Israel intercepts second Gaza-bound activist boat
>> JERUSALEM: The Israeli navy intercepted a Swedish-flagged activist boat bent on breaching its more than decade-long blockade of Gaza, the second in less than a week, the military said yesterday.
“The ship was monitored and was intercepted in accordance with international law,” the military said, before the vessel, named Freedom for Gaza and carrying 12 people, was taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod.
“The (military) clarified to the ship’s passengers that they are violating the legal naval blockade and that any humanitarian merchandise can be transferred to Gaza through the Port of Ashdod,” the military said.
The people on board were taken for “further inquiry”. The organisers of the flotilla said the boat, which was carrying medical supplies, was intercepted in international waters. “The demands of the Ship to Gaza organisation is that the crew and cargo and be returned to the site where they were intercepted and be allowed to go in peace through international and Palestinian waters,” they said.
“This is a demand that the 11-year illegal and destructive blockade on Gaza will be lifted at last.”
Freedom was the second boat of the “Freedom Flotilla” to be intercepted en route to “break the blockade” on Gaza, organisers said. Four boats left from Scandinavia in mid-May and stopped in some 28 ports along the way, with two remaining behind after a recent stop in the Italian port of Palermo. On July 29, the Israeli navy intercepted a Norwegian-flagged activist boat that was part of the flotilla. Israel has fought three wars with Palestinian militants in Gaza since 2008 and says the blockade is necessary to keep them from obtaining weapons.
UN officials have called for the blockade to be lifted, citing deteriorating humanitarian conditions i n the Palestinian enclave.