Having followed the Free Gaza Movement and its endeavors on Facebook for a while now, the news that 20 activists aboard their flotilla were massacred by Israeli soldiers casts a pall.

The convoy is part of an initiative to bring aid – in this instance 10,000 tonnes of assistance – to the battle-scarred territory.

Of course, Israeli sources claim live rounds were fired from the six-ship flotilla first, though organisers reiterate that the Movement is of passive orientation:

We were not going to pose any violent resistance. The only resistance that there might be would be passive resistance such as physically blocking the steering room, or blocking the engine room downstairs, so that they couldn’t get taken over. But that was just symbolic resistance. [There was] absolutely no evidence of live fire.” [Source]

Indeed, in all the years the Movement has been running there has been no instance of aggression.

If the deaths of an 20 peace activists is not depressing enough, the knowledge that whatever crock is trotted out at the ensuing Israeli press conference will be swallowed wholly unquestioned certainly is.