Update from the statements of the first Greeks who arrived in Athens today

A while ago, from the greek tv channels (NET and Ski tv) from the interviews of the 6 people who came back to Athens.

(interview at the airport)

These people were the crew of the greek ship Eleytheri Mesogeios, the captain kai sailors.

What they said.

Eleytheri Mesogeios was one of the cargo ship with less people on board but with the humanitarian aid, prokat houses, bricks, tiles, medicine, wheeling chairs, clothes, school bags etc. It also had some greek and a few foreigner passengers on board. (6 crew and 22 passengers -8 of them foreigners)

This was the last ship which was attacked. The captain Stylianakis and the sailor Grigoropoulos talked about what happend.

They were watching the attack on the other ships for sometime, and they were sailing about half a mile away from the turkish Mavi Marmara which to their surprise, it was the first one that was attacked, though it was a cruiser with only people on board, about 500. The turkish ship also was the one with most of the foreigners, mps and tv channel crews.

The Marmara ship had locked its satellite communication so the israelis couldnt "break" it, this is why they had live feed during the attack.

From Mesogeios they heard gunshots and saw flares (fires) and they decided to move away while they were in communication with the Greek authorities.

When the israelis approached them, and asked them to "surrender" they informed the greek authorities and waited for order. In the meanwhile the commantos climbed on the ship, where there was no resistant, only some people tried to block them with their bodies to reach the bridge and taken videos and pictures. The israelis threw tear gus (one said inside the meeting room as well) and they shot the blockers by plastic bullets and one was electroshocked.

When the Israelis arrested the crew and passengers, some were bitten in order to give away their cameras, videos, cellphones and laptops. Then they moved them in small rooms and locked them there. They didnt provide them water, food and if someone asked to go to the toilet the commandos said 'later'. After some time they ascorted them there.

They were given papers to sign (agree to their deportation) which they didnt sign, and were questioned on who they are and what they were doing there. Which again they answered only in a few.

Then the ship was guided to the port of Ashdod and the crew of 6 were deported to Greece (without any personal belongings -one said that he insisted so they gave him back this wallet-, the sailor said he never signed to be deported. They arrived in Athens a few time ago.

The latest news

4 turks and 6 greeks have been deported. All personal belongings (cell phones, laptops cameras) have been confescated

480 of all passengers are in the jail. Diplomats asked to see them so we are still waiting for this.

The rest are in the hospital.

3 turkish planes go to recieve some of the wounded (about 45 people according to sources)