By Sam Greenhill [www.dailymail.co.uk]
Last updated at 1:39 AM on 2nd June 2010More than 36 hours after being plucked from international waters, the fate of 40 Britons being held in Israel following the Gaza aid bloodbath was still clouded in doubt.
Their furious and increasingly anxious families were waiting hear news - though last night Israel insisted the captives would all be free within 48 hours.
Most are thought to be incarcerated in Be'er Sheva prison in southern Israel but there was no word of their condition after the Monday's raid, in which up to 19 activists were killed.
Harrowing eyewitness accounts have told of a 'lake of blood' on the deck of the Mavi Marmara passenger ship, which was laden with aid and protesters when it part of a flotilla of six ships boarded by commandos.
Irish activist Shane Dillon arrives back at Dublin Airport after he was deported from Israel
Dillon can't hide his emotions as he hugs his girlfriend after arriving back in Dublin
The 40 Britons are among activists described as 'terrorists' by Israel who are being held in the desert prison, after apparently refusing to sign 'confessions' admitting they entered Israel illegally.
They have not been allowed to use their phones, so relatives say they have no idea how they have they have coped with their ordeal.
Yesterday international condemnation of the killings reached fever pitch. Turkey - which unofficially sponsored the aid fleet - described the Israeli raid as a 'bloody massacre' and 'a blow to world peace'.
The UN Security Council demanded the release of all civilians captured by Israel and an impartial investigation.
This shot shows an improvised explosive device, one of the items allegedly found on the flotilla
An Israeli soldier keeps watch aboard a naval vessel in the Mediterranean Sea: The country claims it is simply defending itself
Assault force: Israeli naval vessels approach the port of Ashdod after storming the Gaza flotilla
THE RADICALS' ANTHEM
ACTIVISTS on the Mavi Marmara are accused of singing an anti-Semitic song as the commandos came on board.
It apparently refers to the 7th Century expulsion of Jews from the town in Khaybar, in modern day Saudi Arabia.
The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Mohammed's army and the Jewish population of the oasis town around 60 miles north of Medina in the Arabian peninsula.
According Islamic histories of the battle, after Mohammed's victory the Jews were permitted to continue living in the settlement but were obliged to hand over half their produce the Muslims.
In recent years, an Arabic song commemorating the battle has become popular with violent anti-Israel groups.
The fast-paced 'Remember Khaybar' chant contains the line 'Jews. Remember Khaybar. The army of Mohammed is returning'.
Ironically, however, the battle of Khaybar was one of relatively few occasions in history when Jews and Muslims came into direct conflict.
The two faiths - which overlap significantly in practice and beliefs - have actually spent much of the 1,440 years since Mohammed's birth living in harmony.
It apparently refers to the 7th Century expulsion of Jews from the town in Khaybar, in modern day Saudi Arabia.
The Battle of Khaybar was fought in the year 629 between Mohammed's army and the Jewish population of the oasis town around 60 miles north of Medina in the Arabian peninsula.
According Islamic histories of the battle, after Mohammed's victory the Jews were permitted to continue living in the settlement but were obliged to hand over half their produce the Muslims.
In recent years, an Arabic song commemorating the battle has become popular with violent anti-Israel groups.
The fast-paced 'Remember Khaybar' chant contains the line 'Jews. Remember Khaybar. The army of Mohammed is returning'.
Ironically, however, the battle of Khaybar was one of relatively few occasions in history when Jews and Muslims came into direct conflict.
The two faiths - which overlap significantly in practice and beliefs - have actually spent much of the 1,440 years since Mohammed's birth living in harmony.
Shane Dillon, an Irish activist who was first mate on the Challenger 1, arrived home in Dublin last night.
He told how Israeli forced approached the flotilla in unlit vessels and attacked with stun grenades from the sea before lowering troops down by helicopter.
'We didn't expect it to be so severe and a severe loss of life. That was just ridiculous, it's very sad,' he continued.
'My heart goes out to the brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers and the families of those who died.'
The defiant seaman - who wants the aid flotilla to continue - also had a message for the Israeli government.
He said: 'Cop on, grow up, it's about time you let people be treated well and treated properly and stop this stupid siege and blockade on a nation of people.'
As the Foreign Office confirmed that 29 of the Britons had received a visit - with no complaints about their treatment - the Foreign Secretary said he expected the detained British nationals to be deported by Israel 'very quickly'.
