The Foreign Secretary has got the flotilla affair badly, badly wrong. He told BBC News today that he deplored the loss of life in the incident, adding that there was a 'clear need for Israel to act with restraint and in line with international obligations.' An initial look at the incident, he declared, shows that there may have been an 'over-reaction.'

Now it is perfectly understandable that he regrets the deaths and violence that occurred. However, the clear implication of his comments was that the Jewish state had been gung ho and unrestrained in boarding the Marmara and killing some of the axe wielding thugs (sorry, peace activists) on board. Little thought was given to the mindless violence used against Israeli soldiers which created the very conditions in which lives would be lost later on.

In line with 'our European partners' Hague demanded a 'full and impartial investigation into these events.' He might perhaps call the UN (predictably in emergency session) as we all know that their witch-hunts against Israel (sorry, Middle East investigations) are scrupulously impartial and even handed.

For good measure, Hague then added that Israel had to allow 'unfettered' aid into Gaza, a position which completely ignores a) That Israel already allows thousands of tons of aid into Gaza every week and that b) There is a reason for the Israeli blockade, namely that the enclave is run by a terrorist entity intent on Israel's destruction which has for years been seeking the import of deadly weapons. It was for these reasons that the Israelis demanded that the flotilla sail to Ashdod where the humanitarian goods could be sent to Gaza. Yet the Foreign Secretary, judging by his comments, is oblivious to these facts.

By failing to slam the Islamist armada of terror, and by failing to stand with Israel in its defence against that terror, Hague is giving the jihadis the very oxygen they seek. More to the point, he is encouraging more mindless Palestinian violence in the future. All in all, a good day for Hamas.

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