Middle East

Israel Seizes 2 Vessels Trying to Run Gaza Blockade

In this video image released by the Israeli Defense Ministry on November 4, 2011, Israeli soldiers on several small military boats appear to board a civilian boat believed to be one of two protest boats trying to violate Israel's blockade of the Gaza Stri

The Israeli Navy has seized two pro-Palestinian activist ships in international waters, as they were trying to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Two boats carrying 27 pro-Palestinian activists tried to run Israel's blockade on Gaza, when they were intercepted by Israeli gunboats on the high seas about 80 miles from their destination.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/uOk8xUUDxyI

Israeli commandos boarded the vessels and the activists from nine nations surrendered peacefully. The boats were taken to an Israeli port near Gaza and the passengers will be sent back to their home countries. The ships sailed from Turkey earlier this week.

Timeline: Gaza Blockade

  • June 2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza from the Fatah movement. Israel tightens restrictions on the flow of goods into the territory, citing concerns about Hamas militants gaining access to arms. Egypt seals its border crossing.

  • January 2008: Thousands of Palestinians stream into Egypt after Hamas militants blow up a section of the border.

  • May 2010: Israeli commandos storm a Turkish-led aid flotilla. Nine pro-Palestinian activists are killed.

  • June 2010: Israel eases its land blockade of Gaza in response to international outrage over deadly raid.

  • June 2010: Egypt temporarily opens its Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.

  • May 2011: Egypt's new military rulers announce re-opening of Rafah crossing in effort to "end the divisions among Palestinians and finalize their national reconciliation." The decision, in general, allows Palestinians with passports to cross.

  • November 2011: Vessels carrying 27 pro-Palestinian activists sail from Turkey, face confrontation with Israeli navy ships

Activists say the Israeli blockade is illegal and immoral and amounts to the imprisonment of 1.4 million Palestinians in Gaza. Canadian David Heap, who was on board, said the message must get out despite the risks.

"The critical need for us is to keep challenging; and in all of that activity and all of that turmoil not forget that the Palestinians of Gaza are under blockade and don't have their freedom of movement," he said.

Israeli spokesman Yigal Palmor says Gaza is controlled by a Palestinian terror group, and therefore, the flotilla is an unnecessary provocation.

"The naval blockade is intended to prevent the terror organization Hamas from supplying itself with rockets and weapons. Any attempt to break that blockade is a cynical mockery of the plight of those innocent [Israeli] civilians who need to live with the horror of the rockets, day in-day out," he said.

The apparent end of the incident without violent confrontation is in sharp contrast to an Israeli commando raid on a Gaza aid flotilla last year in which nine Turkish activists were killed. The bloodshed sparked international outrage.

In Gaza City, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh urged the flotillas to keep coming. "Your message has been delivered whether you make it [to Gaza] or not," Haniyeh said. He added that "the siege is unjust and must end," he said.

Another Hamas official described the Israeli interception of the boats as an act of "piracy" but Israel remains resolute in enforcing the blockade.

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