In Turkey, Israel’s unconscionable and ruthless act of aggression against the Turkish aid ship the Mavi Marmara in the Free Gaza Flotilla, has stirred deep anger. Turkey’s deputy Prime Minister has called the killings ‘an act of war’ and there have been angry demonstrations. Once close allies in the region (sharing military training), Turkey’s relationship with Israel has deteriorated in recent months but these killings will surely seal enmity. Turkey has become increasingly intolerant of Israel’s military operations against Palestinian people and more publicly vocal in its condemnation of the blockade which has denied Palestinians food and medical supplies for the past 3 years.

The Irish reaction to Israel’s storming of the Mavi Marmara has been one of shock and anger. Micheál Martin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, quickly condemned Israel’s actions and, on 2 June 2010, he contributed a piece to the Irish Independent newspaper, in which he described the deployment of the Israeli military as “completely disproportionate” and “unacceptable”. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has urged the Israeli government to exercise extreme restraint in relation to the MV Rachel Corrie, a 1,200-ton Irish-owned cargo ship with 11 activists on board, five of them Irish. The ship is currently en route to Gaza, having been prevented from departing with the Freedom Flotilla due to mechanical difficulties. Mr Cowen called for Israel to allow the MV Rachel Corrie to pass through the blockade, saying “I want to make this point: if any harm comes to any of our citizens, it will have the most serious consequences.”

As the aftermath of the Israeli attack on the aid flotilla continues to unfold, campaigning organisations across the globe are building support for action to resist any cover-up of this most recent example of state violence and to ensure that the truth is brought to light. It is clear that it will take concerted action from people around the globe to end the culture of impunity for state violence. ISCI supports these efforts to resist and to restrain the violence of the state - as Honorary Fellow, Noam Chomsky put it - and encourages participation in local and global action. Below are some of the groups and consortiums that seek your support.

Protests are continuing to take place around the world in response to the attack on the Free Gaza flotilla with some of the biggest protests occurring in Turkey. In Istanbul, thousands of protesters demonstrated against the attack in Taksim Square, while a demonstration also occurred in front of the Israeli embassy in Ankara. Turkey immediately pulled out of planned military exercises with Israel in response to the attack with the Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly describing the attack as "state terrorism".

In London, an estimated 1,000 people marched to 10 Downing Street and then the Israeli embassy. Other, smaller, protests took place in Bristol, Edinburgh and Belfast. Demonstrations were also held across Europe including Dublin where an estimated 2,000 protesters are marching to the Israeli Embassy. Further demonstrations have been planned in Paris, Berlin, Copenhagen and other European cities.