Rudd condemns aid flotilla violence
Updated 23 minutes ago
ABC News
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says the Government is deeply concerned about the loss of life onboard an aid flotilla headed for Gaza which was raided by Israeli forces yesterday.
Israel's navy, meanwhile, says it is ready to stop another aid ship headed to Gaza, playing down the prospect of its forces shying from another confrontation.
Israel's Army Radio reported the MV Rachel Corrie, a converted merchant ship, would reach Gazan waters by Wednesday.
In a media conference this afternoon, Mr Rudd says he is yet to receive a full briefing on the incident, in which nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed.
But he says it is imperative Israel conducts a full investigation and provides its findings to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
"The Australian Government condemns any use of violence under the sorts of circumstances we have seen," he said.
He says the blockade against Gaza should be lifted.
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says the Government will consider carefully the best way of handling the incident, but stressed the onus was on Israel to provide a detailed explanation of the attack.
"There are of course concerns, not just expressed in Australia but throughout the international community, of the use of force and the possible use of disproportionate force," he said.
Asked whether the incident would have a marked effect on Israel's standing in the international community, Mr Smith said: "That will depend on the way in which Israel conducts itself now."
Mr Smith also confirmed that an Australian man was shot in the leg during the deadly Israeli raid and that consular officials have visited him in hospital.
Mr Smith said an Australian journalist and photographer - known to be aboard one of the ships - were safe after the "terrible and shocking incident".
The Minister told Parliament this afternoon that Australian consular officials would get access to the photographer, Kate Geraghty, later today, while Irish officials would assist journalist Paul McGeogh, who is an Irish citizen.
There are two other Australian women on board, who have also been detained, Mr Smith said.
UN reaction
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has wrapped up a late-night meeting and called for a full investigation into Monday's raids.
In a consensus statement, the council called for the immediate release of the ships and 480 civilians detained by Israel.
Britain's ambassador to the United Nations, Mark Lyall Grant, says yesterday's events cannot be viewed in isolation.
"They must be set against the context of the intolerable and unsustainable situation that pertains in Gaza," he said.
"It is clearer than even that Israel's restrictions on access to Gaza must be lifted in line with Security Council Resolution 1860. The current closure is unacceptable and counter-productive."
Speaking at the emergency meeting, Israel's deputy ambassador to the UN, Daniel Carmon, said Israeli soldiers acted in self-defence against people with links to Hamas.
"The answer is clear - they are not peace activists, they were not messengers of good will," he said.
"They cynically use the guide of humanitarian aid to send a message of hate and to implement violence."
Aerial footage released by Israel appears to show commandos being attacked as they abseil onto the deck of the ship.
But Free Gaza Movement organiser Renee Jaouadi, who is originally from Newcastle, told ABC Radio from Cyprus that Israel's accusations were a lie.
"I'm not sure how they (Israel) can say their soldiers were attacked when their soldiers were the ones who were actually partaking in an illegal siege of boats, an act of piracy in international waters," she said.
"The civilians on board the ship were all unarmed. There were no arms, no live ammunition, there were no guns on board any of the ships and that was quite clearly stated by each organisation that [was] a part of the flotilla which had their ships thoroughly searched and certified before they left port."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/06/01/2915244.htm?section=justin
