Israel Matzav

Israel Navy fires at Malaysian ship trying to run Gaza blockade

Two Israel Navy gunboats fired four shots at the Malaysian ship MV Finch shortly after 6:00 am on Monday (Israel time) after the Finch tried to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza. The Finch, which was claimed to be carrying PVC piping for sewers was escorted by Egyptian vessels to El Arish on the Egyptian side of the border.

The Israeli boats intercepted the Malaysian ship and ordered the captain to retreat before firing warning shots into the air, Faizal said through calls and the short-messaging service (SMS) to Bernama headquarters here a few hours after the incident.

He said the incident occurred at 6.05am local time (1.05am Malaysian time) when the ship, sponsored by Perdana Global Peace Foundation, was followed by the Israeli boats for about half hour before the four warning shots were fired into the air.

Faizal said one of the shots almost hit a crew member Mohd Jaffery Ariffin, causing the others to panic and hide for their safety.

"The Israelis asked us to stop the ship and withdraw to Egyptian waters. We managed to radio the Egyptian army for help.

"After a while, an Egyptian naval vessel came over and the Israeli boats left the scene," he said.

...

According to Faizal, after the Israeli navy fired the first shot, the ship's Captain Jalil Mansor was heard telling the Israelis through radio: "This is a violation of law against unarmed civilians".

The following exchange then took place.

Israeli army: "This is a warning shot. Turn around."

Captain Jalil Mansor: "We are unarmed civilians on a humanitarian mission to Gaza".

Israeli army: "This is a closed military zone. It's a violation. Turn around."

Captain Jalil Mansor: "We will continue (the mission)".

The Israelis then headed to the back of the aid vessel and released a second warning shot into the air.

Derek Graham: "This is a violation (of international law). We are on a peaceful mission and unarmed."

Israeli army: "Turn around. We will fire again".

Derek Graham: "You are firing towards unarmed civilians".

Israeli army: "We didn't fire towards unarmed civilians".

Derek Graham: "Looks like firing towards us".

Israeli army: "We didn't fire towards you. That is only a warning shot".

Following that conversation, the Israeli army fired two more shots and threatened: "Next time, we will land on your ship".

Then the Egyptian navy was heard telling the Israelis on the radio: "Stop firing. They are in the Egyptian waters".

Upon realising the presence of Egyptian naval forces, the Israelis departed.

According to this report from France24, the incident took place a little bit later (6:54 am) and the boat was most definitely NOT in Egyptian waters:

"The MV Finch, carrying sewage pipes to Gaza, had warning shots fired at it by Israeli forces in the Palestinian security zone this morning at 6:54 am (0354 GMT)," said Shamsul Azhar from the Perdana Global Peace Foundation.

"The vessel was in the Palestinian security zone, about 400 metres from the Gaza shoreline, when they were intercepted by Israeli naval forces," he told AFP, adding it was now anchored 30 nautical miles away in Egyptian territory.

An Israeli army spokeswoman confirmed that the vessel, flying a Moldovan flag, had been intercepted as it sailed from Egypt's El-Arish port, where it had been docked for several days.

"A navy patrol boat contacted the vessel, which claimed to be heading for the Gaza shores. Once it crossed into Israeli naval territory and didn't answer calls to turn back, warning shots were fired in the air and it returned to El-Arish," she said.

I suspect that this was a test to see if Israel is really going to continue to stop 'humanitarian aid' ships trying to reach Gaza. If so, they got their answer.

Labels: flotilla, Gaza plenty, Malaysia, Mavi Marmara, MV Finch

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:25 PM