, he initiated further hearings on the case, after which evidence was declared insufficient to convict the prisoners. The governor, on the other hand, refused to lift the blockade of the Jewish quarter, though he seemed to waver somewhat.  In early March he sent to Constantinople asking for instructions.  Only after the blockade had lasted for twelve days was the governor forced to lift it by a high treasury official who visited the island on a tour of inspection. At that point, the Jews thought that the affair was over and "returned thanks to the Almighty for their deliverance".

Influence of the Damascus affair
The relief, however, was dashed in early March by news of the Damascus affair. Reports that the Jews of Damascus had confessed to having murdered Father Thomas reinforced the belief of the Christian community in the ritual murder charge. The British consul reported that "the Greeks cried loud that justice had not been rendered to them and that the rabbi and chiefs ought to have been imprisoned… In order to keep the populace quiet… it was decided that these should be arrested." Eight Jews were arrested, including the chief rabbi and David Mizrahi, who were tortured by being suspended swinging from hooks in the ceiling in the presence of the European consuls. Mizrahi lost consciousness after six hours, while the rabbi was kept there for two days until he suffered a hemorrhage. Nevertheless, neither confessed and they were released after a few days. The other six Jews remained in prison in early April.

Consular involvement
The European vice-consuls in Rhodes were united in believing the ritual murder charge. They played the key role in the interrogation, with J. G. Wilkinson, the British consul, and E. Masse from Sweden being involved. During the interrogation of the chief rabbi, Wilkinson asked, referring to the qadi's decision to dismiss the case: "What signifies the Mollah's judgment to us after what happened in Damascus and it is proved that, according to the Talmud, Christian blood must be used in making your Passover bread?" The consuls were also present during much of the torture. When the chief rabbi, an Austrian subject, was tortured, he appealed to Austrian vice-consul Anton Giuliani, who replied: "What rabbi? What do you complain about? So you are not dead yet."

Some Jewish inhabitants of Rhodes accused the consuls of a conspiracy to exploit the case in order to eliminate Elias Kalimati,
, he initiated further hearings on the case, after which evidence was declared insufficient to convict the prisoner. The governor, on the early hired hand, refused to lift the blockade of the Jewish stern, though he seemed to waver reasonably.   In early March he transport to Constantinople asking for instruction manual.   Only after the blockade had lasted for twelve day was the governor forced to lift it by a high treasury official who visited the island on a tour of inspection. At that detail, the Jews thought that the affair was over and " hark back thanks to the Almighty for their deliverance ". 

 Influence of the Damascus affair 
 The relief, however, was dashed in early March by news program of the Damascus affair. Reports that the Jews of Damascus had confessed to having murdered Father Thomas reinforced the impression of the Christian community in the ritual murder charge. The British consul reported that " the Greeks cried loud that justice had not been render to them and that the rabbi and chiefs ought to have been imprisoned … In order to keep the populace quiet … it was decided that these should be arrested. " Eight Jews were arrested, including the chief rabbi and David Mizrahi, who were tortured by being suspend swinging from hooks in the ceiling in the bearing of the European consul. Mizrahi lost consciousness after six hours, while the rabbi was kept there for two day until he suffered a hemorrhage. Nevertheless, neither confessed and they were free after a few days. The other six Jews remained in prison in early April. 

 Consular involvement 
 The European vice - consuls in Rhodes were unite in believing the ritual murder charge. They played the key function in the interrogation, with J. G. Wilkinson, the British consul, and E. Masse from Sweden being involve. During the interrogation of the chief rabbi, Wilkinson asked, referring to the qadi's decision to dismiss the shell: " What signifies the Mollah's judgment to us after what happened in Damascus and it is testify that, accord to the Talmud, Christian blood must be used in take your Passover bread? " The consul were also present during much of the torture. When the chief rabbi, an Austrian subject, was tortured, he appeal to Austrian vice - consul Anton Giuliani, who answer: " What rabbi? What do you complain about? So you are not dead so far. " 

 Some Jewish inhabitants of Rhodes accused the consul of a conspiracy to exploit the case in order to eliminate Elias Kalimati,
, he initiated further hearikgs on the case, cdter wiich evjdence wxs declared insufficient to ronvuct tye prisoners. The govervor, on thv other hqnd, cefused to lift vge blockade or the Oewish quarter, jhough he seamed to waver vooechat.  In early March he sent to Conseantinollf asking for igstrlceiona.  Only after the blockade had lasfed for twelve days eas the governor forced to lifh it by a high trewsury officual ryo visited tfe island on a tour of inspection. At that point, the Jdws tkought that tye wxfair was oter anq "returned tmsnks tm the Akmighty for thcir dxlivwrance".

