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Freedom Flotilla: MV Rachel Corrie Bravely Heads for Gaza
Six British and Irish citizens on board ship which is still bound for Gaza, despite Israel insisting it will not be allowed to dock
Jun 04, 2010
A ship carrying aid to Gaza is still heading for the blockaded settlement, despite Israel insisting it will not be allowed to dock.
The MV Rachel Corrie, which was part of the original Freedom Flotilla intercepted by the Israeli military, leaving nine activists dead, is due to arrive in Gaza at 8am on Saturday, organisers said today.
The
ship fell behind the original fleet after suffering mechanical
problems, but has been sailing towards the Israeli coast since
yesterday.
There were earlier reports that the Rachel Corrie had turned back, but a spokesman for the ship confirmed this morning that it was still bound for Israel.
Martin O'Quigley, from the Ireland
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which is working with the Free Gaza
Movement, which organised the ship, said he spoke to two people on
board at 7.30am this morning.
"They're 150 miles from Gaza, and they should be approaching the exclusion zone at 8am tomorrow morning," O'Quiqley said.
"They're about 80 miles from the previous interception point."
O'Quigley
said he had spoken to both Mairead Maguire, the Nobel peace prize
laureate, and Jenny Graham, from the Free Gaza Movement, two of a total
of 11 passengers on the ship.
The Corrie is attempting to defy the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, who said yesterday that the ship would not be allowed to reach the blockaded area.
"We shall not allow the ships to reach Gaza. Not now and not later on," the Israeli news website ynet reporting him as saying.
"We
intend to direct the Rachel Corrie ship to the Ashdod port and transfer
its civilian goods to Gaza following a security check."
The Rachel Corrie, which is funded by the Free Gaza Movement,
is carrying 11 passengers, including the Scottish Captain Eric Harcis.
In addition to the six British and Irish citizens there are also five
Malaysians travelling on the ship, including an MP and three
journalists, organisers said.
The ship is attempting to reach Gaza four days after the Freedom Flotilla was intercepted, leaving eight Turkish nationals and one Turk with a US passport dead.
The
Rachel Corrie is carrying school supplies, printing paper, children's
shoes, wheelchairs, sports equipment and fire extinguishers, organisers
said. Israel bars cement and other building materials from entering
Gaza, saying that they are often used for building tunnels to smuggle
in weapons and explosives.
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A ship carrying aid to Gaza is still heading for the blockaded settlement, despite Israel insisting it will not be allowed to dock.
The MV Rachel Corrie, which was part of the original Freedom Flotilla intercepted by the Israeli military, leaving nine activists dead, is due to arrive in Gaza at 8am on Saturday, organisers said today.
The
ship fell behind the original fleet after suffering mechanical
problems, but has been sailing towards the Israeli coast since
yesterday.
There were earlier reports that the Rachel Corrie had turned back, but a spokesman for the ship confirmed this morning that it was still bound for Israel.
Martin O'Quigley, from the Ireland
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which is working with the Free Gaza
Movement, which organised the ship, said he spoke to two people on
board at 7.30am this morning.
"They're 150 miles from Gaza, and they should be approaching the exclusion zone at 8am tomorrow morning," O'Quiqley said.
"They're about 80 miles from the previous interception point."
O'Quigley
said he had spoken to both Mairead Maguire, the Nobel peace prize
laureate, and Jenny Graham, from the Free Gaza Movement, two of a total
of 11 passengers on the ship.
The Corrie is attempting to defy the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, who said yesterday that the ship would not be allowed to reach the blockaded area.
"We shall not allow the ships to reach Gaza. Not now and not later on," the Israeli news website ynet reporting him as saying.
"We
intend to direct the Rachel Corrie ship to the Ashdod port and transfer
its civilian goods to Gaza following a security check."
The Rachel Corrie, which is funded by the Free Gaza Movement,
is carrying 11 passengers, including the Scottish Captain Eric Harcis.
In addition to the six British and Irish citizens there are also five
Malaysians travelling on the ship, including an MP and three
journalists, organisers said.
The ship is attempting to reach Gaza four days after the Freedom Flotilla was intercepted, leaving eight Turkish nationals and one Turk with a US passport dead.
The
Rachel Corrie is carrying school supplies, printing paper, children's
shoes, wheelchairs, sports equipment and fire extinguishers, organisers
said. Israel bars cement and other building materials from entering
Gaza, saying that they are often used for building tunnels to smuggle
in weapons and explosives.
A ship carrying aid to Gaza is still heading for the blockaded settlement, despite Israel insisting it will not be allowed to dock.
The MV Rachel Corrie, which was part of the original Freedom Flotilla intercepted by the Israeli military, leaving nine activists dead, is due to arrive in Gaza at 8am on Saturday, organisers said today.
The
ship fell behind the original fleet after suffering mechanical
problems, but has been sailing towards the Israeli coast since
yesterday.
There were earlier reports that the Rachel Corrie had turned back, but a spokesman for the ship confirmed this morning that it was still bound for Israel.
Martin O'Quigley, from the Ireland
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which is working with the Free Gaza
Movement, which organised the ship, said he spoke to two people on
board at 7.30am this morning.
"They're 150 miles from Gaza, and they should be approaching the exclusion zone at 8am tomorrow morning," O'Quiqley said.
"They're about 80 miles from the previous interception point."
O'Quigley
said he had spoken to both Mairead Maguire, the Nobel peace prize
laureate, and Jenny Graham, from the Free Gaza Movement, two of a total
of 11 passengers on the ship.
The Corrie is attempting to defy the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, who said yesterday that the ship would not be allowed to reach the blockaded area.
"We shall not allow the ships to reach Gaza. Not now and not later on," the Israeli news website ynet reporting him as saying.
"We
intend to direct the Rachel Corrie ship to the Ashdod port and transfer
its civilian goods to Gaza following a security check."
The Rachel Corrie, which is funded by the Free Gaza Movement,
is carrying 11 passengers, including the Scottish Captain Eric Harcis.
In addition to the six British and Irish citizens there are also five
Malaysians travelling on the ship, including an MP and three
journalists, organisers said.
The ship is attempting to reach Gaza four days after the Freedom Flotilla was intercepted, leaving eight Turkish nationals and one Turk with a US passport dead.
The
Rachel Corrie is carrying school supplies, printing paper, children's
shoes, wheelchairs, sports equipment and fire extinguishers, organisers
said. Israel bars cement and other building materials from entering
Gaza, saying that they are often used for building tunnels to smuggle
in weapons and explosives.
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