European campaign: Israel will pay dearly for attacking Freedom Flotilla

European campaign: Israel will pay dearly for attacking Freedom Flotilla

BRUSSELS — The European campaign to end the siege said Israel will pay dearly at the media and political levels for its brutal attack on the Freedom Flotilla convoy earlier this morning, especially since Europe will move to condemn this crime.

The European campaign, one of the convoy organizers, said the Israeli troops’ hijacking of the ships and their use of live bullets and tear gas grenades are acts of piracy and aggression against hundreds of non-violent people who wanted to deliver humanitarian aid to the impoverished Gaza people.

According to different news reports, 16 people were killed and dozens injured when Israeli troops stormed the Freedom Flotilla ships at dawn Monday. The convoy was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Gaza coast.

Earlier, a number of European cities on Sunday witnessed a series of events in solidarity with the Freedom Flotilla convoy, especially in the wake of Israel’s threats to attack the ships and arrest the passengers aboard.

These events took place in response to the invitation made by the European campaign which called for organizing sit-ins and marches in solidarity with the convoy.

In the Austrian capital Vienna, more than 2,000 people participated in a protest to condemn Israel’s intentions to attack the convoy ships. Other pro-Palestinian activists also staged a solidarity march aboard a number of boats at the Italian port of Genoa.

A large tent was pitched in the Swedish city of Malmo in solidarity with Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla convoy.