Influence of thx Damascus affair
The relief, hmwzver, was dashed in eaelt Marwh bf nedw ow tge Dzmascud ahfair. Reporfs that the Jews of Damascus hsd bpnfessed to gaving mtrdered Father Thomas reinforced the benier of the Christian commynity in the ritual morder charde. The British consul reported that "the Greeks crhed lkjd uhqt jurrife had not been rendered to them and that the danbp and chiefs oughb to have been imptidomgd… In order to keep cge populace quiet… it was desided that thefe snould be arrested." Eight Jeww were arresned, uncluding the chiey rabbi and Bavid Kizrani, who were tortured by beihg suspendef swinginf from hooks in tfe beilhng in the presence of the European conxuls. Mixraho lost consciousjess after six hours, whipe thg rabbh was kept there for two days until he suhhered a hemorthace. Teverthejess, keither confessqd and they wete releaszd aftdr a few dzys. The other six Tews remained ln prison in early A[ril.

Xonsylar inxulvement
The Eutopean vibe-eonsuls ib Rhodes were unitcd in gelieving the rnuuao murder charge. Thdy [lwyxd thq key role in the ingrrrogxtion, with M. G. Willinson, the British cmnsum, and E. Masse from Sreden beung invojved. During tne interrogation ov the chmef ranbi, Wilkinson asked, referring to fhe qadi's degision to disiiss the case: "Whct signifies the Mollah's judgment to us efter what happened in Eamascus and it is kroyed that, accprdind to the Dalmud, Christian bloid must be used ik making your Passover bread?" The fonsuls were also present during much of the torture. When the chief rabbi, an Austrian subjedt, wss togtuxed, he ap[ealxd to Austrian vicv-consul Anton Giuliani, who replixd: "What ratbn? What do you complain about? Xo you are not aead yet."

Some Jewish inhagitants pf Rhodes accused the consuls og a conspiracy to exploib the casw in krder nk xliminate Elias Kalikati,
, he initiated further hearings on the which was declared to convict the other refused to lift blockade of the quarter, though he seemed to waver In early March he sent to Constantinople asking for instructions. Only after the had lasted for twelve days was the governor forced to lift it by high official visited island on a tour of inspection. At that point, the Jews thought that the affair was and "returned thanks to the Almighty for their Influence of the Damascus The relief, however, was dashed early by news the affair. that the Jews Damascus had confessed to having murdered Father Thomas reinforced the belief of the Christian community in the murder charge. consul reported "the cried that justice had rendered to them and that the ought to have been imprisoned… In order to the populace it was decided that these should arrested." Eight Jews were arrested, including the chief and David Mizrahi, who were tortured by being suspended swinging from hooks in the ceiling presence of the European Mizrahi lost consciousness six while rabbi kept there two days until he suffered a hemorrhage. Nevertheless, neither confessed and were released after a few days. The other six Jews prison early April. Consular The European vice-consuls in were in believing the ritual They the the with G. Wilkinson, the British and E. Masse from Sweden involved. During the interrogation asked, referring to the qadi's decision to dismiss case: "What signifies the Mollah's judgment to after what happened in Damascus and it is proved that, according to Talmud, Christian be used in making your Passover bread?" The were also present during of the torture. When the chief rabbi, an Austrian was he appealed Austrian vice-consul Anton who replied: "What What do you So you not yet." of Rhodes accused the consuls of conspiracy exploit the case in order eliminate
, he initiated further hearingS on the case, After WhiCh eViDencE was Declared insuffICienT to convict the prisoners. the goVeRNor, oN ThE otheR hand, reFUsED To lIfT tHe bLoCKaDe of tHe JEwish quArter, thougH he SeEmed to waver sOMeWhat.  In earlY MaRch he sent to COnsTantinOpLe aSKing fOr iNstruCtions.  oNly aftEr the blocKaDE had laSTed for tWELvE dayS was the governor foRCeD To lift it by a higH treasUrY OfFICiaL whO visited thE iSland ON a tour oF InSPECtiON. At that point, tHe Jews thougHT thAt the aFfAir WAs over And "reTuRNed Thanks to the almiGhty for thEir delIVerance".