The Israeli authorities said 50 of the 679 activists taken off the flotilla had already been taken to Israel's international airport for deportation.
The rest were being held at the Be'er Sheva detention centre in southern Israel, having refused to identify themselves.
Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the detainees were being treated in line with international practice.
He said: 'It was agreed that the detainees would be deported immediately.'
Although Arab prisoners could cross the border to Jordan, it was unclear what was happening to the Western prisoners who would be expected to fly home.
There were no direct flights to the UK last night.
A British embassy spokesman in Jerusalem said: 'We are seeking urgent clarification from Israeli authorities about these reports.'
Yesterday the commando captain who led the raid insisted his men only fired as a last resort after being set upon by a lynch mob wielding makeshift weapons.
Harrowing: Activist Nilufer Cetin holds her son Turker Kaan Cetin after they were both deported from Israel. They had been on the flotilla when it was raided
Outcry: Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters gather outside Downing Street to protest against the the flotilla raid
Protest: Riot police officers blockade the road leading to the Israeli embassy in London
Britain called on Israel to begin a 'transparent and thorough' investigation, with Prime Minister David Cameron describing the deepening crisis as 'unacceptable'. Alex Harrison, a 33-year-old aid worker is one of those detained, who has not been allowed to ring her worried family.
Her father Adrian said: 'We are extremely worried about her. She has not been in contact with us.
'The Israelis keep referring to the ships as full of "terrorists". That's not true; these humanitarian workers are dedicated to peace.'
Israeli patrol boats are silhouetted against the backdrop of a large civilian vessel before the pre-dawn assault in which up to 19 people died
This video image released by the Turkish Aid group IHH purports to show Israeli soldiers aboard a military vessel in international waters off the Gaza coast
Ruth Baker, 62, whose partner Denis Healey, 55, from Portsmouth, is among the missing said: 'I am very angry that the Israelis have done this to a group of people who are only trying to deliver aid.'
One of those already freed, gave an account of Monday's assault.
Turkish activist Nilufer Cetin described how the navy 'harassed' the flotilla for two hours, and claimed: 'When the Mavi Marmara continued on its course they used smoke bombs followed by gas canisters.
'They started to descend on to the ship with helicopters. The ship turned into a lake of blood.'
They may have been united under a banner of 'Free Palestine', but the protesters on board the Gaza-bound flotilla were a mixture of the hard Left, the well-meaning, the 'professional' activists, and the naive.
While many of the 679 protesters appear to have been motivated by a genuine desire to help Gaza's needy, others had far more radical agendas - including, seemingly, the desire for violence.
Those on board included a radical Muslim, a socialist feminist and a Hampshire peacenik who got involved in the Palestinian struggle because Gaza is about the same size as the Isle of Wight.
Though brought together by the desire to help the stricken people of Gaza, their political agendas were radically divergent.
As some spoke of spreading world peace, some Muslim activists described the trip as nothing less than a 'martyrdom operation'.
Israel has refused to divulge the identities of the British people believed to have been on the flotilla.
But, by using information provided by the organisations which sent them to the Mediterranean, it was possible to piece together a picture of the extraordinary blend of those on board.
While it is by no means certain that any of the British people were involved in the violence, yesterday it became clear that some - perhaps only a tiny minority - of the shipmates had violent intentions.
Al-Jazeera broadcast video from the Mavi Marmara showing a group of Muslims chanting an anti-Semitic song referring to the 7th Century expulsion of Jews from the town in Khaybar, in modem day Saudi Arabia.
Dubbed 'my clever comrade' by maverick politician George Galloway, Mr Ovenden was expelled by the Socialist Workers Party in 2007 over his support for the controversial former MP.
The far-Left activist was Mr Galloway's parliamentary aide until the former Labour MP who set up the Respect party, lost his seat at the last election.
Mr Ovenden, 40, is a trustee for the Viva Palestina charity, set up by Mr Galloway, and sits on the steering committee of the Stop the War coalition.
He stood as a Respect councillor in Millwall, South London, last month but failed to gain a council seat after polling only 277 votes.
He has helped to lead three previous aid road convoys to Gaza and claimed he had negotiated with the Gaddafi government in Libya about taking aid through Tripoli.
He posted a series of blogs on the Viva Palestina website as the aid flotilla approached Gaza, in
which he boasted that the activists' resolve had been hardened by Israeli 'mind games'.
The Muslim commentator compared Israel's occupation of Gaza to Nazi-occupied Europe.
