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TechnoratiIsrael 'Boards Activist Ship Heading to Gaza'
"In the last hour an Israeli navy force intercepted, boarded and took control of the cargo boat 'Arion' ... as it was illegally attempting to enter the Gaza Strip," the spokesman said late in the afternoon.
![[The Greek-registered ship "Spirit of Humanity" sails off to the Gaza Strip from the southern Cypriot port of Larnaca in January 2009. The Israeli navy has boarded and seized a ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists that was heading to the Gaza Strip in defiance of Israel's blockade, a military spokesman said.(AFP/File/Pan Mina)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/ship-2.jpg "ship-2.jpg")
The military said the ship, which was sailing under a Greek flag, was the same vessel known as the "Spirit of Humanity," which was sailing to Gaza to protest the Israeli blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory.
The spokesman said the navy had been contacting the boat since Monday evening and warned that it would not be allowed to enter Gazan waters "because of security risks and an existing naval blockade."
After the navy boarded the converted ferry it towed the vessel toward the nearby Israeli port of Ashdod, the spokesman said, adding that the activists on board would be handed over to authorities.
He said no shots were fired during the incident.
The boat was sent by the US-based Free Gaza Movement, which said it was carrying a "symbolic" cargo of humanitarian aid to pressure governments and international relief groups to do more to rebuild Gaza.
Activists have made five successful missions to Gaza from Cyprus since August 2008 -- but boats have been turned back twice by Israeli forces.
Israel has maintained a strict blockade on the Palestinian territory since the Islamist movement Hamas seized power in 2007, and it launched a massive 22-day offensive on Gaza in December in a bid to halt rocket fire.
On December 30, shortly after the Gaza war erupted, an Israeli navy vessel collided with a Free Gaza boat, almost sinking it, in what activists called a "deliberate ramming".
Earlier on Tuesday, the Free Gaza movement said that Israeli warships had surrounded the Spirit of Humanity and threatened to open fire if it did not turn around.
At one point, the Israelis jammed the boat's instruments, blocking their GPS, radar and navigation systems "in direct violation of international maritime law," the group said.
The Israeli foreign ministry said the boat's owners had lied before departure from Cyprus about the vessel's destination, saying it was bound for Port Said in Egypt.
The ministry also said that under the 1993 autonomy accords struck with the Palestinians, Gaza's territorial waters, like its land borders, were Israel's responsibility.
Former US congresswomen Cynthia McKinney, one of 21 activists aboard the Spirit of Humanity, expressed outrage.
"We demand that the Israeli government call off their attack dogs," the Free Gaza Movement quoted her as saying a few hours before the vessel was intercepted.
Irish Nobel peace prize laureate Mairead Maguire, for her part, said US President Barack Obama "has called upon the Palestinians to abandon violence but Israel is denying them the right to non-violently resist the siege of Gaza."
41 Comments so far
Show AllThe UN has a navy?
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The very same seed that was led out of oppression by God Himself--now enslaves their very own victims--May the great Jehova deal with them in a fitting and final manner--and may God have mercy on their souls.
The Spirit of Humanity is well named. As ever in history, it is now opposed and abused by the spirit of inhumanity. Choose your side!
Hi Bunny Morris, and best wishes,
Bunny, though shocked perennially by Israel, I pray for her peace and for peace in Palestine every day.
And I NEVER in a million years forget that Israel, whose policies I deplore, is not the 9.3 zillion right-on Jews I have known, know, and know of!
Shalom! joe.
Free Gaza doesn't want to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza. If that was their goal, they could have done it by donating to humanitarian agencies such as UNRWA, who delivers more than a hundred trucks a day to Gaza. (Through Israel and Egypt)
As opposed to those who are aplogists for Islamic terrorists, Letto is dealing with the facts. The so-called "aid" was one bag of cement. The FGM cited it as "token aid". Their intent was to manipulate the press and froth-up the likes of YOU. More so, they gave false information regarding their destination when departing Cyprus.
Per Letto, if there is a compelling need to provide "aid", provide it to an existing agency such as the UN, or other NGOs, as opposed to grand-standers like those on the boat. As to the so-called "kidnapping", all aboard the boat were turned-over to Israel's Immagration authorities for immediate deportation.
