“Israeli commandos rappelled down to an aid flotilla sailing to thwart a Gaza blockade on Monday, clashing with pro-Palestinian activists on the lead ship in a botched raid that left at least nine passengers dead.” 
Once I read this paragraph, I was muddled. What’s a Gaza blockade? … flotilla?...Israeli and Palestinian? Because of this confusion, I decided to research the origins behind the events leading up to the occurrences of said paragraph.
As I’m not well versed in global affairs, I backtracked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which constitutes a part of the wider and earlier Arab-Israeli conflict. The other issues that have been disputed are security, water rights, control of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, Palestinian freedom of movement and borders. For their entire duration, the two groups have been waging a constant explosive and vicious violence. Ergo, we hear about them frequently in the news.
The Gaza Strip and West Bank are considered Palestinian. The other areas within Israel are Israeli.
Now, we enter the Hamas-Israeli conflict, which is a “sub-plot” of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
What are Hamas? “ It is a militant, Islamist political part and social organization with its own military wing”. The US, EU and Israel consider it a terrorist organization. Its attacks have been largely directed at Israeli civilians. Simply, it is pro-Palestinian.
The earliest and most enduring post- 1948 Palestinian party, Fatah, rivals for power and influence against the Hamas.
Fatah as does many other Israel citizens believe that a two-state solution will appease the warring sides. Hamas rejects this idea and instead, feuds for one Palestinian state with the Jews living on Arab lands. Hamas does not recognize Israel. As a Sunni organization, it is heavily funded by Iran, a Shiite theocracy.
In 2007, Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip. Responding, Israeli created a blockade, in an attempt to weaken the Hamas, “end its rockets attacks against Israeli towns and get back captured soldier Gilad Shalit”.
Ok, I’m getting lazy, because there was so much to read:
“Amnesty International has dubbed the blockade "collective punishment" resulting in a "humanitarian crisis"; UN officials have described the situation as "grim", "deteriorating" and a "medieval siege", but Israel says there are no shortages in Gaza, pointing to the aid it allows in.”
There’s a whole report on the debilitating conditions of the Gaza people (despairing and declining state of population’s health and well-being). About 1.5 million live there.
Wow, there’s much more, but the information is almost bottom-less. Ok, let’s go back to the original paragraph:
Israeli commandos rappelled down to an aid flotilla sailing to thwart a Gaza blockade on Monday, clashing with pro-Palestinian activists on the lead ship in a botched raid that left at least nine passengers dead.
About 6 ships were sent to provide 10 000 tons of aid to the Gaza people, in addition to ending the blockade.
Turkey was a key supporter of the aid flotilla. Its relation with Israel has been badly damaged by this event.
Does this make sense now?
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