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Israeli navy escorts Lebanese ship from Gaza waters
A Lebanese ship bound for the Gaza Strip was boarded by the Israeli navy and was being escorted to the Mediterranean port of Ashdod, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said on Thursday."The navy boarded the vessel, stopped it and it is now bringing it to Ashdod," Barak said in broadcast remarks. Doha-based Al-Jazeera television said earlier one of its correspondents was aboard the vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza and quoted him as saying Israeli sailors had boarded it. "They (the Israeli navy) are opening fire towards the vessel ... there are Israeli soldiers who have actually boarded the vessel," said correspondent Salam Khoder. "Three of them are pointing their weapons at us ... They are beating those on the vessel, they are beating and kicking us," Khoder said in a frantic voice before the line dropped. It did not say how many people were on board the boat but reported that it was carrying humanitarian aid from mainly Lebanese and Arab charities, destined for those made homeless by Israel's offensive. The shipment was organised by the Palestinian National Committee Against the Siege in cooperation with the US-based Free Gaza Movement. Two gunboats were visible about a mile (two kms) offshore from Gaza city, escorting the ship northwards. It appeared to be the first attempt to reach Gaza by a foreign vessel since the 22-day war with Israel ended on Jan. 18 when Israel and Hamas declared separate ceasefires. Posted by: Fred 2009-02-06 |
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