Jerusaelm – Israel’s navy will stop a flotilla heading for Gaza with 10,000 tons of supplies and pro-Palestinian activists intent on breaking a three-year blockade of Gaza, officials said Wednesday, in the first definitive Israeli pledge to stop the boats.
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The officials said if the flotilla of eight ships does not turn back, the boats will be hauled to an Israeli port, the activists sent back to their countries and the supplies transferred to Gaza by land.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity according to military rules.
The flotilla is expected to approach Gaza over the weekend. Organizers say they are hauling supplies including building materials that are not allowed into the territory because of the blockade. Greta Berlin, one of the organizers, said the cargo ships are carrying cement, prefab homes, lumber, window frames, paper for printing school books, children’s toys, a full dentist’s office, electric wheelchairs and high-end medical equipment.
Among the passengers are lawmakers from a dozen European countries, a Holocaust survivor in her 80s, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a retired U.S. army colonel, Berlin said.
Israel and Egypt cordoned off the territory three years ago after the Islamic militant Hamas overran the territory. Despite the blockade, Israel allows in what it classifies as “humanitarian supplies” and claims there is no crisis of shortages in Gaza. Israel charges the flotilla is a propaganda exercise.
After letting a few boats reach Gaza, the Israelis have intercepted several since December 2008, following the same procedure the officials outlined in their plans for the current attempt.
The officials indicated they were aware of the potential public relations fiasco that would follow a violent confrontation on the high seas between heavily armed Israeli sailors and civilian activists, saying the navy commander instructed his forces to “operate with the utmost sensitivity and not be drawn into needless provocations.”
They said the boat crews would be warned several times as they approach Gaza, but Israeli forces would board them and take control if necessary.
i think its a gr8 dechion things goto stop
“Islamic militant Hamas violently seized the territory in 2007”
“Islamic militant Hamas overran the territory”
Last time when i checked, Hamas won democratic elections, and after that many times admitted Zionist medina.
But of course, Zionist don’t do with the media whatever they want in this country.
3 years of collective punishment?
We have among ourselves bigger beasts they them.
Its time to separate from Zionists for good.
#3 Hamas do not kill Fatah oppenents. They shoot them in the legs. Big difference. Halevai they should shoot them.
Yeah, like these protesters really care about the poor Gazans. If Gaza was in conflict with any other nation besides Israel, these do-gooders would not give a rat’s rear end about them. You can see people truly suffering all over the globe without this kind of attention. The bottom line here, ladies and gents is plain old fashioned anti-semitism. It is anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, in intent, all dressed up as something admirable.
Ceaseless provocations from supporters of those who support the attackers of democracy in the name of divine right…. Remember 9/11! Now look again; and see the names and faces of those who are trying to empower the terrorists further. Remember their names and offices for election time if they are in positions of public service. The love of our enemies is not mandatory for our countrys’ future survival. We must be a united front-together. We do not need our enemies to love us as much as we need them to respect our nations laws and borders. This is an invasion of dissidents carrying contraband, disallowed, illegal, and restricted-by-law supplies for those who actively and continously undermine and sabotage the efficient and congenial operations of our nation. Let’s not allow them to make us into a United States; powerless against their invaders.
Israel sends 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid into Gaza EVERY WEEK. This cruise is just grandstanding and publicity for attention-hungry Jew-hating celebrities.
Where were all of these “humanistic” types of people during the Nazi era????
Please do not assume that those wanting to help those living in Gaza are all anti-semitic. Any person raised with an education can greatly sympathise with the Jewish people…however, Israel as a state appear to be creating more enemies than friends. The flotilla may be naive but I think it is really sad that they have to bring basic necessities like cement and wheelchairs into Gaza….
Too bad these militants died, but perhaps they were lusting after their own form of martyrdom? Hopefully, those Israeli’s involved in the protection of their country will recover from their wounds. Bravo Israel.