The death toll from the Israeli navy’s
takeover of a Gaza aid convoy has risen to 20 while Israel carefully
censors reports on the casualties from the attack.
Gaza Freedom Flotilla came under fire early on Monday by Israeli
navy forces in international waters more than 150km (90 miles) off the
coast of Gaza.
The six-ship aid fleet was soon stormed by commandos descending from
helicopters.
At least 20 people were killed in the takeover of the Gaza aid
convoy, a Press TV correspondent reported, saying that more than 50
people were also wounded in the attack.
The news trickled through the Israeli military censorship which has
sought to block the reporting of any information about the casualties.
A report on the radio said the censorship was aimed at covering up
the number of casualties brought to Israeli hospitals for treatment.
Meanwhile, Israeli Trade and Industry Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer
expressed regret for the deaths aboard the Gaza aid ships.
“The images are certainly not pleasant. I can only voice regret at
all the fatalities,” he told Israel’s Army Radio.
The comments come as the first official acknowledgement by Tel Aviv
that the attack had turned fatal.
Israel had initially declined to comment on the reports of
casualties from the takeover of the aid ships.
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