| Not the Israeli Navy, dear Reader, but the passengers, whom the ship's captain claims forced him to sail toward Gaza instead of Alexandria, as he'd declared upon leaving Greece. Video at link. |
The Israel Navy commandeered and intercepted the Gaza-bound French ship Dignity - Al-Karama after negotiations to persuade 15 pro-Palestinian activists aboard to divert their course away from the Strip's closed naval blockade failed.
Navy soldiers did not encounter any resistance during the interception which resulted after the ship's captain refused to cooperate with the IDF's demand to divert its course to the Ashdod Port, the IDF Spokesperson said in a statement.
An IDF doctor inspected the passengers and they were transferred to one of the navy ships where they received food and water. The bridge of the Dignity was taken over by navy officers and then began sailing towards the Ashdod Port. The 15 passengers will be transferred to Interior Ministry officials and immigration authorities in Ashdod. They will likely be deported from Israel.
Shortly before the take-over, IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz ordered the navy to take control of the yacht as he was overseeing the operation from an underground command center at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv (kirya). Gantz gave the command to Navy Vice Admiral Eliezer Maron who was at sea with the forces.
An IDF source said that during the dialogue with the ship, the captain had claimed that he had been forced by the passengers to sail to Gaza after he had listed to the Port of Alexandria in Egypt as his destination when leaving Greece over the weekend.
The source said that it was likely an attempt by the captain to clear himself of responsibility from sailing for Gaza. The navy initially warned the crew aboard the vessel that soldiers were preparing to board the yacht after making initial radio contact. The navy instructed the crew not to enter Gaza's closed naval blockade, the IDF said.
"We are getting ready to board the ship, we'll do it calmly," a navy official told the captain of the Dignity.
Activists were offered the legal alternative of reaching Gaza through land crossings, the IDF added.
Three navy ships were on the yacht's left side and another on the right side, activists reported.
After departing from Egypt's Port Said in the direction of Gaza shortly after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the activists expected to reach Gaza by noon, Israeli-Swedish passenger Dror Feiler said, unless they were stopped by the navy.
A defense official on Monday said that the navy was preparing to stop the ship before it reaches the Strip.
The Dignity was carrying 17 pro-Palestinian activists. It was part of the Free Gaza Movement's flotilla that was canceled earlier this month after Greece refused to allow the ships to leave its ports for the Gaza Strip.
Three navy ships were on the yacht's left side and another on the right side, activists reported.
After departing from Egypt's Port Said in the direction of Gaza shortly after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the activists expected to reach Gaza by noon, Israeli-Swedish passenger Dror Feiler said, unless they were stopped by the navy.
A defense official on Monday said that the navy was preparing to stop the ship before it reaches the Strip.
The Dignity was carrying 17 pro-Palestinian activists. It was part of the Free Gaza Movement's flotilla that was canceled earlier this month after Greece refused to allow the ships to leave its ports for the Gaza Strip.