Israel Matzav

Here we go again... Flotilla refuses navy order to turn around; UPDATED WITH VIDEO

I will keep updating this post until the Sabbath starts in Jerusalem (4:12 pm Israel time), so please keep checking back.

The IDF has made its initial contact with the latest Turkish flotilla and it went about like the last one went.

A short while ago, initial contact was made between the Israel Navy and the vessels Tahrir and Saorise which are sailing towards the Gaza Strip. The purpose of this attempt is to create a provocation against the State of Israel, to break the maritime security blockade on Gaza, and to undermine Israel’s security.

The Israel Navy notified the vessels that the area they are en-route to, off the coast of Gaza, is under a maritime security blockade in accordance with international law. The Israel Navy advised the vessels that they may turn back at any point, thereby not breaking the maritime security blockade. In addition, Israel Navy soldiers presented the activists onboard with the legal options of transferring supplies to the Gaza via the existing land crossings and after coordinating with the relevant Israeli Authorities.

JPost adds:

The activists on board refused to heed the navy's call and refused to act in accordance with the instructions they were given. The flotilla is now heading toward the area under closure, the navy said.

Earlier on Friday activists tweeted they are "still heading for Gaza with the Saoirse" and that there had been no sign of the IDF yet.

"We are delighted to hear Palestinians in fishing boats are getting ready to welcome us," they said, adding that they are 70 miles [113 kilometers] from the shores of Gaza.

...

According to flotilla organizers, Israel Navy ships are about 11 kilometers from their yachts, Israel Radio reported. The organizers instructed the activists to not resist IDF forces should they be stopped.

An IDF spokesperson said on Friday the "Israel Navy is prepared to stop vessels attempting to break the maritime security blockade on Gaza."

According to Army Radio, the IDF prepared itself on Friday morning for the arrival of the Gaza-bound flotilla carrying about thirty pro-Palestinian activists.

The United States warned on Thursday that the new effort by pro-Palestinian activists to send the flotilla to challenge Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip was dangerous and urged US citizens not to take part.

...

[State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland] said the United States had sought clarification on news reports that Turkish warships might be accompanying the flotilla and were told "quite emphatically" by Turkey that this was not the case.

"We've been clear to them that we think that would be an extremely bad idea and they've now reassured us that that is not what they are doing in this case," she said.

Nuland repeated US warnings about earlier flotilla plans, saying that US citizens who take part in efforts to deliver material support or other resources to Hamas could face civil and criminal penalties. Hamas has been officially designated as by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization.

I will try to follow this until the Sabbath starts.

UPDATE 3:25 PM

A few moments ago, Israel's Navy was given orders to board the boats after all efforts to contact them failed.

UPDATE 3:48 PM

Here's an IDF video of Israel's Navy making contact with the Tahrir, one of the two ships trying to reach Gaza.

Let's go to the videotape.



UPDATE 4:12 PM

Ship boarded.

Labels: flotilla of fools, Gaza, MV Saoirse

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:43 PM