Pakistan flotilla witness says Israelis shot victims in cold blood

Pakistani journalists shout slogans in front of a portrait of Talat Hussain, a Pakistani journalist allegedly aboard a flotilla of ships which was stormed by Israel naval commandos, in Karachi. Photo: AP.

A Pakistani journalist who was captured during a naval attack on a Gaza—bound aid flotilla alleged Wednesday that Israeli soldiers were shooting people in cold blood.

Talat Hussain, one of the 124 people arriving in Jordan following their release by Israeli authorities, claimed that the commandos “shot people in the forehead.” “I witnessed myself the first Israeli assault on the ship. There was no weapon on the ship,” Mr. Hussain told Aaj news channel by phone from Jordan. “Scuffles broke out when Israelis tried to arrest people. After that people threw at the Israelis whatever they got hold of.

“Four people were shot in the forehead in front me. I witnessed four people dying,” Mr. Hussain, executive director and anchorman of Aaj Television, said.

He added that he would provide video of the whole episode and further details later on in his television programme.

Mr. Hussain’s cameraman and a Pakistani aid worker were also among those deported through Jordan.

The Israeli naval attack on the flotilla triggered public anger in Pakistan, with activists holding several protest rallies across the country on daily basis.

Pakistan, which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, condemned the attack as “a flagrant violation of international law and norms.” Israel naval commandos stormed the flotilla early Monday morning, after the six ships refused orders to change course and sail to the Israeli port of Ashdod, instead of the Gaza Strip.

The assault, which saw commandos on one ship battle activists wielding iron bars and clubs, left nine people dead and unleashed a wave of condemnation against the Jewish state.