Imagine that the flotilla heading for Gaza was full of armed terrorists.
Imagine that they were laying in wait for the Israeli commandos to drop from the skies from the "black and silent copters".
Imagine that the ships were loaded to the brim with RPGs, explosives, ammo and guns.
Follow me over the fold.
Imagine that the IDF had not taken the bait and had NOT engaged with heavily armed terrorists in the small confines of a ferry boat loaded with people.
Imagine that the IDF had allowed this infernal armada to enter Israeli territorial waters.
Imagine that the Israeli Navy had ordered the armada to halt for inspection by the competent authorities in broad daylight, a few miles off the coast of Gaza, well within the twelve mile limit, with international television crews transmitting.
Imagine the armed terrorists aboard either meekly submitting to the search or blasting out with all arms.
Imagine the Israeli propaganda coup.
Now.
Imagine a flotilla filled with peace activists, many from the nations that most support Israel.
Picture it being boarded by masked men in the pre-dawn dark descending from above, deep in international waters.
Imagine yourself as an deeply furious activist (in this scenario it is immaterial whether the IDF fired first) seeing his mercy ship receiving illegal intruders.
Imagine that a fight breaks out between the intruders and some of the activists.
Imagine that the commandos respond to knives and clubs and a couple of pistols with liberal live fire.
Imagine that ten or more people are killed and several more wounded.
Imagine the Hamas propaganda coup.
------------ end imagine-----------
Why did the IDF not conduct a proper inspection within Israeli territorial waters?
If they are trying to intimidate the activists, I think they have failed miserably and handed Hamas a great victory but that is the best explanations I can come up with.