Crew of the Estelle, October 19, 2012. (Photo: ShiptoGazaSE/Facebook)
This morning at 10:15 am Jerusalem time masked Israeli commandos boarded the Estelle, a Gaza-bound aid ship, and rerouted the passenger vessel to Ashdod Port in Southern Israel. Dror Feiler a Swedish-Israeli representative on the Ship to Gaza Sweden said the ship was “attacked” while in international waters and was surrounded by six armed vessels. However Israeli authorities are disputing the location of the ship, contending it was within Israel’s marine space.
Unconfirmed photograph of the Estelle during the raid by the Israeli military [text on the original]. (Photo: ShiptoGazaSE/Facebook)
“Our cargo consists of footballs and cement and musical instruments and children’s books,” said Mikael Löfgren, a spokesperson for the Estelle who is unable to make contact with the aid ship at this time. Speaking to Al Jazeera English today Löfgren said he fears the passengers will be towed into the Israeli port without their consent and then charged with illegally entering the country, as was done in 2010 to passengers aboard the SV Mavi Marmara during a raid when Israeli soldiers killed nine peace activists.
The Israeli army confimed in a statement that the activists were being taken to an immigration facility at Ashdod but did not indicate if they would be criminally charged:
When the passengers made it clear that they would not cooperate or accept the invitation to sail to the Ashdod Port, it was decided to seize the vessel and lead it to the Ashdod Port.
Pre-recorded message from Jim Manly, former Canadian member of parliament and retired minister, released today on October 20, 2012 after organizers lost contact with the Estelle.
The Estelle, sailing under a Finnish flag, departed from Sweden earlier this year in June. Before heading for the besieged Gaza Strip the ship, carrying 3o international activists including members of European parliaments, stopped in 20 European ports that included cargo inspections.
Israeli activists protesting on the beaches of Ashdod. (Photo: Yael Marom/Facebook)
In response to the raid of the aid ship, Israeli activists have gathered at the Ashdod Port to protest the Israeli military and the six-year siege of the Gaza Strip. For the latest updates from the Ship to Gaza Sweden see @ShiptoGazaSE.
Keeping it in th’ news …. drip drip drip … bravo!
This isn’t surprising, happens every time.
Least they didn’t kill anyone this time…maybe they learned something from their attack on the MM.
Illegally entering Israel? As if their desired destination, Gaza, were part of Israel? As if Gaza’s waters are Israel’s waters? Hunh?
Reminds me of the time that an airplane was forced to land in the USA by bad weather and a Canadian, who had no intention of traveling to USA, was taken off the plane, arrested, deported [to Syria I think] for torture, etc. Why? In part, because he was on American soil — even though he had not come through the immigration barrier.
Beware the strong arm of anyone who has one. And forget “the law”.
If they (Commandos ) are carryi9ng out a perfectly legal manouver then why the Masks.
I guess Israel masks it,s every move as part of it,s Zionist culture.
Why the masks????.
Afraid your brave commandos will be recognised at some Airport when attempting to leave the scene of their crimes.