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Tue, Sept 28, 2010 | IDF Spokesperson | Jerusalem Post

Israel Naval Forces Peacefully Intercept Aid Boat to Gaza

Commando 13 warship peacefully leads yacht to Ashdod after it illegally entered blockaded waters despite receiving warnings; IDF spokesperson calls boat a “provocation.” Watch video and read the IDF statement below.

The Israeli Navy took over the Irene, a yacht of Jewish activists headed for Gaza, on Tuesday morning, and is leading it to Ashdod.

No violence was used in taking over the boat, IDF spokesperson reported, and the activists were peaceful, as well.

Before taking over the ship, the navy gave the yacht two warnings that they are breaking Israeli and international laws. When the captain ignored the warnings, the ship entered blockaded waters.

Earlier Tuesday, an Israeli activist told Israel Radio that the two Israeli Navy ships have escorted the boat carrying Jewish activists to Gaza for half an hour on Tuesday morning, and more ships are on the horizon.

“The army established contact with the captain, and asked him where we are headed,” Rami Elhanan, who is aboard the Irene, said. “The navy asked to bypass the ship from 5 miles to the right, and we complied.”

“We said we are headed to Gaza and sailing under the British flag,” Elhanan added. [Tue, Sept 28, 2010; Jerusalem Post, Read more]

The boat, named the Irene, set sail Sunday from Cyprus with 10 passengers and crew, including Jews from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Israel. The boat’s cargo includes children’s toys, books, fishing nets, and prosthetic limbs.

The Irene Ship Being Boarded Without Incident, 28 September 2010

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q47lKN-fj8w

On September 28, 2010, the Irene, a small boat with several passangers headed to Gaza were peacefully intercepted by the Israel Navy and rerouted to Ashdod Port. Israel has implemented a maritime closure on the waters off of Gaza, which is currently under the control of the terrorist organization Hamas. Ships that attempt to enter the waters off of Gaza are in violation of the maritime closure and are intercepted by the Israel navy.

The IDF Spokesperson Statement

IDF naval forces boarded the yacht “Irene,” and it is currently being led to the Ashdod seaport along with its passengers.

The boarding occured without incident and no violence of any kind was used by either the passengers onboard or the Israel naval forces.

Prior to boarding the yacht, the Israel naval ships transmitted two warnings to its captain, making him aware that they were in danger of breaking both Israeli and internatioal law. These warnings were ignored by the captain and the boat’s passengers; they continued to sail further into the area under naval blockade. Consequently, Israel navy forces intercepted and boarded the ship.

The IDF regrets that it must divert the Israel Navy’s attention from its regular operational activity defending Israel and its citizens because of acts of provocation such as this.