We’re Gonna Need A Bigger Boat Fiction Writer…

"I think the Israeli military went out to commit murder," Mankell said. "If they had wanted to stop us they could have attacked our rudder and propeller, instead they preferred to send masked commando soldiers to attack us. This was Israel's choice to do this.

"And it was the most stupid thing they could have done, because look around, Israel has never been so criticised in the world as of today, and if you ask me, this blockade will be over within the next six months."

So the Israeli military, bent on murder, armed to the teeth and backed up by helicopters, strike aircraft, submarines, only manage to kill a handful of people?

Something stinks here, doesn’t it?

Mankell described being woken in the early hours of Monday morning with the news that Israeli troops were attacking the main protest ship, the Mavi Marmara, and an hour later abseiled from helicopters on to the deck of the Sofia, which was around a kilometre behind.

"We saw these black rubber boats coming with masked commando soldiers … they climbed aboard. They were very aggressive … there was an older man in the crew, he was perhaps a little slow and they shot him in the arm with an electric gun which is very, very painful … they shot another man with rubber bullets."

Doesn’t sound too much like they were intent on murder. Does it?

I know you’ve made a living out of speculative fiction, Mankell, but this one is getting a rejection letter from the publishers…

Asked if he had been naive to take part, Mankell said: "If you're saying was I a 'useful idiot', no, I don't believe I was.

"We knew from the beginning that probably we would not get our stuff into Gaza but we could anyhow win … We could get the focus on the situation. Which we did, so of course we won."

Well, it’s clear you’re no useful idiot.

The people who were encouraged to violently resist the armed boarding party so your group would get it’s desired headlines - they’re the useful (now dead) idiots.

You’re something much worse...

Mankell, who has been politically active from a young age and was once a merchant seaman, said he had been struck by the lack of other writers and intellectuals on the voyage and called on others to become involved.

More writers and intellectuals. Yup, that’ll help, all right. On the basis that the pen is mightier than the sword, I suppose?

Newsflash, chum: the IDF don’t use swords…