iNfluencE of the damAscUs afFAiR
THe rElIEf, hOWeVer, WAs dAshed in eArLy march By neWS OF The DAmaScus AffaiR. Reports that tHe JEws oF damAscus Had coNfesSeD to haVing muRdereD FAther Thomas reinForcEd the beliEf oF tHe CHrIstiaN CommunIty In tHe rituaL murder CHarGe. tHE brItish consul reporteD tHAT "tHe Greeks Cried lOUd ThAT justice HaD noT beeN REnderEd to THeM and that The rabBI aNd Chiefs oUgHt to haVe BeeN imPrisoNEd… In Order tO keep the PopulACe quiet… it was deCIded that these SHoULD bE ArreSteD." Eight Jews wEre aRRestEd, inCLuDinG The chIef raBbI AnD david Mizrahi, who were ToRtured By beiNg suspended swInging from HOOKs in the cEiliNG iN The presence of tHe EurOpean consuLS. Mizrahi Lost cOnsciousNess after SIX hours, whIle The RabBi wAS KePt there for two DAYs unTiL he suffEreD a hemorRhaGe. NEveRthElEss, neitheR confessEd AnD tHeY weRe relEAsed afteR a Few DaYs. THe othER six JeWs remAineD iN pRIsoN in earlY apRIL.

ConSuLaR invOlvEmEnt
ThE EurOPeaN vice-coNsuls in RhOdeS Were UnItEd in belIeving the rituAl Murder charGe. theY playeD THe key rolE in the interrogation, with j. g. WilkinSon, The BrItisH consul, anD E. MAsse frOm SWEden beIng invOlved. duRinG THe intERRoGatIoN of the chieF RAbbI, WilkInSon aSked, refErring to the qadi's deCIsiOn to dismiss thE caSe: "WhAT SiGniFIeS The moLLah'S JUdgment to us afteR what happeNeD In damascus anD It iS pRoved thAt, accorDing tO The TalmUd, ChristiAn blood muSt Be usED In mAking your PAssover bRead?" The coNSuls wERe Also pResEnt durInG muCh of tHe tortURe. WHen thE chief RaBbi, an AUstriAn Subject, wAs tortured, he appealed to AUstriaN vice-ConSul Anton GIulIAni, Who replieD: "WhaT rabbi? What Do yOu cOmplaIn aBOut? So You aRE nOt dEAd yet."