Writing about his decision to join the flotilla, the Leicester optician said: 'The situation in Gaza is unbearable and reminiscent of the Second World War, when hundreds of thousands of people were herded together like cattle.
'The only difference here is that we have formulated dozens of international treaties to ensure that this situation never again arises, and yet here we are facing it once more.'
Mr Patel, 48, who was on board the Mavi Marmara, is chairman of the Friends of al-Aqsa pressure group.
It has used the writings of discredited Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy to justify its support for the Palestinian resistance.
The married father-of-three is a spokesman for the British Muslim Initiative, which Islamwatchers claim is closely allied to Hamas.
Her family can trace their ancestry back to Viscount Cobhamand she describes herself on her Facebook page as: 'A lady of high moral standard and impeccable manners (apart from the cleptomania [sic] and the swearing).'
Known as 'Lorty', she works with young offenders in North London and lives in Hackney, East London.
She had previously joined a road convoy to Gaza, led by George Galloway.
Her father Patrick Lort-Phillips, a former lieutenant colonel in the Army, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, said: 'She is definitely not political.
'Her involvement in all of this is the humanitarian side.'
The 24-year-old from Glasgow is a reporter for Press TV, an Iranian-run English language television network, and he has previously worked at the Islam Channel in London.
Her father Adrian Harrison said: 'Her main objective was to get aid to the starving people in Gaza - she is a humanitarian and that is her primary role.'
He runs a builder's yard in Ryde on the Isle of Wight and his partner Rachel Bridgeland said he wanted to help because 'Gaza is about the same size as the Isle of Wight'.
Knives, machetes and catapults, said to have been found aboard the Mavi Marmara, were put on display. One of the items found looks like an improvised explosive device.
The commando captain who led the storming of the Mavi Marmara said his men were forced to respond with lethal force only after the 'terrorists' began to try to kill them.One of those already freed, gave an account of Monday's assault.
Turkish activist Nilufer Cetin described how the navy 'harassed' the flotilla for two hours, and claimed: 'When the Mavi Marmara continued on its course they used smoke bombs followed by gas canisters.
'They started to descend on to the ship with helicopters. The ship turned into a lake of blood.'
AN UNLIKELY MIX OF RADICALS AND PEACENIKS
BY DAN NEWLING AND VANESSA ALLENThey may have been united under a banner of 'Free Palestine', but the protesters on board the Gaza-bound flotilla were a mixture of the hard Left, the well-meaning, the 'professional' activists, and the naive.
While many of the 679 protesters appear to have been motivated by a genuine desire to help Gaza's needy, others had far more radical agendas - including, seemingly, the desire for violence.
Those on board included a radical Muslim, a socialist feminist and a Hampshire peacenik who got involved in the Palestinian struggle because Gaza is about the same size as the Isle of Wight.
Though brought together by the desire to help the stricken people of Gaza, their political agendas were radically divergent.
As some spoke of spreading world peace, some Muslim activists described the trip as nothing less than a 'martyrdom operation'.
Israel has refused to divulge the identities of the British people believed to have been on the flotilla.
But, by using information provided by the organisations which sent them to the Mediterranean, it was possible to piece together a picture of the extraordinary blend of those on board.
While it is by no means certain that any of the British people were involved in the violence, yesterday it became clear that some - perhaps only a tiny minority - of the shipmates had violent intentions.
Al-Jazeera broadcast video from the Mavi Marmara showing a group of Muslims chanting an anti-Semitic song referring to the 7th Century expulsion of Jews from the town in Khaybar, in modem day Saudi Arabia.
KEVIN OVENDEN
Kevin Ovenden was formerly George Galloway's parliamentary aide
The far-Left activist was Mr Galloway's parliamentary aide until the former Labour MP who set up the Respect party, lost his seat at the last election.
Mr Ovenden, 40, is a trustee for the Viva Palestina charity, set up by Mr Galloway, and sits on the steering committee of the Stop the War coalition.
He stood as a Respect councillor in Millwall, South London, last month but failed to gain a council seat after polling only 277 votes.
He has helped to lead three previous aid road convoys to Gaza and claimed he had negotiated with the Gaddafi government in Libya about taking aid through Tripoli.
He posted a series of blogs on the Viva Palestina website as the aid flotilla approached Gaza, in
which he boasted that the activists' resolve had been hardened by Israeli 'mind games'.