BTW; anyone here ever read the HAMAS Charter? Familiar with their commitment to destrying Isreal and killing Jews? I presume not as making knowledge based decisions is not the inclination of the thralls of the Left. It's much easier to run-with-the-mob and throw slogans about.
What rock did you crawl out from, racist Likudnik right-wing hatemonger? Never seen your posts before. Take your AIPAC propaganda to some gullible folks, you are an insult.
Ah, yes - Letto is back on the board doing what Zionists do best - distorting (and lying and demonizing, but not in this post).
Zionism is a moral monstrosity, and the world would be better off without it.
Clearly Letto has little idea of the facts. I suggest s/he takes a trip to Rafah and gets some first hand knowledge of the true situation.
For everyones information I received this from PSC in London who are in direct communication (until they were kidnapped by the Israelis) with the people concerned and advocate everyone sending this to the Foreign Secretary:
Please email NOW to David Miliband (msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk) and send a copy to your MP (http://www.writetothem.com)
"Dear Foreign Secretary,
I was extremely concerned to hear the news today that the Israeli Navy illegally intercepted and boarded the Free Gaza ship 'Spirit of Humanity', whilst it was in international waters. It appears they have kidnapped the 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including UK citizens Ishmahil Blagrove, Alex Harrison, Denis Healey, Fathi Jaouadi, Theresa McDermott and Adnan Mormesh, and taken the boat to an Israeli port.
The boat holds medicine, toys, and other much needed humanitarian relief for the Palestinians living in Gaza under siege. Its cargo was searched and it received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before departure.
As the International Committee of the Red Cross said in their report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are "trapped in despair." Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel's December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel's disruption of medical supplies.
I urge you to insist that the Israeli Government immediately release the Spirit of Humanity and all its passengers, and take all the necessary steps to ensure it can complete its humanitarian mission in safety. I also urge you to act to ensure that the Israeli government does not commit any further acts of piracy and kidnapping of boats and their crew in international waters."
Yes, through Israel, which nitpicks whether rice or various forms of pasta is legitimate food aid.
How about the UN giving a naval escort to such humanitarian aid ships to protect then frpm Israeli pirates?
Archie1954, are you kidding? Israel would turn the UN building in Manhatten, and Manhatten, into glass.
Dear azjoe, I hope you are not suggesting a "holy" holocaust in New York City by means of a nuclear warhead from "the Jewish state." That does not seem very "kosher." Shalom.
Gaza is an open air Prison and as just reported in Israel's Newspaper , Haaretz , a West Bank checkpoint managed by a private security company is not allowing Palestinians to pass through with large water bottles and some food items.
But none of this is seen in the UK or American Media both Christian countries.
Gaza has a tunnel Prison "economy."
Remember before the Israeli Jews carried out their carnage in Gaza they went through with their threat to put Palestinians in Gaza on a diet causing Palestinian children to eat grass to survive.
Its 2009 and after over 60 years of brutal Ethnic Cleansing nothing seems to have changed.
http://tinyurl.com/le2p79
http://www.cherifo.com/Beast.htm
On reading of this most recent attempt of the Arion to provide humanitarian aid to beleaguered Palistinians, I suddenly thought of the Berlin Airlift of 1948. The Soviets were trying to isolate West Berlin by cutting off all avenues of food and aid. Only a massive airlift of goods into W. Berlin with full backing of the U.S. saved the day for two million West Berliners. They had been our enemies, now we were saving them. Where's that kind of resolve today?
The trouble is that Gaza City Airport never saw a plane land and the Israelis have ensured that it never will by courtesy of F16 and bombs supplied by the US. The Israelis control everything, land, sea and air, despite the millions in aid that went into building the thing in the first place.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign wrote:
"The latest on the Free Gaza boat...word so far is this - it seems some of the Arab passengers will be deported through Jordan via the Allenby Bridge Crossing, the rest through Ben Gurion, and it seems the Captain may be able to sail the Spirit back to Cyprus with the aid on board etc.
They're all being interrogated at Ashqelon and other police centres and will be for the next few hours. They are ok but very angry. We ve got to keep the pressure up!"
