ianstone
09-28-2010, 03:45 PM
Gaza-Bound Boat Taken Over By Israel Navy
3:03pm UK, Tuesday September 28, 2010
Andy Winter, Sky News Online
Israel warships have intercepted an activists' boat trying to breach the Gaza blockade, Israeli officials have said.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Sep/Week4/15746733.jpg Irene had set sail from Cyprus on Sunday
According to the Israeli military, the British-flagged boat Irene was taken over without resistance.
Gaza-based organiser Amjad al-Shawa said: "They surrendered because they were surrounded. They had no choice."
The group of nine Jewish activists - from Israel (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Israel), Britain, Germany and the US - set sail from Cyprus on Sunday.
Dismissed by Israel as a "provocative" stunt, Irene had been carrying medicine, a water purifying kit and toys.
The activists had called it a symbolic load designed to highlight the suffering of Palestinians (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Palestinians) who live in Gaza (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Gaza%20Strip).
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Jul/Week2/15663863.jpg An Israeli raid on a six-ship flotilla in May provoked international outrage
Yonatan Shapira - one of the Israeli activists on board - said the navy had made contact and demanded the vessel turn around.
He said: "They said we were approaching an area under naval blockade and told us to change course."
It comes four months after an Israeli raid on a six-ship flotilla heading to Gaza went badly wrong, killing nine Turkish activists.
The incident sparked a wave of international condemnation.
Irene's journey had been organised by the London-based Jews for Justice for Palestinians.
Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Hamas) militants seized power three years ago.
Restrictions had been eased after the deadly flotilla raid - but dual-use items, such as building materials that could be used for militant bases, are still forbidden.
3:03pm UK, Tuesday September 28, 2010
Andy Winter, Sky News Online
Israel warships have intercepted an activists' boat trying to breach the Gaza blockade, Israeli officials have said.
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Sep/Week4/15746733.jpg Irene had set sail from Cyprus on Sunday
According to the Israeli military, the British-flagged boat Irene was taken over without resistance.
Gaza-based organiser Amjad al-Shawa said: "They surrendered because they were surrounded. They had no choice."
The group of nine Jewish activists - from Israel (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Israel), Britain, Germany and the US - set sail from Cyprus on Sunday.
Dismissed by Israel as a "provocative" stunt, Irene had been carrying medicine, a water purifying kit and toys.
The activists had called it a symbolic load designed to highlight the suffering of Palestinians (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Palestinians) who live in Gaza (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Gaza%20Strip).
http://news.sky.com/sky-news/content/StaticFile/jpg/2010/Jul/Week2/15663863.jpg An Israeli raid on a six-ship flotilla in May provoked international outrage
Yonatan Shapira - one of the Israeli activists on board - said the navy had made contact and demanded the vessel turn around.
He said: "They said we were approaching an area under naval blockade and told us to change course."
It comes four months after an Israeli raid on a six-ship flotilla heading to Gaza went badly wrong, killing nine Turkish activists.
The incident sparked a wave of international condemnation.
Irene's journey had been organised by the London-based Jews for Justice for Palestinians.
Israel imposed the blockade after Hamas (http://indepth.news.sky.com/InDepth/topic/Hamas) militants seized power three years ago.
Restrictions had been eased after the deadly flotilla raid - but dual-use items, such as building materials that could be used for militant bases, are still forbidden.