Israel again stops aid ship to Gaza

Jerusalem , June 5: Israeli Navy boats intercepted another ship headed for the blockaded Gaza Strip carrying aid and pro—Palestinian activists, on Saturday, June 5, organizers of the voyage said.

A message posted by Free Gaza organization on Twitter said the ship, the Rachel Corrie, had not been boarded. Later it was informed that all contact was lost with the vessel.

A spokeswoman for the organizers said three Israeli vessels began following the Rachel Corrie about 60 kilometers offshore.

Meanwhile the activists who were on board reportedly ignored a plan chalked by Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin to unload at Ashdod port — about 30 kilometers north of the Gaza Strip but they insisted on sailing only to Gaza.

Moreover, Israel"s Foreign Ministry said on Friday, June 4 that they would would not allow the “Rachel Corrie to break its naval blockade of the coastal enclave run by the radical Islamist Hamas movement." “Gaza is still a war zone because of Hamas and there still is a blockade," spokesman Yigal Palmor said

Earlier, six aid ships with more than 700 international activists en route to Gaza were forcefully intercepted by Israel on Monday, May 31 morning.

Nine activists were shot dead and dozens of others got wounded, in addition to seven Israeli soldiers, in the clashes between Israeli navy and the activists

OneIndia News