate "leader" holding onto power thanks to the CIA? Do you agree that the Mubarak is a traitor because he does not open the Gaza / Egypt border to humanitarian aid? Lastly, Matty Groves, why won't you answer these questions?