Israeli Navy Intercepts Boatload of Activists Near Gaza
Luis Ramirez 28 September 2010
The Israeli navy has intercepted a sailboat carrying Jewish activists trying to reach Gaza, in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade.
Israeli forces boarded the catamaran Tuesday off the coast of Gaza and forced it to head toward the southern Israeli port of Ashdod.
The Israeli military said there was no violence during the takeover.
An Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson said it was unfortunate that the Israeli navy had to be distracted from preventing terror to deal with what he called a "provocation."
The incident comes four months after nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed during a raid by Israeli commandos on a Turkish ship that was leading a convoy attempting to break the blockade.
The British-flagged catamaran Irene left from northern Cyprus Sunday carrying nine passengers and crew members in a trip organized by the British group Jews for Justice for Palestinians.
On board are activists from Britain, Germany, the United States and Israel. One of the Israeli activists, Rami Elhanan, lost his 14-year old daughter in a Palestinian suicide bombing in 1997.
The boat was also carrying what the organizers described as a "symbolic aid" including children's toys, musical instruments and medical equipment.
Israel put the blockade in place after Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 to prevent Palestinian militants from obtaining weapons.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
