Israeli raid on flotilla: an intentional message for Gaza and the rest of the world, Yousef Munayyer, The Christian Science Monitor (June 1, 2010) - On Monday Israeli commandos boarded one of the civilian passenger ships that was part of the "freedom flotilla" sailing to break Israel's siege on Gaza and opened fire, killing at least nine and injuring many others. My first reaction was, as respected New York Times columnist Nick Kristof tweeted, that "Israel wldn't be that stupid." The movement that put together this blockade-busting attempt sought to draw attention to the heinous blockade of Gaza that Israel has imposed for four years. Bloodshed at the hands of the Israeli military could only mean that the story of the flotilla, which had already garnered some media attention, would become a leading news item.

Western leaders are too cowardly to help save lives, Robert Fisk, The Independent, (June 1, 2010) - It is a fact that it is ordinary people, activists, call them what you will, who now take decisions to change events. Can the Gaza War of 2008-09 (1,300 dead) and the Lebanon War of 2006 (1,006 dead) and all the other wars and now yesterday's killings mean that the world will no longer accept Israel's rule?

U.S. must condemn Israel for ship killings, Amjad Atallah, CNN.com, (June 1, 2010) - President Obama, in his memorable speech almost exactly one year ago in Cairo, Egypt, urged Palestinians to pursue nonviolent means toward securing their freedom and raised the hopes of many Muslim-majority nations who saw a new, unbiased Mideast policy in the making. Those hopes were shattered by America's tepid response to the killings aboard a ship on a peaceful humanitarian mission Sunday night.

Israeli aid boat attack ‘has opened world’s eyes to Gaza’s plight’, Sheera Frenkel, Times Online, (June 1, 2010) - Israel’s botched commando raid has succeeded in doing the one thing that Tel Aviv will have wanted to avoid — drawing attention to the Jewish state’s harsh three-year blockade of Gaza.