For the most part, the MSM is downplaying the attack by elite Israeli assault troops on the civilians of the Gaza relief fleet.

A day after Israeli forces stormed a flotilla carrying humanitarian supplies in a fatal raid, independent information on what transpired remained scant Tuesday. The death toll of nine killed came from the Israels, who did not release the names of those who died. The Free Gaza Movement, one of the groups that organized the convoy of ships, said the fatalities numbered higher, but did not offer an exact number. The surviving passengers themselves were being held incommunicado by Israeli authorities. A team from the Turkish Red Crescent was expected to fly to Tel Aviv, Israel, on Tuesday to help coordinate the return of the dead and wounded, the organization said in a statement. Also Tuesday, protesters in several major cities planned to take to the streets in anger. Two such rallies were scheduled in New York and Chicago, Illinois. In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has a pre-scheduled meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. Davotoglu has called the raid "murder conducted by a state." But the Obama administration response has been more tempered. President Barack Obama expressed "deep regret" at the deaths and "also expressed the importance of learning all the facts and circumstances around this morning’s tragic events as soon as possible," the White House said Monday. That did not impress Turkey’s ambassador to the United States, Namik Tan, who called the U.S. response "sort of weak." "Israel should not get away with this," Tan said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a scheduled meeting with Obama this week to return to Israel to manage the crisis… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <CNN>

Turkey’s response to this is significant, because until now, Turkey has has been Israel’s only ally in the Muslim world.

Now here is a more revealing account.

In what could be a serious blow to Israel’s narrative on the killing of at least nine humanitarian activists making their way to Gaza through international waters, raw video by an Al Jazeera producer, who was filming during the raid, appears to provide evidence that the IDF opened fire on the flotilla even before boarding it. Israeli forces assert they came under attack by the pro-Palestine civilian group, and video released by the IDF appears to show one soldier being tossed overboard amid a scuffle with unidentified individuals wielding melee weapons, like clubs and chairs. However, in raw video captured by an Al Jazeera producer and published to YouTube late Monday, two journalists provide a play-by-play of the harrowing event as pops and cracks echo in the background. Even before the Israeli forces were aboard, one says, they were pelting the boat with tear gas and stun grenades, injuring numerous people. Then he confirms the first death, saying the individual was killed by "munitions," but not specifying whether it was a bullet or something else. Then he confirms that Israeli forces were boarding the ship. Another of the reporters featured in the video works for the Iranian network Press TV. "We are being hit by tear gas, stun grenades, we have navy ships on either side, helicopters overhead," he said. "We are being attacked from every single side. This is in international waters, not Israeli waters, not in the 68-mile exclusion zone. We are being attacked in international waters completely illegally." "The organizers are telling me now, they are raising a white flag — they are raising a white flag to the Israeli army," the Al Jazeera reporter said. "This is after one person has been killed; a civilian has been killed by munition. That number could be more … Despite the white flag being raised, despite the white flag being raised, the Israeli army is still shooting, still firing live munitions." Early reports put the number of victims between nine and 19, with dozens injured. (Update: Figures from major wire services put the number at 10, but it may yet change.) The actual number has not yet been confirmed, as the IDF took all the Gaza aid flotilla participants into custody. Numerous victims were reported to be from Turkey. Palestinian leadership called the incident a "war crime." Israeli ally Turkey also pledged their regional neighbor will "face the consequences" for the killings and reportedly planned to send military escort with a future Gaza aid flotilla. "At least four Israeli soldiers were wounded in the operation, some from gunfire, according to the military," The New York Times added. "Our soldiers had to defend themselves, to defend their lives," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said. Other Israeli officials have called the charity organization responsible a group of "extremist supporters of terror." The IDF also alleged that weapons were found on board and that activists opened fire first, calling the the resulting violence a result of "provocation." However, if these reporters’ immediate accounting of the events proves accurate, the truth of Israel’s claim that they opened fire in self defense would seem to be in doubt. Portions of the raw video were featured by Al Jazeera and AFP, although the beginning segment and the most clear allegations that Israel opened fire before boarding were not included in their entirety… …The action sparked protests around the world within hours…

Inserted from <Raw Story>

I reviewed several video clips posted online, including the Israeli offering. The clip that may be most revealing is almost exclusively in Arabic, making it quite confusing to me. Here is an AJ report in English.

While the Israeli clip, if authentic, clearly shows passengers struggling with the attackers it comes from a later time, because it reveals that several Israeli commandos are already aboard. The AJ report was filmed before Israelis had boarded. This convinces me that it was Israeli aggression.

Here are a couple things to consider. First, why was it necessary to prevent food deliveries to hungry people while the ship was still in international waters? Second, why was it necessary to send crack assault troops after civilians?