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Israel boards Gaza-bound Rachel Corrie vessel
Saturday, 5 June 2010 11:17
Israeli troops have boarded the Irish-Malaysian Rachel Corrie vessel, which is trying to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.
An Israeli military spokeswoman is quoted in Reuters as saying the boarding took place with the full compliance of the crew.
The Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign said the ship is now heading to the Israeli port of Ashdod and is expected to dock there in the next few hours.
Five Irish citizens are among the group of international activists aboard the Rachel Corrie who had intended to head to Gaza, despite the Israeli blockade.
Two Israeli navy ships had been shadowing the aid ship since dawn.
Earlier, the Israeli army said that the crew of the Rachel Corrie had ignored an order to stop and divert to Israel and that troops were getting ready to board her.
A member of the Rachel Corrie crew this morning claimed that the Israel Defense Forces had jammed its radar system.
Last night Israel offered to take the Rachel Corrie to its port of Ashdod, unload the cargo and truck it to Gaza.
This offer was rejected by the Free Gaza Movement, which opposes the Israeli blockade.
A counter-offer to have the cargo checked at sea under UN supervision was turned down by the Israelis.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin yesterday said the Irish Government believed the Rachel Corrie should be allowed to reach Gaza and unload its humanitarian cargo.
Blockade
Israel this week said it was absolutely determined to maintain its blockade of the Palestinian territory of 1.5m people, citing fears that arms supplies could reach Hamas by sea.
On Monday, Israeli navy commandos stormed a Turkish ship, part of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killing at least nine people and triggering international condemnation.
Autopsy results showed the activists had been shot a total of 30 times, many at close range, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported today.
Five were killed by gunshots to the head, it said.
In addition to those killed, 48 others received gunshot wounds and six activists are still missing.
Turkey, Israel's only Muslim ally, has threatened to rethink its entire relationship.
Thousands of protestors sang Turkey's praises at demonstrations in Egypt and Lebanon yesterday.
Saturday, 5 June 2010 11:17
Israeli troops have boarded the Irish-Malaysian Rachel Corrie vessel, which is trying to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.
An Israeli military spokeswoman is quoted in Reuters as saying the boarding took place with the full compliance of the crew.
The Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign said the ship is now heading to the Israeli port of Ashdod and is expected to dock there in the next few hours.
Five Irish citizens are among the group of international activists aboard the Rachel Corrie who had intended to head to Gaza, despite the Israeli blockade.
Two Israeli navy ships had been shadowing the aid ship since dawn.
Earlier, the Israeli army said that the crew of the Rachel Corrie had ignored an order to stop and divert to Israel and that troops were getting ready to board her.
A member of the Rachel Corrie crew this morning claimed that the Israel Defense Forces had jammed its radar system.
Last night Israel offered to take the Rachel Corrie to its port of Ashdod, unload the cargo and truck it to Gaza.
This offer was rejected by the Free Gaza Movement, which opposes the Israeli blockade.
A counter-offer to have the cargo checked at sea under UN supervision was turned down by the Israelis.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin yesterday said the Irish Government believed the Rachel Corrie should be allowed to reach Gaza and unload its humanitarian cargo.
Blockade
Israel this week said it was absolutely determined to maintain its blockade of the Palestinian territory of 1.5m people, citing fears that arms supplies could reach Hamas by sea.
On Monday, Israeli navy commandos stormed a Turkish ship, part of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killing at least nine people and triggering international condemnation.
Autopsy results showed the activists had been shot a total of 30 times, many at close range, Britain's Guardian newspaper reported today.
Five were killed by gunshots to the head, it said.
In addition to those killed, 48 others received gunshot wounds and six activists are still missing.
Turkey, Israel's only Muslim ally, has threatened to rethink its entire relationship.
Thousands of protestors sang Turkey's praises at demonstrations in Egypt and Lebanon yesterday.
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