RAMALLAH, October 25 (JMCC) - Muhammed Zaidan, an Israeli-Arab who was aboard the
Gaza-bound Turkish
aid ship raided by the Israeli army on May 31st, stated Monday that the soldiers ignored wounded passengers. Treatment to bleeding passengers was refused for over one hour.
The testimony came before the Turkel commission, the body established to investigate the naval raid that resulted in the death of nine passengers. Another Arab-Israeli who was aboard the boat, also testified.
Zaidan said that he and about 250 other passengers remained below deck, in a large room where they slept during the seizure of the boat. He said he did not see the takeover of the boat by the soldiers, however, during the takeover, about 20 wounded passengers entered the room. Many of them were bleeding, he added. Zaidan said Israeli soldiers stood outside the door talking to each other but did not enter the room and did not extend help.
At one point he maintained, MK Haneen Zoabi went up to the soldiers with a sign asking them to look after the wounded. The soldiers, he continued, ordered her to return to her place and did nothing.
Read more at
The Jerusalem Post…