If Hamas cares about its people it will release Gilad in return for the lifting of the blockade. That's all they have to do and believe me, the blockade will be lifted. But that will never happen because the blockade doesnt really mean much - Gaza has all the goods inside that they need. its all a show. And Hamas cares more about the emotional / pschological damage it is causing Israel to torture one boy than the welfare of its entire people. March on July 5th in Tel Aviv: Protest Hamas and show your support to Gilads family!

money from europe.

They have lost their power and they are now posturing as the source of law and morality. They are trying to recolonize Israel with their 'laws'.

European countries should leave Israel alone, and concentrate on their own problems such as economy, which is falling apart. These hypocrites believe that chastising Israel all the time will somehow placate millions of Arabs that inundated Europe. It will not help, but will only make the matter worse for them.

The blockade is a legitimate one to stop a hostile entity acquiring weapons to be used against Israel. International law permits boarding of ships in international waters if there is good reason to believe they intend to break the blockade and it was stated in advance that was the intent. The force Israel used was not excessive. The men cama aboard with armed with paintball guns as their primary weapon and pistols for if their lives were in danger. All the video evidence taken from both the ship & the helicopters show the soldiers were lynched with people with metal bars, knives, some had their pistols stolen. The mob tried to throw the soldiers overboard. Its pretty obvious these guys came looking for a fight and based on the weaponry the Israelis brought with them the intent was to take the boat peacefully. There were another 5 ships in that flotilla and all of them were boarded and taken control of in exactly the same way and it all went peacefully. As usual Israel is the bad guy, palestinians and their supporters are innocent victims of the zionists. If the mob were shooting at the soldiers with machine guns and they were responding with water pistols its still Israel the Europeans would consider guilty of excessive force and concemned whilst the palestinian supporters with machine guns would be the victims.

It's remarkable how the urge to criticise Israel drives out truth and common sense. The Council of Europe is not a law court and has no business handing down decisions as to what is or is not legal under international law.They certainly have it wrong here. 'The decision also calls on Israel to lift the siege without compromising Israel's security' .-----This is where common sense disappears;the Council of Europe is asking for the impossible and showing its animosity towards Israel in the process. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

How appalling and so bloody obvious. Notice how there totally oblivious to all other attrocities that are going on in the Real World and ganging up on one of the smallest nations on Earth. ALL WAYS THE SAME OLD CRAP

Ignores to condemn Hamas of anything starting of recognition of Israel. They can't tell Israel how to protect herself from the existential enemy because they are bias. But the fact they stopped short of declaring flotilla raid was done illegally, and they decided not to call an international investigation means Turkey and others "justice seekers" don't have any legal grounds against Israel. The question is: Can Israel turn this decision to her favor and sue Turkey for the flotilla provocation?

Mutually exclusive concepts "lift the siege without compromising Israel's security" When will they understand that the siege is what keeps Israel safe.

but keep dissing them, in their face as the illegal, distortion of western liberal ideology. they are a quisling council and must be responded to as such.

Bla bla bla..... Who gives a damn about the "Council of Europe" ! An advice to Europe: mind your own business and concentrate on your decadent economy, on your high rate of unemployment and on your increasing muslim immigrants who come to your home and stay their without no job financed with the european tax payer. When Magdi Allam(Italian European Parliamentarian) wanted to discuss the situation of the christians in the islamic countries no one attended, but when there is Israel to condemn, no one thinks twice to do so. What a Shame.

how can europe havea say in anything, all they are is one sided, always afraid of their own muslim population ,and don't forget ,its aplace where 6 million Jews were Murdered. peaceful jews, not ones that attacked soldiers .what a joke europe comdeming Israel

I believe that the references to the EU are incorrect. As far as I am aware, this is purely a Council of Europe matter, and the CE has nothing to do with the EU.

Turkey is a full long standing member of Council of Europe, but as you know, not yet a full member of EU. I suspect the CE, like NATO, is obliged to represent and stick up to each of their members. But also bear in mind, the PA's supporters are not just Turkey in the CE. There other member nations who were involved in the flotillas for human aide.

The council of Europe hardly does anything apart from telling other countries that they broke laws. It's the only hobby these people seem to have.

Completely absurd that a body that has no understanding of international law presumes to decide by vote what is the law. Let's get a majority and vote in a change in the law of momentum while they are at it.

in int'l waters - where was the condemnation when real int' laws where flouted here by the Brits. Israel did NOT break int'l law, Israel has the FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY like every other sovereign nation to PROTECT it's citizens from infiltration of it's maritime borders from TERRORISTS posing as 'humanitarianists'. I mean ffs! we all know how under muslim law HUMAN RIGHTS and humanists DO NOT EXIST. The blockade by int'l law should be TIGHTENED to squeeze hamas TERRORISTS OUT of Gaza so it won't be a danger to the area anymore. That is the ONLY SOLUTION to this ever growing problem.