The flotilla was carrying humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and construction materials, intent on breaking the Gaza Strip blockade being perpetrated by the apartheid state of Israel against the people of Palestine.

In the middle of the night on 30 May, while in international waters, they were forcibly boarded by armed Israeli commandos. The passengers defended their ship against the invaders and nine of them were murdered, most shot at close range in the back of the head.

Ken helped overpower two commandos and managed to disarm one of his pistol and empty it's ammunition. The commandos eventually overpowered the flotilla, then promptly kidnapped everyone, towing the ships to a detention camp. After stealing everyone's possessions and generally treating them like dogs the kidnappers relented to international pressure, releasing and deporting most of those they had kidnapped. Ken wanted to appeal his deportation to Ireland and instead go to Gaza, but, having already been seriously beaten twice by Israeli soldiers while captive, his solicitor advised him that for his own safety he should leave Israel.

For his troubles Ken was laughably listed on the IDF's official propaganda weblog—IDF Spokesperson—as "known to be involved in terrorist activity," and continuing with:

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.

To form and train a commando unit? I've had some heated arguments with Ken over the years but 'terrorist commando'? Someone in the IDF propaganda unit's been telling porkies. (Note to IDF: when you're falsely accusing someone of being a terrorist try not to get their nationality wrong. Kind of makes you look like you don't know what you're talking about.)

So let's get this straight. They kidnap Ken (whose life story happens to be an open book). Then they deport him. And then they tell us he's a known terrorist? Wouldn't it perhaps be a little more prudent to hold onto a terrorist?

Someone in the IDF propaganda unit doesn't know how to tell porkies.

External links

• Ken's statement on the Israeli attack
• BBC HARDtalk interview with Ken, 28 June 2010