Footage smuggled past the soldiers who occupied the Mavi Marmara, and subsequent body searches on dry land has just gone public, and Lara Lee, film maker said:
As a passenger of the Mavi Marmara, the flagship vessel of the humanitarian convoy that Israel attacked in international waters, I am cautiously optimistic about Israel's announced plan of "easing" the Gaza blockade. Easing, after all, is not the same as "complete lifting," and it is yet to be determined what the nature of this easing process will be. Still, I am encouraged by the fact that this small step resulted in the first place from the Freedom Flotilla's nonviolent act of civil disobedience.
However we must never forget that nine civilian peace activists -- including one American citizen -- were unjustly killed in the process, and that the challenge still remains of bringing Israel to account for its actions on May 31st.
In their defence of the indefensible, the Israeli government has attempted to slander the character of the victims and other flotilla participants by drawing false links to terrorism, and portraying us as a lynch mob of anti-Semitic Muslim fanatics.
Fortunately, we were able to smuggle some footage of the Israeli assault off the ship and safely back to the US, and which I was able to screen at the United Nations. It paints a picture in stark contrast to Israeli claims of a violent mob looking for a fight. I encourage everyone to view this footage. You will see people from all walks of life, secular and religious, Muslim, Christian, atheistic, male and female, young and old. Prior to the raid they are talking, sleeping, praying or working on their computers. After commandos invade the ship you see men scrambling, the dead and wounded being hurried to the lower decks, away from Israeli gunfire, and groups of men huddled together with whatever makeshift items they can find, including broom handles, pipes, and sticks -- not exactly a well-prepared or well-trained armed force.
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