International Reaction On Organizations Level To Flotilla Intervention

U.N. Security Council meets on Gaza flotilla
The U.N. Security Council met in emergency session on Monday to discuss Israel's storming of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, with most members of the 15-nation body calling for a thorough investigation.

UN members, officials condemn Israeli raid on Gaza aid flotilla

UNITED NATIONS: UN members and officials came out in strong condemnation of Israel's attack on a humanitarian flotilla headed to the Gaza strip, with its chief Ban-Ki-moon seeking a "full explanation" from the country.
"I condemn this violence," s aid Secretary-General Ban. "It is vital that there is a full investigation to determine exactly how this bloodshed took place. I believe Israel must urgently provide a full explanation," he said.

OIC condemns Israel for this piracy which constitutes an act of state terrorism, and a gross breach of international law and serious violation of human rights
The Expanded Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Executive Committee of the OIC, held on June 6, 2010, corresponding to 23 Jumada Al-Thani, 1431H in Jeddah, 
Having considered the circumstances surrounding the unlawful military attack of the Israeli forces against the international civilian convoy carrying humanitarian aid, i.e. Freedom Flotilla, in international waters on May 31, 2010, which resulted in loss of life and injuries among unarmed civilians.

Arab League Condemns Israeli ‘Crime’ Against Gaza Aid Boat
Cairo. Arab League chief Amr Mussa slammed a deadly Israeli military raid on Monday against a boat carrying aid for Gaza as a “crime” against a humanitarian mission.
“We condemn this crime, taken against a humanitarian mission and people. They were trying to help people. They were not on a military mission. Everyone should condemn this,” Mussa told

African Union condemns Israeli attack to the flotilla

Africa Union strongly condemns the latest criminal attack committed by the Israeli
occupation forces in the territorial waters of Palestine against the "Freedom
Flotilla" and humanitarian activists who came to stand by the besieged
Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip

EU strongly condemns Gaza flotilla attack

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek called the attack "unjustified" and requested Israel to "explain its actions immediately".
"The European Parliament has always strongly condemned the continued policy of closure with respect to the Gaza Strip, seeing it as unacceptable and counterproductive," Buzek stressed.

Israeli Killings of Gaza Ship Activists Must be Investigated

Amnesty International has called for Israel to launch an immediate, credible and independent investigation into the killing by its armed forces of at least 10 activists on boats protesting the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.

“Israeli forces appear clearly to have used excessive force,” said Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International’s director for the Middle East and North Africa. 

Statement to the Urgent Debate on the Raid on the Flotilla
Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned at the death of at least 10 activists after Israeli security forces boarded ships that were part of an "aid flotilla" to Gaza.  The incident, in which dozens of activists and several Israeli commandos were also reportedly wounded, raises grave concerns about possible unlawful and excessive use of lethal force.
A prompt, credible and impartial investigation into the incident is essential to determine whether the lethal force used by Israeli commandos was necessary to protect lives and whether it could have been avoided.

INTERNATIONAL REACTION ON STATES LEVEL TO FLOTILLA INTERVENTION
GERMANY
Guido Westerwelle, German foreign minister :
“I am deeply concerned about the events last night in the waters off Gaza... These are disconcerting initial reports.

ARGENTINA

the Argentine Foreign Ministry made a "Strong call for immediately stopping the violent events, which worsen the situation in the Middle East and lifting the embargo against the people in Gaza, allowing the free circulation of people and the entrance of humanitarian aid to the region."

AUSTRALIA
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd:
"The Australian Government condemns any use of violence under the sorts of circumstances that we have seen,'' ,"Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about the loss of life which has occurred."
Mr Rudd reiterated his Government's call for Israel to undertake an immediate and independent inquiry into the incident and provide the results to the UN Security Council.

AUSTRIA
Austria says Israeli raid on Gaza aid flotilla "shocking"
Austrian foreign minister Michael Spindelegger said he was "shocked" at the bloody raid of Gaza-bound flotilla by Israeli commandos on Monday.
"Such bloodshed is shocking and I am expecting a speedy and complete enlightenment," the minister said in a statement.

BELGIUM

BRESIL
The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the attack, in which nine people were killed, is made worse by the fact that "it took place in international waters."
"The tragic results of the Israeli military operation show, once again, the need to immediately lift the blockade on the Gaza Strip, to guarantee the freedom of movement of its inhabitants and the free access to that region of food, medicine and consumer goods," the statement said.

CHINA
Ma Zhaoxu, a foreign ministry spokesman:
"We were shocked by the Israeli naval attack on the Turkish flotilla carrying humanitarian goods to Gaza which led to severe casualties and condemn it."

DANIMARK
Lene Espersen, the Foreign Minister of Danimark says;
“The news we receive regarding the confrontation, is very troubling. We must have full clarity about what has happened. I have therefore asked the Israeli ambassador summoned to Foreign Ministry to explain the circumstances”

PALESTINE
PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS:
"What Israel has committed on board the Freedom Flotilla was a massacre," said Abbas who declared three days of official mourning for the dead.

FRANCE
Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement that he was shocked to know the news and couldn't understand Israel's attack in the context that the initiative of the flotilla was known by international community already.
"Nothing can justify the use of such a violence that we condemn," Kouchner said.

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
South African Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ebrahim Ebrahim told reporters in Pretoria Thursday that the recall of Ambassador Ismail Coovadia was "to show our strongest condemnation of the attack. The recent Israel aggression of attacking the aid flotilla severely impacts on finding a lasting solution to the problems of the region," he added.

