Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak appeared on Fox News earlier to defend the actions of Israeli soldiers during a deadly raid of aid ships traveling to the Gaza Strip.
“We made clear that we would not allow [the flotilla] to go, because the Gaza Strip, run by Hamas, is under marine blockade,” Barak said. “We told them if you have any kind of humanitarian aid or material we are ready to take them through our boat [sic] and bring them to the Gaza Strip.”
Barak said the soldiers who boarded the ships were equipped with police-style “public order — not weapons — but tools” and “pistols.” According to Barak, the aid material will be inspected and then sent to Gaza, and the members of the flotilla will be released after interrogation.
Barak had this to say of Turkey’s claim that Israel had engaged in “state terrorism”:
“I don’t think it is state terrorism,” Barak said. “Before yesterday night, before taking these actions … we called each and every action of these vessels and told them, ‘You are asked to follow us into Ashdod.'” He said Israel was abiding by international law.
