Israel Threatens to Board Gaza-bound Aid Ship

World | June 5, 2010, Saturday // 11:21
Israel Threatens to Board Gaza-bound Aid Ship: Israel Threatens to Board Gaza-bound Aid Ship Protests of Turkish and Palestinian supporters continue across the globe. The picture shows a rally in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday. Photo by BGNES

Israel warns Saturday its commandos are prepared to board an aid ship attempting to break the blockade of Gaza if it does not change course, BBC reports.

The Irish-owned MV Rachel Corrie has defied instructions to dock at the Israeli port of Ashdod, and is sailing for Gaza.

The latest tensions in the area come less then a week after Israeli commandos stormed a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killing 8 Turkish citizens and one American from Turkish background. The attack sent shock waves of outrage in Palestine, Greece, and Turkey, while the EU and the UN demand full investigation of "what has happened."

Rachel Corrie is reported to be in international waters, about 35 miles off the Israeli coast. Israel says it has radioed the aid ship but received no response, adding they will have to board it, if it does not change course. The activists had promised earlier they would not resist any Israeli attempts to stop the ship.

The Rachel Corrie is named after a US college student who was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer as she protested over house demolitions in Gaza in 2003.

The ship, which had been a part of the previous flotilla, but was delayed by technical problems, is carrying hundreds of tons of aid, including wheelchairs, medical supplies and cement. Construction materials are banned from entering Gaza by Israel, which says they could be used for military purposes by Hamas.

20 people are, reportedly, on board, including five Irish nationals, six Malaysians and nine crew members.

Israel has said if the ship docks at Ashdod, the aid will be delivered to Gaza by road after the cargo has been inspected for banned items.

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Tags: Kristalina Georgieva, Gaza, Israel, humanitarian aid, Yane Yanev, RZS

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