Israeli soldiers board Gaza-bound ship
Source: Agencies |
October 21, 2012, Sunday
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ISRAELI soldiers commandeered a vessel carrying pro-Palestinian activists destined for Gaza yesterday, cutting off communications and steering it from international waters toward the Jewish state.
The ship was the latest in a series of activist-manned vessels challenging Israel's blockade on the territory, imposed when militant group Hamas seized the coastal strip in 2007. Israeli officials say they need to maintain the blockade, mainly to prevent weapons smuggling.
Six Israeli naval vessels stopped the Estelle as it was 30 nautical miles from Gaza, with masked soldiers boarding the ship and ordering it to sail to Israel's Ashdod port, said Victoria Strand, a spokeswoman for the activists.
The Swedish-owned, Finnish-flagged ship left Naples, Italy, on October 7 with about 30 people from eight countries on board, including lawmakers from Norway, Sweden, Greece and Spain, as well as Israeli activists and a 79-year-old former legislator from Canada.
Israel, aided by Egypt, imposed a full border closure of Gaza by air, land and sea after Hamas took over the strip and drove out forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel eased its restrictions after its raid of a Turkish-led flotilla in 2010 left nine activists dead and sparked international condemnation.
Israeli military spokeswoman Lieutenant Avital Leibovich accused the activists of provocation and said the naval blockade was necessary to safeguard Israel's security.
"There are constant smuggling attempts of weapons, munitions that eventually reach the hands of terror organizations in Gaza," she said.
Strand said the takeover of the Estelle by Israeli forces was a "demonstration of ruthlessness."
The Estelle carried cement, basketballs and musical instruments. It was emblazoned with "Ship to Gaza" on one side.
The ship was the latest in a series of activist-manned vessels challenging Israel's blockade on the territory, imposed when militant group Hamas seized the coastal strip in 2007. Israeli officials say they need to maintain the blockade, mainly to prevent weapons smuggling.
Six Israeli naval vessels stopped the Estelle as it was 30 nautical miles from Gaza, with masked soldiers boarding the ship and ordering it to sail to Israel's Ashdod port, said Victoria Strand, a spokeswoman for the activists.
The Swedish-owned, Finnish-flagged ship left Naples, Italy, on October 7 with about 30 people from eight countries on board, including lawmakers from Norway, Sweden, Greece and Spain, as well as Israeli activists and a 79-year-old former legislator from Canada.
Israel, aided by Egypt, imposed a full border closure of Gaza by air, land and sea after Hamas took over the strip and drove out forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel eased its restrictions after its raid of a Turkish-led flotilla in 2010 left nine activists dead and sparked international condemnation.
Israeli military spokeswoman Lieutenant Avital Leibovich accused the activists of provocation and said the naval blockade was necessary to safeguard Israel's security.
"There are constant smuggling attempts of weapons, munitions that eventually reach the hands of terror organizations in Gaza," she said.
Strand said the takeover of the Estelle by Israeli forces was a "demonstration of ruthlessness."
The Estelle carried cement, basketballs and musical instruments. It was emblazoned with "Ship to Gaza" on one side.
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