ID :
195992
Wed, 07/20/2011 - 08:17
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/195992
The shortlink copeid
Israeli Forces Attack Gaza-Bound Ship Again
TEHRAN (FNA)- Israeli naval forces on Tuesday attacked and confiscated Dignité al-Karama, a French ship trying to take humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
Israeli frigates surrounded the ship 50 miles off the Gaza coast and media reports said that the ship is now confiscated by Israeli forces and redirected towards the port city of Ashdod.
The French-flagged Dignite is carrying 10 activists and a crew of three and is affiliated with the Free Gaza Movement, whose aim is to break the "siege of Gaza".
The move came more than 14 months after Israeli forces raided the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31. Over 100 Israeli soldiers supported by military choppers boarded a Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara, which was leading a six-ship convoy in international waters.
The Israeli commandoes killed 20 international human rights activists and wounded 80 more. Nine of the victims were Turkish nationals. Some members of the European parliaments, former western diplomats, reporters and human rights activists were among the victims of Israel's brutal act.
The siege of Gaza started in June 2007 when Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip. This was supported by the governments of Egypt and the US.
The blockade consists of a land blockade along Gaza's borders with Egypt and Israel and a sea blockade. It immediately followed the 2006-2007 economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority following the election of Hamas to the Palestinian government.
The blockade has attracted criticism from many Human Rights organizations. September 2009 UN fact-finding mission found that the blockade of Gaza "amounted to collective punishment" was likely a war crime and a crime against humanity and recommended that the matter be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Israeli frigates surrounded the ship 50 miles off the Gaza coast and media reports said that the ship is now confiscated by Israeli forces and redirected towards the port city of Ashdod.
The French-flagged Dignite is carrying 10 activists and a crew of three and is affiliated with the Free Gaza Movement, whose aim is to break the "siege of Gaza".
The move came more than 14 months after Israeli forces raided the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31. Over 100 Israeli soldiers supported by military choppers boarded a Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara, which was leading a six-ship convoy in international waters.
The Israeli commandoes killed 20 international human rights activists and wounded 80 more. Nine of the victims were Turkish nationals. Some members of the European parliaments, former western diplomats, reporters and human rights activists were among the victims of Israel's brutal act.
The siege of Gaza started in June 2007 when Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip. This was supported by the governments of Egypt and the US.
The blockade consists of a land blockade along Gaza's borders with Egypt and Israel and a sea blockade. It immediately followed the 2006-2007 economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority following the election of Hamas to the Palestinian government.
The blockade has attracted criticism from many Human Rights organizations. September 2009 UN fact-finding mission found that the blockade of Gaza "amounted to collective punishment" was likely a war crime and a crime against humanity and recommended that the matter be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
