News Flash: Five Captured in Gaza Flotilla have Direct Ties to Terrorist Groups

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By Barry Rubin

Note that this is only the first group identified as directly involved with terrorist groups and there will be more soon. Their connections include Hamas and al-Qaida. So much for the peaceful nature of the hardcore cadre who attacked Israeli soldiers. Remember that if there had been no such assault--as happened on the other five ships which were taken into port without anyone being injured--there would not have been any casualties.

So here's the question: Why is it so hard to understand the nature of the operation when the organizer is seen by the U.S. government as a terrorist group, a view shared by the previous Turkish government, a Danish government official report, and France's leading counter-terrorist prosecutor?

Of course, the vast majority of people on the flotilla--and especially the other five ships--were well-meaning and not involved in any terrorist or violent activity. But if it had not been for a minimum of 40 militants on the sixth ship not a single person would have been injured.

The following passengers on board the Mavi Marmara are known to be involved in terrorist activity. The Mavi Marmara attempted to break the maritime closure on the Gaza Strip on Monday, May 31st 2010, and was boarded by Israel Navy forces.

Fatimah Mahmadi (born 1979), is a United States resident of Iranian origin, and an active member of the organization “Viva Palestine”, she attempted to smuggle forbidden electronic components into the Gaza Strip.

Ken O’Keefe (Born 1969), an American and British citizen, is a radical anti-Israel activist and operative of the Hamas Terror organization. He attempted to enter the Gaza Strip in order to form and train a commando unit for the Palestinian terror organization. Here is his site. By the way, while this isn't terrorist, listen as he explains how he loves helping Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Hassan Iynasi (born 1982), a Turkish citizen and activist in a Turkish charity organization, is known of providing financial support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terror organization.

Hussein Urosh, a Turkish citizen and activist in the IHH organization, was on his way to the Gaza Strip in order to assist in smuggling Al-Qaeda operatives via Turkey into the Strip.

Ahmad Umimon (born 1959), is a French citizen of Moroccan origin, and an operative of the Hamas Terrorist organization.

I hope to be adding more so send me links on these other people or additional "passengers" on the ship.

Oh, and here's a report with links to original documents about the involvement of the IHH, the group that organized the flotilla and ran the "humaniterrorist" ship in it, in violent terrorism. Not just violent terrorism but a terrorist attack against the United States!

By the way, professional moderate Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Palestinian Authority (PA) has now granted honorary Palestinian citizenship on all the activists aboard the flotilla ships. What's peculiar about this, of course, is that they were helping his rival, Hamas, you know the group that staged an armed uprising against the PA, threw them out of the Gaza Strip, murdered Fatah people, and tries to overthrow the PA on the West Bank?

Abbas wants Hamas to accept his leadership, subordinate itself to the PA, and return the Gaza Strip to his rule. He also wants Palestinian unity in conflict with Israel. I understand that. But surely there should be some limit. Abbas is just putting making anti-Israel propaganda over PA interests and certainly over peacemaking. This is a clear illustration of his priorities.

I wouldn't want to see Hamas assassinate or overthrow him some day--a disaster for U.S., Western, and Israeli interests. But if it ever happens, do remember the irony of his being bitten by the hand he feeds, so to speak.

Oh, speaking of irony, let's remember that the factor ensuring behind the scenes that Hamas doesn't overthrow the PA or assassinate Abbas is...Israel.

Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal. His latest books are The Israel-Arab Reader (seventh edition), The Long War for Freedom: The Arab Struggle for Democracy in the Middle East (Wiley), and The Truth About Syria (PalgraveMacmillan). His new edited books include Lebanon: Liberation, Conflict and Crisis; Guide to Islamist Movements; Conflict and Insurgency in the Middle East; The West and the Middle East (four volumes); and The Muslim Brotherhood. To read and subscribe to MERIA, GLORIA articles, or to order books. To see or subscribe to his blog, Rubin Reports.