This morning at 10am a settler driving north on route 60 stopped his car outside the Agricultural School and University of Arroub and in front of the Arroub Refugee camp, just north of Beit Ommar. He stopped, got out of his car, and fired several live bullets into the air, prompting students on one side of the street to begin shouting at him and others across the street to throw stones at the car. He then turned and shot two students standing in front of the entrance to the school. Ibrahim Ahmed Al-Bis, 19, was shot in the stomach and back, Mu’atez Mousa Benat, 17, was shot … Continue reading

Originally on ynetnews.com

By Udi Aloni

I am writing these words with great pain and suppressed rage. I know that few are the Jews in Israel whose heart is open to the pain of their Palestinian brothers and sisters, and yet, I refuse to give up on this brotherhood.

I myself was almost on board one of the ships that made their way to Gaza, primarily in order to help and tell the world about her suffering, but also in order to say that among us, the Jewish citizens of Israel, there are some whose sense of justice, grace and brotherhood has not become blunt even under the patriotic psychosis that has taken over the best part of us.

But I was afraid … Continue reading

From the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign

(1st June 2010, 3pm) Yesterday’s Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in which up to 19 human rights activists were murdered in international waters has not deterred the Irish cargo ship the MV Rachel Corrie which is currently en route to Gaza and hopes to arrive this Saturday. Meanwhile the fall-out from the attack has pressured Egypt into opening the Rafah Crossing.

In the Dail, an all party motion which calls upon the government to ensure the safe passage of the MV Rachel Corrie and calls for the blockade of Gaza to be lifted is expected to be passed at around 7pm this evening. The IPSC welcomes this motion and hopes the Israeli government … Continue reading

Early on May 31st, the people of Beit Ommar received news that Fatma Elyaan Sabarneh, age 55, who was hit yesterday by a settler who was speeding on route 60, had died in a hospital in Hebron. A funeral procession was subsequently organized by villagers, in which hundreds followed the casket down the main road towards the village`s cemetery.

Immediately following the burial at around 2:00 p.m., the Israeli military prevented the crowd from walking towards Road 60, after which a confrontation ensued between Palestinian youth and soldiers. Soldiers began grabbing Palestinians from the crowd, including PSP … Continue reading

Below is a link to an interview with Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement organizer who was on the flotilla, with CNN:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Kw2Xkf2EqI

Other first-hand accounts:

Originally from english.aljazeera.net

photo from AFP

Israel has started releasing some of the 700 passengers it captured after troops stormed a flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

Turkey has sent three planes, including two military ambulance aircraft, to bring its nationals home.

Six Greek activists returned to Athens after being expelled from Israel, and a former US ambassador who was also on the ship was on a flight home.

Here are excerpts of what some of the freed passengers had to say:

Issam … Continue reading