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Copenhagen - Israel attacked a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, leaving up to 19 activists dead, only after receiving reports the fleet had links to al-Qaeda, the Israeli ambassador to Denmark claimed on Monday.
"Before the flotilla entered Israeli waters, rumour had it that the organisers (of the aid initiative) had links with the al-Qaeda terrorist network," Arthur Avnon was quoted as saying on the website of public broadcaster DR.
"The people on board were not so innocent ... and I can not imagine that another country would react any differently," the ambassador said before being summoned to the Danish foreign ministry to explain the attack.
Avnon lamented the loss of life but nonetheless defended to DR "the (Israeli) soldiers who were welcomed with violence when they climbed on board. One of them was injured in the stomach and others were injured with baseball bats."
An Israeli military spokesperson said two guns had been discovered on the ships and Israel's military chief, General Gaby Ashkenazi, blamed the violence on Turkish non-governmental organisation (NGO) IHH, which he characterised as "extremist".
Israel's Channel 10 television and Al-Jazeera both reported 19 dead, but the Israeli channel later revised that number down to 10. The Gaza branch of IHH put the death toll at 15, saying most of them were Turkish nationals.
The Israeli military said seven soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously.
Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen earlier on Monday described accounts of the confrontation as "very worrying".
- AFP
Not sure if this posted yet
"Before the flotilla entered Israeli waters, rumour had it that the organisers (of the aid initiative) had links with the al-Qaeda terrorist network," Arthur Avnon was quoted as saying on the website of public broadcaster DR.
"The people on board were not so innocent ... and I can not imagine that another country would react any differently," the ambassador said before being summoned to the Danish foreign ministry to explain the attack.
Avnon lamented the loss of life but nonetheless defended to DR "the (Israeli) soldiers who were welcomed with violence when they climbed on board. One of them was injured in the stomach and others were injured with baseball bats."
An Israeli military spokesperson said two guns had been discovered on the ships and Israel's military chief, General Gaby Ashkenazi, blamed the violence on Turkish non-governmental organisation (NGO) IHH, which he characterised as "extremist".
Israel's Channel 10 television and Al-Jazeera both reported 19 dead, but the Israeli channel later revised that number down to 10. The Gaza branch of IHH put the death toll at 15, saying most of them were Turkish nationals.
The Israeli military said seven soldiers were wounded, one of them seriously.
Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen earlier on Monday described accounts of the confrontation as "very worrying".
- AFP
Not sure if this posted yet
