They said we were terrorists – it was absurd. They came into the part where the women were, lots and lots of them, dressed in black and with gigantic weapons as if they were in a war. They confiscated all of our telephones and all of our luggage and took everything out of the bags and put it on the floor." said Iara Lee, a Brazilian filmmaker and survivor of the Israeli assault, who was on the Mavi Marmara. The main ship of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla Convoy.

On 1st June 2010, the Gaza flotilla raid took place in the Mediterranean Sea in International waters. The assault began at 4.30am as the convoy was heading to Gaza refused to change course and head away from the Gaza coast with an attempt to deliver its cargo of aid. According to a spokeswoman for the Israeli defence force (IDF), Avital Leibovich, officers aboard its warships gave the activists several warnings before commandos were winched from helicopters on to the deck of the Mavi Marmara. At least nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed as Israeli naval commandos stormed the Mavi Marmara. Dozens more were wounded and evacuated by helicopter to Israeli hospitals.

Both parties gave different statements of the raid, Turkish activist Nilufer Cetin said Israeli troops opened fire before boarding the Turkish-flagged ferry Mavi Marmara, while on the other hand. Israeli officials said that the use of armed force began when its boarding party was attacked. When about 10 activists had attacked commandos, taking their pistols.

The attack prompted widespread international reactions from national authorities, supranational bodies and NGOs, as well as civilian demonstrations around the world. The United Nations Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council condemned "those acts resulting in civilian deaths", demanded an impartial investigation of the raid, and called for the immediate release of civilians held by Israel. Israel responded that it would release 620 of the 682 arrested people, and deport them back to their countries.

The IDF should not have resort to lethal force even if its boarding party has been attacked. This mistake had led to the lost of innocent lives. Kind souls whose goal of the trip is only for goodwill.

From the statement given by both parties, I feel that the IDF is simply trying to cover up their mistake by pushing the blame to the activists. From a logical point of view, would activists carry a wide range of arsenal in its attempt of providing aid. The Mavi Marmara is also known for its intention of bringing in humanitarian aid. Hence, the use for lethal force is way over the top.

According to Israeli sources, the IDF boarded the ships after the flotilla refused calls to change course and head away from Gaza. If this statement is true, the activists will have to be responsible for this tragedy as well. As the saying goes, it takes two to tango. None of this would have happened if they had complied in the first place.

Like the Sinking of Cheonan incident, this event will be watched by the world.