Palestinian terror groups are stronger then Israeli "counter measures". They religious conviction, determination and "God" on their side. How can you realistically think that any coercive and forceful military procedures can stop this bunch of "holy warriors"? I think the establishment here lacks common sense, and is using this as a pretext to continue the siege of Gaza which won't bring any positive results in the future. The Arabs don't have to raise guns at us anymore. An aid ship itself has become a potent weapon, which will win. It's time for us to GROW UP, and handle these things realistically, unless we want to isolate ourselves from the world which is what our current position will lead ourselves to.

Can somebody pls explain to me, why the fact that Hamas did not allow "so much needed humanitarian aid" into Gaza is not known to the international media and, thus to the world?

To allow ships to sail into Gaza would be dangerous because you cannot inspect them properly. Though you can make a quick cursory glance at the contents of the hold, there are too many hiding places on a ship. You could easily hide missiles etc by fitting false panels in the steel work etc. It’s much harder to conceal items on a much smaller lorry. Therefore it’s imperative that any goods into Gaza only arrive by road.

our time with these boats and Hamas.The best thing Israel can do today is to take Gaza back and start all over again.With Hamas we are going no were.Israel should send all Hamas leaders into exile,like Arafat in Lebanon.It doesnt make any diffrence what Israel does,world opinion will always be against us.

Our blockade is internationally LEGAL and NO ONE can tell us to end it. We are legally entitled to defend ourselves against invasions and terrorism. Go complain against the real problem - Hamas rule, attacks on innocent citizens by HAMAS and PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS,. Foreign countries aiding them with weapons and rockets and hiding them on "humanitarian" flotillas. The boats that didn't have anything to hide had no problems. What happened to all the billions of Euros that the EU gave to Gaza? 7 new countries could have been built - but this small strip of terror keeps the Palestinian Gazans in poverty - and then uses them to promote terror. WAKE UP WORLD!!!!!!!!! You will all be the minority in 20 years if you don't understand what Musliml motive is - to take over the world. Check this out and learn: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=RxFzFIDbKpg

and ships will be allowed into Gaza after being inspected by the Royal and French navies in Cyprus Israel has no option but to let this happen. Otherwise every month Israel will be confronted with flotillas with people who are prepared to die on them. And every month Israel will be announcing another inquiry as International condemnation gets stronger. The fact is HAMAS are getting all the arms they require through the tunnels with the added benefit of income and enabling maximum control on Gaza by controlling the economy and who can and cannot work. Thereby ensuring support for HAMAS by the Gazans. Diskin is getting a bit desperate. For israel the jig is up, and it is down to Diskin's intelligence failures. Although this could have more to do with Ireland kicking several Israeli diplomats out today.

On the one hand, lifting naval blockade major security breach ,On the other hand, Palestinian resistance have rockets capable of reaching Gush Dan!!!!! The Palestinians, for decades resisted the occupation with stones, and this left a great impact in the world more than rockets, want to say, human being will not fail to find new means of resistance, if the will is there, that's what you Don't want to understand :(

Time for Israel to make Jordan Palestine 80% palestian. Ralphsrant1.blogspot.com

we're going to do the same thing in Gaza, except they won't even be on the ground just stopping ships.... Time to stop the nonsense, either reconquer Gaza or enforce a blockade properly.

"First of all, there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza" (Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin) While there is no acute ‘humanitarian crisis’ in Gaza thanks to the black market/tunnels to Egypt the people of Gaza are still under Israeli occupation, they are also subject to Israeli collective punishment, approx 90% of the water in Gaza is polluted because of Israel, none of the children of Gaza know what it is like to experience a minute of ‘freedom’ because of the ongoing Israeli occupation. Israel regularly shoots live rounds at unarmed protesters in Gaza as a means of ‘crowd dispersal’. The civilians of Gaza are building houses out of mud bricks because Israel will not allow building material into Gaza after the IDF destroyed civilian houses and infrastructure etc. The list goes on and on but in short the world will no longer abide by Israel’s brutal and inhumane treatment of 1.5m innocent civilians. The first step will be the lifting of the siege of Gaza, the second step will be an imposed peace agreement on Israel between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

this insane leftist government has canceled military checkpoints,has armed our mortal enemies with guns and amunition,which is used by them daily to shoot at us,therefore why should we be surprised if they lift the gaza blockade?

palis got tunnles, your words not mine :).

Inspections by the Royal and French Navy? You mean, like the UNIFIL loonies in Lebanon? Sure.

The average income in Gaza is higher than in Egypt - and they do not even have to work for it. And as long as the "Palestinians" are building fancy restaurants and Olympic size swimming pools, the humanitarian crisis can't be that severe.

Dear Matty, I must ask you one question: Why are you writing your talkback here explaining your opinions? Nobody told you yet, that you know absolutly nothing about the situation in Middle East? You are not able to distinguish your notions from the raw facts on the ground, or probably you feel obligated to defend the (purportedly) weaker party of (bloody) dispute from the (purportedly) stronger party, even if the (purportedly) weaker is in fact a convicted aggressive felon. Sorry to inform you about unpleasant matter.

spill in mexico gulf they caused, sound like there lays the reall humanitarian problem wait untill hurikan season when people in the amerika continent will start to get sick. I hope not, but until now Brits do nothing it is leaking to the pacific ocean. who knows how many wild life they killed by now.

Matty is back from holidays. Did you have nice time in Gaza?

Jarda I, like so many posters here, have an opinion. This is the very essence of an open forum. However you on the other hand (purportedly) don’t have an opinion on the situation in Middle East. But hey lets put my ‘opinion’ about you to the test: Jarda in your ‘opinion’ have the IDF shot live rounds at unarmed civilians in Gaza as they protested at the ‘buffer zone’ as a means of ‘crowd dispersal’? Bear in mind if you are opinionated to say ‘no’ you will have to back this up with some ‘facts’, I would also remind you that I can cite several news reports (and one death) relating to such indiscriminate firing of live rounds by the IDF. What say you?

Matty, I must agree, that "an opinion is the very essence of an open forum". Therefore I do not forbid you to convey your opinions. Yet we must carefully differentiate an opinion from an information. My opinion on the cause mentioned by you (... IDF shot live rounds at unarmed civilians protested at the 'buffer zone'...) is not such as important, as I was not there, I'm not issuing a formal complaint and I'm not a member of a military court. I must admit, that I can conceive such a situation (maybe - according to your opinion - stones are not arms, or soldiers were there to no avail, or soldiers make no mistakes...). But according to my opinion, this possible scenario (to kill unarmed civilians) is certainly not the policy of israeli government (yes, you have an opposite opinion). I beg you for much deeper investigation about you opinions of ME affairs.

It is what is being discussed. The alternative is Israel being subjected to flotillas on a weekly basis with media onboard, and increasingly influential and famous people on a weekly basis. You think Israel can endure that for any length of time? As it is Sweden and norway today are boycotting all Israeli goods entering their respective countries. And Norway is a member of the EU. The destination of 75% of all Israeli exports is to the European Union.