ISMAIL PATEL
Ismail Patel compared Israel's occupation of Gaza to Nazi-occupied Europe
Writing about his decision to join the flotilla, the Leicester optician said: 'The situation in Gaza is unbearable and reminiscent of the Second World War, when hundreds of thousands of people were herded together like cattle.
'The only difference here is that we have formulated dozens of international treaties to ensure that this situation never again arises, and yet here we are facing it once more.'
Mr Patel, 48, who was on board the Mavi Marmara, is chairman of the Friends of al-Aqsa pressure group.
It has used the writings of discredited Holocaust denier Roger Garaudy to justify its support for the Palestinian resistance.
The married father-of-three is a spokesman for the British Muslim Initiative, which Islamwatchers claim is closely allied to Hamas.
ALEXANDRA LORT-PHILLIPS
Described as a 'free spirit' by her mother Sally, 38-year-old Alexandra Lort-Phillips is descended from the aristocracy.Her family can trace their ancestry back to Viscount Cobhamand she describes herself on her Facebook page as: 'A lady of high moral standard and impeccable manners (apart from the cleptomania [sic] and the swearing).'
Known as 'Lorty', she works with young offenders in North London and lives in Hackney, East London.
She had previously joined a road convoy to Gaza, led by George Galloway.
Her father Patrick Lort-Phillips, a former lieutenant colonel in the Army, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, said: 'She is definitely not political.
'Her involvement in all of this is the humanitarian side.'
'Free spirit' Alexandra Lort-Phillips and Scottish Muslim of the year Hassan Ghani were on the flotilla
HASSAN GHANI
Named as young Scottish Muslim of the year by First Minister Alex Salmond in 2008, Hassan Ghani was onboard the Mavi Marmara as a journalist and film-maker.The 24-year-old from Glasgow is a reporter for Press TV, an Iranian-run English language television network, and he has previously worked at the Islam Channel in London.
ALEX HARRISON
The 33-year-old activist, from Croydon, South London, was jailed for a week in Israel last year after taking part in a previous aid mission. Activist: Alex Harrison of Croydon spent one week in an Israeli jail last year
PETER VENNER
The 63-year-old father-of-two, who was on board the Mavi Marmara, is 'an ordinary man' who just wanted to end the blockade against Gaza, his partner said.He runs a builder's yard in Ryde on the Isle of Wight and his partner Rachel Bridgeland said he wanted to help because 'Gaza is about the same size as the Isle of Wight'.
Weapons of hate on the 'peace' ships
Israel unveiled a fearsome cache of weapons it says were used against its commandos.Knives, machetes and catapults, said to have been found aboard the Mavi Marmara, were put on display. One of the items found looks like an improvised explosive device.
Weapons cache: The Israeli military released video of weapons they claim were found on board the Mavi Marmara [are its real??]
Ammunition: The footage also shows bottles full of stones alongside a catapult (left) and a pile of metal bars [hehehe.. i dont think so]
The officer identified as Captain R rejected activisits' claims that the commandos opened fire first. 'Dozens of people beat each soldier,' he said from his bed in the Rambam Medical Centre in Haifa. 'They wielded clubs, axes and knives.
We thought we'd encounter passive resistance, perhaps verbal resistance - we didn't expect this. We encountered terrorists who wanted to kill us.'
Commandos captured me
Home again: Hasah Nowarah was on the flotilla
Hasan Nowarah, 45, refused to sign the papers presented to him but was sent back to the UK regardless because he was injured trying to flee during the raid.
Arriving at Heathrow in a wheelchair after a flight from Tel Aviv, he recalled the moment when the six ships in the flotilla were surrounded by 'countless' Zodiac
inflatable speedboats of the Israeli navy.
Mr Nowarah, from Glasgow, who is the chairman of the Scottish Justice For Palestine, said: 'They started to attack with paintball bullets, but because we refused to stop the boats they started letting off bombs and tear gas.
'We were petrified, we could see the Turkish boat Mavi Marmara on fire, there were submarines and huge Israeli warships.'
Mr Nowarah, who tore ligaments in his leg running away from the commandos, said the captives were taken inland and deprived of their phones and laptops. All were asked to sign deportation papers.
Another Briton injured in the bloodbath lay in a hospital bed with armed police preventing anyone from approaching him.
Ahsan Shamruk, a Cardiff-based activist was said to have minor injuries at the Rabin Medical Center near Tel Aviv.
He was due to be released shortly.
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