Until Israel ends the siege and opens the borders the tunnel economy will continue to serve to import and export and palms are greased on all sides while the innocent people pay the highest price. All along the border of Rafah, lies a city of tents covering the tunnels, many have generators and one even transported a lion that woke up too soon, I was informed by CODE PINK activists who had reached Gaza through Egypt in May-June 2009, but I was stuck at Erez for the second time.
My first time was on November 18, 2008, when Mairead Maguire and forty seven international ecumenical Christians and other people of faith rolled out of bed before 5 AM to travel from Jerusalem to the Erez Crossing in the Gaza Strip.
We went to stand up as a united people of conscience in NONVIOLENT Solidarity with the people of Gaza and in support of all the NGO’s that have been denied access into the Gaza Strip for over two weeks.
We went in love and for love of all of God’s children;
Be they the oppressed or the oppressors,
Those imprisoned by walls and those who erect them,
Those who are denied clean water and their deniers,
Those whose fears rule their hearts and the heartbroken,
Those whose ideology, greed, apathy, and power blind them to their culpability, responsibilities and obligations.
We went with hope to arouse the consciences of the leaders of the world to seek peace through justice; equal human rights for all.
Some media turned out for the NGO meeting we attended in the parking lot at Erez Crossing-NOT USA media needless to say.
Israel and the USA both signed the Geneva Convention. That makes them BOTH legally, morally and ethically RESPONSIBLE for the 1.5 million open air prisoners of Gaza and 60% are children under the age of 16 years old.
In the afternoon, of that same day, Israeli forces kidnapped at gunpoint nonviolent internationals connected with ISM who were on board a Gaza fishing boat in international waters.
ISM is a Palestinian-led movement that resists the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land in creative and nonviolent ways. ISM was founded by a few committed thoughtful people in August, 2001 and supports and strengthens the Palestinian popular resistance by providing international presence and a voice that cannot be silenced.
ISM volunteer, Darlene Wallach of California arrived in Gaza aboard a FREE GAZA Movement boat but while on a Gaza fishing boat she was kidnapped at gunpoint by Israeli forces and then deported to New York City on Thanksgiving Day, 2008. Darlene arrived without money, passport, cell phone, warm winter clothes and without a way of contacting her family and friends in California, London, or Cyprus. I spoke with Darlene a few days after her arrival at the home of the parents of an ISM activist who met her at JFK Airport and took her in.
Darlene said:
The Rest:
The Spirit of Humanity's 21 and the Spirit that Preceded it, by Eileen Fleming @
http://www.arabisto.com/
http://www.paltelegraph.com/
I applaud those resisting the genocidal oppression of that immoral and illegal invasion called "Israel".
Thanks and Shalom
If the Israelis are actively trying to make new enemies galore, they're succeeding admirably.
Continued:
If you cannot support direct action and resistance against these racist fascists support the Boycott Israel campaign and this Free Gaza movement.
Every effort is needed everywhere in the world. No effort should be spared, no Zionist should be left any doubt of our resolve. Abate the disgust and anger that these Zionist war criminals make you feel. The anger can only harm you. Defeat them at every level and in every way with your determination and actions.
Today we are all Palestinians.
I posted this here on cd on another discussion of FREE GAZA, where the movement is quoted:
"When our governments fail to act, we - the citizens of the world - must stand up and make our voices heard."
to which I added and feel it worth repeating in light of this, another example of Israeli inhumanity:
The criminal Zionist regime of Israel and all the organizations that support it must be confronted where ever they are found and the suffering they cause to the Palestinian people must be neutralized and compensated for fully.
Realize that the tail wagging the dog may be Israel but the real power is in the dog and that dog is the USA. Its government and administration is fully complicit supporting and protecting this terrorist state even against Americas own laws and constitution.
Reminds me of the George Carlin bit: "they (politicians and the US govt.) don't give a f@#% about you".
I called the State Dept. and they gave me the run around, they had no information about Cynthia McKinney, and could not be bothered to find out, the several people I spoke to just blew me off, which is what I expected. They don't give a f@#% about us is right.
odoco
I would also point out that the opening line of the article states :"The Israeli navy on Tuesday boarded and seized a ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists . . .
