Israeli Navy orders Gaza-bound boat to change course
14:02 19/07/2011 TEL AVIV/GAZA, July 19 (RIA Novosti) - Israeli marines ordered the crew of a French yacht headed for the Gaza Strip on Tuesday to change course and leave the area, an Israel Defense Forces spokesman said.
"The captain has been told either to go to an Egyptian port or the Israeli port of Ashdod. We are waiting for the captain to make a decision," the spokesman said.
The yacht crew was warned Israeli marines would take control of the boat if they did not comply.
"The boat is surrounded by at least three Israeli ships and since 9.06 am (0706 GMT) all the communications have been jammed. We can't get in touch with them by phone or by internet," Julien Rivoire, a Gaza support activist, was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying by phone from Paris.
The Dignite Al Karama, with 16 activists and humanitarian relief supplies on board had declared an Egyptian port as its destination when it left Greek waters on Sunday, but the crew later said they were changing course towards the Gaza Strip, hoping to arrive by Tuesday afternoon.
Gaza has been under Israeli blockade since 2007 when the Palestinian radical group Hamas took control of the enclave. Israel claims the blockade is legal and is designed to prevent arms and funds reaching Hamas.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
