Oakland-based structural engineer Gene St. Onge was aboard one of the Gaza-bound aid ships in the flotilla that was assaulted by Israeli soldiers this week. He was on his way to help build houses in Gaza, and was released from Israeli custody. His version of events, as narrated from his hotel room in Istanbul, was that there were about 46 doctors, engineers and other aid workers aboard his boat who tried to encircle the captain of the ship in order to protect him from Israeli commandos. "There were something like 20 commandos, and there wasn't much in the way of resistance on our part, there couldn't be because we were just a bunch of engineers, doctors, and journalists."

St. Onge plans to be back in the Bay Area by late today, so look for him on various newscasts.

[via KCBS]