HOLLAND
DUTCH FOREIGN MINISTER MAXIME VERHAGEN:
"I want the Israeli ambassador in The Hague to provide clarification today on this," Verhagen said in a statement. "The Netherlands wants an investigation specifically into how this could have happened."

INDONESIA
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs says;
The Indonesian government would cooperate with the international community to ensure that Israel was held accountable for its actions in accordance with international law.
Indonesia also urged the United Nations to fulfill its obligations in accordance with the United Nations Charter, including an investigation into Israeli acts of invasion and to ensure their accountability.

BRITAIN
Britain Prime Minister David Cameron called Israel’s deadly raid on the Turkish-led Gaza Freedom Flotilla “completely unacceptable” and called for an end to the economic blockade of the Gaza Strip. The strength of language used today by new Prime Minister Cameron and Foreign Secretary William Hague illustrates the depth of anger here over Israel's commando raid in international waters on Monday, which saw nine pro-Palestinian activists killed as they sought to bring humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip

IRAN
Iran condemned the Israel Navy clashes onboard a ship carrying pro-palestinian activists, calling the regime in Tel Aviv a threat to global peace and security, state-run Press TV reported.
The spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Kazem Jalali described the attack as a “war crime.” Jalali also criticized Tel Aviv for being a “threat to global security.”

IRELAND
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin;
"This is totally unacceptable response by the Israeli military to what was a humanitarian mission attempting to deliver much needed supplies to the people of Gaza"

SPAIN
Diego Lopez Garrido, secretary of state for EU affairs, says
"We have have summoned the Israeli ambassador (to Spain) to give us explanations and, of course, we will investigate and will start handling this matter immediately,"

SWEDEN
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said “the Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound aid flotilla which killed 9 people was an international diplomatic crisis. EU countries clearly condemned the attack from the very beginning.”

ITALY
Italy “deplored” the violence on board the flotilla. Its Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said: “I absolutely deplore... the killing of civilians … an investigation must discover the truth about what happened. We demand a serious and detailed investigation, and I think the EU must be involved so that it is directly informed of the findings.”

QATAR
the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said;
“The act of piracy”, “All those who speak of justice and freedom and democracy are now required to do something to break this blockade,”

CUBA
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cubawishes to convey its most heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and reiterates its support for and solidarity with the just cause of the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights, which include the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

LEBANON
Saad Hariri, the Prime Minister of Lebanon:
"The Israeli attack on the aid convoy is a dangerous and crazy step that will exacerbate tensions in the region. Lebanon firmly denounces this attack and calls on the international community, notably major powers... to take action in order to end this continued violation of human rights and threat to international peace."

MALAYSIA
Malasian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman says that “United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to consider action againts Israel and to put pressureon Israel to immediately lift the blockade on Gaza”

EGYPT
Thousands of people in Gaza raced to the border after Egypt temporarily opened a crossing into the Palestinian territory on Tuesday, a day after nine people were killed during an Israeli raid on an aid flotilla.

NICARAGUA
Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo says; "emphasized the illegal nature of the attack on a humanitarian mission in clear violation of international and humanitarian law,"

NORWAY
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre says in a press release;.
Norway is shocked that Israeli naval forces have shot and killed civilians while boarding the convoy carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza. I condemn this use of military force against civilians

PAKISTAN
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said;
“It is a sad incident. The people and government of Pakistan strongly condemn it. There is no moral and legal justification for it”

RUSSIA
A statement on the foreign ministry website said Russia expressed "condemnation and deep concern" over the incident and called for a full investigation.
The ministry also called the use of "weapons against citizens and the seizing of ships in open waters with no legal grounds a gross violation of commonly accepted international legal norms."

SAUDI ARABIA
Saudi Arabia on Monday condemned the storming by Israeli forces of a flotilla carrying aid to Palestinians in Gaza, an operation that left nine of the ship’s passengers dead. Israel, the Cabinet said, persists on starving the Palestinian people and depriving them of humanitarian aid. The ministers appealed to the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and put an end to Israel’s unjust policies and actions.

SYRIA
Syria called on Monday for an emergency meeting of the Arab League council to discuss “the repercussions of the Israeli aggression” on a flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip

CHILE
Argentina’s Foreign Ministry voiced the government’s condemnation of the attack in international waters. The official note said: “The Republic of Argentina deeply regrets the loss of lives in this incident and calls for carrying out a complete and thorough investigation.”

VATICAN
Chief Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said Monday that the raid by Israeli Navy commandos, in which dozens of protesters were killed or injured, was "a very painful thing, in particular for the useless loss of human lives."

VENEZUELA
President Hugo Chavez condemned the attack and said that the revolutionary government of Venezuela will "continue denouncing the terrorist and criminal nature of Israel, and it reaffirms, today more than ever, its unbreakable commitment with the fight of the Palestinian people for freedom, the sovereignty and dignity". 

NEW ZEALAND
Prime Minister John Key says the government is very concerned about her.
"Obviously we are very concerned," he says. "We condemn the violence that has taken place. Ten people lost their lives, it's tragic and unacceptable."

GREECE
foreign minister Dimitris Droutsas stressed that "there is no excuse for the violence, the extent of this violence cannot be justified". We condemn it," the alternate foreign minister said. And the Greek government decided to immediately discontinue an ongoing joint Greek-Israeli air exercise code-named "Minoas 2010".

TURKEY
Turkey condemns flotilla 'massacre'
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, has said that Israel should be "punished" for its "bloody massacre" of activists following its attack on a humanitarian aid convoy that was heading to the Gaza Strip.