Flotilla Activists ‘Won’t Resist IDF’
November 4, 2011Activists aboard two vessels seeking to violate Israel’s blockade of Hamas in Gaza say they won’t resist Israeli naval forces when boarded.
“The two ships are close to Israel’s waters and their crew has been instructed not to resist naval forces who will attempt to stop them,” Denis Kosseim told AFP. “Our representatives have signed a document where they pledged not to resist in case Israeli forces board the ship. We hope they will be able to return unharmed.”
A failed flotilla of 17 planned vessels that ended with a single French vessel striking out towards Gaza in July ended without incident when Israeli naval commandoes boarded the vessel and redirected it to the port of Ashdod.
The latest flotilla consists of one Canadian ship called Tahrir and an Irish yacht. On board the vessels are 27 activists, crewmen and journalists, including one Iranian reporter.
Organizers say the ships carry $30,000 worth of medical equipment for the people of Gaza.
However, Israeli defense officials say if the purpose of the flotilla were aid rather than a media spectacle and provocation the supplies carried could easily be unloaded in Ashdod and shipped by ground to Gaza.
The Kerem Shalom crossing connecting Israel to Gaza has remained open despite rocket fire and is never at full capacity despite all aid requests from Gaza being met.
The amount of aid carried by the ships, they say, is negligible in light of the hundreds trucks per day that enter Gaza from Israel.
During Ramadan imams in Gaza sought to collect surplus aid from local residents to repackage and send to Somalia.
Earlier this year the UN Palmer commission concluded Israel’s blockade of Gaza was a “legal and appropriate” method of preventing the flow of arms to the Hamas terror organization.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...