Israel does not contend that the commandos were armed ONLY with paintball guns. They certainly had sidearms with live ammo and, if they are anything like the commandoes I see on TV, they probably had a variety of other lethal weapons.
But they were supplied with the paint guns bc the plan was to control the crowd with these non-lethal weapons. While the details remain sketchy, the live fire apparently was either the result of commandoes being attacked on the deck that had to resort to live ammo to protect themselves, or fire from the helicopter that lowered them down.
According to Israel News, the commandoes initially shot at the legs of the mercenaries. Following a rifle shot and shots fired by mercenaries from handguns taken from the commandoes, the commandoes than apparently started firing in earnest and the deaths resulted.
Finally, the commandoes did not emerge unscathed - two received gun shot wounds.
Now, no one accepts the Israelli version of the event as being the gospel truth but until a better version of the facts is released by objective observers, all but our most objective poster would afford prima facie truth to this version of the encounter.
Israel's video for the Gaza "activists"...
1. That is not "Israel's video," but a video prepared by Caroline Glick, sort of the Israelli Rush Limbaugh, that was sent to the government. They thought it was funny and made a link to it.
2. The video is substantially accurate to the extent that the mercenaries - some of whom have now been linked by the IDF to Al Queda - were in fact attempting to con the world.
-- Modified on 6/10/2010 8:39:33 AM
Hamas has a seemingly endless supply of guns and bombs. Ships like the ones in question are/were a primary source, hence the reason for the blockade in the first place.
Even though the world wants to hold Israel to standards no other nation would ever be expected to live up to, it's foolish to think that these "activist" were going to attack IDF soldiers and not receive a violent response.
It's called self defense. Speaking of which, let's remember how Israel came to possess the west bank and gaza in the 1st place; when you fire the 1st shot, it's kinda hard to bitch about the consequences.
-- Modified on 6/10/2010 1:45:58 PM
No, mine was good parody. Even if a little broad.
These hasbara mongering clowns are probably known professionally as the Marikod Family Singers.