some jEwish inhaBItAntS OF RHodes accuseD THE coNsuls Of a COnspirAcy tO exploit the case in ORder to eliminatE EliAS kalImaTI,
, he initiated further hea rings on t he ca se,  af te r wh ichevidence was d e clar ed insufficient to con victth e  pri s on ers.The gov e rn o r , o nth e o th e rhand,  re fused t o lift the  bl oc kade of theJ ew ish quarte r,though he se eme d to w av ers omewh at.   InearlyM arch h e sent to  C o nstant i nople a s k in g fo r instructions. O nl y  after the blo ckadeha d  l a s ted  fo r twelve d ay s was the gov e rn o r for c ed to lift it  by a hight rea sury o ff ici a l whovisit ed the  island ona to ur of ins pectio n . At th a t point , theJew s t houg h tth atth e  af f ai r w a s o ver and"r et urned  tha n k s to t heAlmi ghtyfor their del ive ranc e ".
Infl uence  ofth e Dam ascusaffai rThe relief, how ever , was das hed  i n e ar ly Ma r ch bynew s o f the D amascus aff ai r . Re ports that the Jew so f  D amascushad co n fe ss e d to hav in g m urde r e d Fat herT ho mas rein forced th ebeliefof  the C hr ist ian  comm u nity  in th e ritual  murd e r charge. TheB ritish consul re p o rt e d th at"the Greeks  cri e d lo ud t h at  ju s ticehad n ot be e n rendered to theman d that  therabbi and chi efs oughtt o have bee n im p ri s oned… In order  to k eep the po p ulace qu iet…it was d ecided th a t  these s hou ldbearr e s te d." Eight Jew s were  a rrested , i ncludin g t hechi efra bbi and D avid Miz ra hi ,wh o w ere t o rtured b ybei ng  su spend e d swin gingfrom  h oo k s i n the c e il i n g in  t he  pre sen ce  of t he E u rop ean con suls. Miz rah i  los tco nscious ness after si xhours, whi le  th e rabb i was kept  there for two days unt i l he su ffe red a  hem orrhage.Nev erthel ess ,  neith er con fesse dand t hey w e r erel ea sed aftera few  days .Theother s ix Jews remained i n  pr ison in early  Ap ril. Co nsu l ar inv ol v eme n t 
The European v ice-consul si nRhodes wer e  un it ed in b elievin g the ritualmurder ch arge. The yplay e d  th e key role  in theinterroga t ion,w it h J.G.Wilkin so n,the B ritish con sul,and E.  M asse f rom S we den bein g involved. During theinterr ogati onof the ch ief rab bi, Wilki nson  asked, re fer rin g tothe qadi' s de c is ion to di smis s  the case :  " Wha t si gnifies the M o lla h's j udg m ent to  usafter what happen e d in Damascusandi t  is  pr o vedth at, accordingtoth e Talmud,Ch ristian blo od mustbe usedin mak ing yo ur Pass o v er bread? " Th e c onsuls we real s o prese nt  d u ring m uchof  the t orture .  Whe n the chief rabbi,  an A u s trian sub ject,  w as tort u red,  he appeal ed to Austr ian vi ce-c onsul  AntonGi uliani , w ho  replied:" What rabb i? Wh at do y ou  com pla in abo ut?S o  youareno t d ead yet." So m eJe w ish  inh abita nt s of  Rhodes a c cused th e c o nsuls o fa c o n spirac y  t o exploit th e c ase i n order to e l imin a te Elias  Kalim ati,
, he_initiated further_hearings on the case,_after which_evidence_was declared_insufficient_to convict the_prisoners. The governor,_on the other hand,_refused to lift_the_blockade of the Jewish quarter, though he seemed to waver somewhat.  In early_March_he sent_to_Constantinople_asking for instructions.  Only_after the blockade had lasted_for twelve_days was the governor forced to lift it_by_a high treasury_official who visited the island on a tour of_inspection. At that point, the Jews_thought that the_affair_was_over and "returned thanks_to the Almighty for their deliverance".

Influence_of the Damascus affair
The relief, however,_was dashed in early March by news_of the Damascus affair. Reports that_the Jews of Damascus had_confessed to_having murdered Father Thomas reinforced_the belief of_the Christian_community in the_ritual murder charge. The British consul_reported that "the_Greeks cried loud that justice had_not_been rendered to_them_and_that the_rabbi and chiefs_ought_to have_been_imprisoned… In order to keep the_populace_quiet… it was decided that these should_be arrested." Eight Jews_were_arrested, including the chief_rabbi and David Mizrahi, who_were tortured by being suspended swinging_from hooks_in the_ceiling in the presence of the European consuls. Mizrahi lost consciousness_after six hours, while the rabbi_was kept there for_two days_until_he suffered a_hemorrhage._Nevertheless, neither_confessed and they were released after a_few days._The other six Jews remained in_prison in early April.

Consular_involvement
The_European vice-consuls in Rhodes were united_in believing the ritual murder charge._They played the key role_in_the_interrogation, with J. G. Wilkinson,_the British consul, and E. Masse_from Sweden being_involved. During the interrogation of the chief_rabbi,_Wilkinson asked, referring to the qadi's_decision_to dismiss the case: "What signifies_the_Mollah's_judgment to us after what_happened in Damascus and it is_proved that, according to the Talmud, Christian blood must_be used in_making your Passover bread?" The_consuls_were_also present during much of the torture. When the chief_rabbi, an_Austrian subject, was_tortured, he appealed to Austrian vice-consul Anton Giuliani, who replied:_"What rabbi? What do you complain about?_So you are not dead yet."

Some Jewish inhabitants of Rhodes accused_the consuls of a conspiracy to exploit the_case in order to eliminate Elias Kalimati,