COMMENTARY: Shame on Israel for Killing Flotilla Humanitarians in International Waters

Israel must hang its head in shame for its barbaric and unprovoked killings of at least nine pro-Palestinian activists on humanitarian boats in international waters.

The flotilla was carrying humanitarian aid -- not weapons or military supplies -- to the 1.5 million people trapped inside the Gaza strip when Israelis attacked them. The fact that the Israeli attack occurred in international waters -- that is, more than three miles beyond Israeli land -- adds more disgrace to the attacks. (Actually, the flotilla had been at least 68 miles from the Gaza coast when it was attacked.)

A large number of church-based relief organizations -- including the Action by Churches Together (ACT) Alliance -- have condemned the Israeli aggression and called it "a crime."

The United Nations has condemned the Israeli flotilla raid and has called for an investigation. The United States -- perhaps Israel's strongest ally -- supports the UN's condemnation of the Israeli act and the UN's call for a credible investigation.

Turkey -- previously one of Israel's friendliest nations in the Middle East -- has been pressuring the UN to sanction Israel for its attack of the flotilla, and has condemned the raid as a "bloody massacre by Israel." In fact, Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Israel.

Archbishop Hilarian Capucci, a Greek Catholic prelate from Jerusalem who was imprisoned by Israel in 1974, said the Israeli attack was unwarranted. "Our trip to Gaza was a trip of love and God was with us. Israel by its actions has rightly drawn world outrage over its brutality against unarmed people carrying a message of love to an innocent occupied people under siege," Capucci said.

The Greek Catholic Archbishop is correct in saying that the attack was unwarranted. The fact is it never should have occurred.

Israel will now pay the price for this unwarranted attack. It has already lost the support it previously had from many nations. Moreover, the Israeli aggression has hindered the prospects for peace in the Middle East, and has infuriated several Muslim organizations and militants to such a degree that they will undoubtedly retaliate against Israel and Israelis in the ensuing months -- perhaps even years.