The entry to the article slants its contents. I suspect that many on board that ship were simply attempting to provide humanitarian relief to those in the Israeli-run concentration camps. By painting them as pro-Palestinian is to incorrectly and politically frame the reason for their existence. More bullshit journalism.
That's right, odoco - according to our media, if you are pro-human rights and dignity for ALL people, then you are pro-Palestinian.
Zionism corrupts governments and media.
good points, AFP is a bit better than the US MSM, but not by much.
odoco
I just contacted the State Department both by phone and by email, demanding an investigation into this travesty. The US government should be flooded with calls and letters - and yes - you naysayers can tell me it does not good - but if they don't hear our voices they assume we don't care - and I do care - as I know many of you do.
Naomi Klein suggested that a total economic and cultural boycott take place against Israel - AND NOW IS THE TIME TO INITIATE IT. How does it get started? Supportive organizations?
Thanks,
We can keep up with events at http://www.freegaza.org/
Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Tel +972-2-530-3111
Ray Berthiaume
Yes, 21 persons were taken prisoner by the Israel military. Why is there no cry against this terrorism? And I do not expect to see any of this on TV, not even on the BBC.
It was published in the BBC.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8127145.stm
Kidnaping and holding presidental candidate Cynthia McKinney hostage - where are our goddamn Marines to protect U.S. Citizens from these Sadistic Mediterranean Pirates?
The US also did nothing when our naval Ship "Liberty" was bombed by the Israeli Nazis and we lost 138 of our Navy personnel.
US gives Israel free rein to do as they wish and we keep sending them money with which to bomb and kill Palestinian civilians including children in their schools. Israel wants to starve the Palestinian people to death.
"The ministry also said that under the 1993 autonomy accords struck with the Palestinians, Gaza's territorial waters, like its land borders, were Israel's responsibility."
How are these accords formulated and do the people of Gaza have any say in them or their continutation?
It is interesting to compare the world's reaction to these maritime actions to those actions off the coast of Samolia.
Well... at least the whole world is watching, otherwise
it's the USS Liberty in spades for the poor ship.
The kidnapping of an American citizen (Cynthia McKinney).
Obama, where are you (and Congress, and the media)? Why aren't you speaking out? You lose more credibility as every day goes by.
Obama made his position crystal clear during his big AIPAC speech during his campaign; http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91150432
The US media is nothing but right-wing corporate propaganda, and as Ariel Sharon boasted almost 10 years ago (from Ha'aretz) "We have the US Congress bought and paid for, and they know it"
From an Israeli military spokesman:
"In the last hour an Israeli navy force intercepted, boarded and took control of the cargo boat 'Arion' ... as it was illegally attempting to enter the Gaza Strip."
Under international law, the blockade itself is illegal, but that point would apparently cloud the issue.
The article says:
"Israel has maintained a strict blockade on the Palestinian territory since the Islamist movement Hamas seized power in 2007,..."
Hamas "seized power" by winning an election.
The article says:
"The ministry also said that under the 1993 autonomy accords struck with the Palestinians, Gaza's territorial waters, like its land borders, were Israel's responsibility."
"...were Israel's responsibility" should read, "...were under Israeli control."
Gaza is the world's largest open-air concentration camp and its residents have absolutely no control of anything about their lives except in the desperate daily effort to find enough food, avoid disease, and try to keep their children from being shot for throwing rocks at their oppressors.
This article was framed by the Israeli (Zionist) perspective. Nevertheless, it is likely to be the longest article on the boarding in the Western MSM.
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There is an honestly folks a black out in main stream media on Israeli arrogance. Now their supporters are trying to shut down blogs by intimidation. Thanks "Common Dreams"!
The business about the destination being Port Said is a complete fabrication. For days before the ship's departure from Cyprus, the FreeGaza website and many others talked only of a Cyprus-Gaza destination. Israel is pathetic.
How predictable, can't let anyone through the illegal blockade and siege of Gaza, war crimes continue on a daily basis with the blessings of the Empire.
Hats off to all on board and Cynthia McKinney