Israeli navy takes control of Gaza boat

The crew of the SV Estelle welcomes aboard Greek pro-Palestinian activist Vassilis Pissias and others on October 16. 2012, off the southern Greek island of Gavdos, south of Crete. / AFP/Getty Images

JERUSALEM Israeli naval vessels thwarted the advance of a pro-Palestinian boat attempting to reach Gaza on Saturday in defiance of Israel's blockade of the territory, the military said.

The ships diverted the Estelle to the nearby port of Ashdod after passengers refused to steer the vessel off its course, the military said in a statement. The 30-some passengers on board did not offer resistance.

"A short while ago, Israeli naval soldiers boarded the Estelle en route to the Gaza Strip attempting to break the maritime security blockade," the statement said.

Victoria Strand, a spokeswoman for Ship to Gaza in Sweden, which sent the Estelle, told the Associated Press that armed, masked soldiers boarded the boat and cut their communications as they were some 30 nautical miles from Gaza. She said activists on board told her that some six naval boats surrounded their vessel.

"This is a demonstration of ruthlessness," Strand said.

The Swedish-owned, Finnish-flagged Estelle left Naples, Italy, on Oct. 7 with about 30 people from eight countries, carrying items like cement, basketballs and musical instruments.

They were trying to challenge Israel's blockade, imposed since the militant group Hamas seized the coastal territory in 2007. The ship was the latest in a series of activist-manned boats challenging Israel's blockade on Gaza. Activists have sent a series of blockade-defying vessels to Gaza, most of which have been similarly diverted to Ashdod.

In 2010, an Israeli naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla killed nine Turkish activists on board, sparking international condemnation that forced Israel to ease much of its blockade, although it maintains restrictions on key exports and imports of raw materials.

[nyetaryan]

Who give a rat's a** about what any non-Jew thinks about Israel. You guys are irrelevant as of 1932, if not before. Jews and Israelis will do whatever they think is required for their security. And let every rich and poor Jew in other countries do whatever they can to exercise or buy or coerce or bribe influence. That's just the way of the rest of you killers. You think I should let those who wiped out my family on all sides decide my security? You think I should give a damn what you think? As for American aid, Israel provides enormous benefits back to the U.S. in terms of intelligence, improved equipment, and some new equipment as well. Finally, most of the aid to Israel is spent in the U.S. If you think the disappearance of Israel is going to make the world safe for Christians and Hindus and the rest of you, then you are not only evil, but cosmically stupid. Finally, just conjure in your mind middle finger the size of Everest pointed in your general direction. By the way, anyway give a damn about the Syrians who are being slaughtered by their Islamic brothers? Does anyone care about the Moslems who attack one another during weddings, funerals, and religious pilgrimages? Naaaaaah, let's focus on the evil, money-grubbing, media-controlling Jews. You are all disgusting hypocrites! Zionism Forever!

[IPonUall2]

They certainly have taked advantage of America's economic ability to grow powerful, but also have infiltrated our government indeed they have.
Billions of dollars goes to Israel, both from our foreign aid budget which is 1/3 of the total aid our officials send, plus the private money going to Israel for building those illegal settlements, by usually separatist elite fanatical donors.

[IPonUall2]

When the whites came to America, do you think the natives called them settlers?

[airace99]

Sink any ship that tries to run the blockade!

[IPonUall2]

The blockade is illegal.
The UN does not recognize any such blockade, and their actions have been piracy.

[Lindag20]

So Israel is flexing their muscles again. If the US would stop funding them, they would learn how to get along with their neighbors.

[IPonUall2]

Chuck766
How many suicide murderers have blown up pizzerias and market places in the past?
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You mean suicide bombers. Reinterpreting known and established language isn't going to help anything.

What you call a murderer, is a desperate person who had lived his/her whole life in economic deprivation under an Israeli gun.

[IPonUall2]

Chuck766
Actually, Lindag, the Israeli government is only trying to keep their people safe!
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What a load of B.S.
If that were true, they would have stayed within the UN mandate.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

woozybarnes says: Why do we give this evil, brutal apartheid state a pass?
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AIPAC

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

TheJAG57 says: The fact that you do not know anything about security and the importance of security of any country shows me that you have a manipulative attitude..
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If you think basketballs and musical instruments are a threat to ANY nation's security, you're daft.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

TVWATCHER5345

what about the israelis that were detained for high fiving each other after 9/11?, i'm not pro palestinian, i'm just not pro-israeli and i do not regard them as an ally, the palestinians elected hamas, and the israelis elected netanyahu, and they deserve eachother cockroaches all, and my hard earned tax dollars should not be involved, i think they are both semitic people and i have no desire to get involved in a family fight (FYI the israeli founders regarded the palestinians in palestine as their relatives)

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Excellent comment!!

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

SUMDUDEVIPER
I live in the U.S. If Canada had residents firing rockets into New York or Wisconsin, or Seattle, you bet your behind i would want retaliatory action.

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And if we invaded Canada and started plowing down their houses first, would you expect rocket fire??

That's the point - no one can pinpoint which side really started things. It's a perpetually-escalating war based on reprisals.

[TheJAG57]

To debase my remark as having no merit is to say that the facts aren't there. There was no permission given to this ship to enter any of the Israeli ports and since then began it was a matter of fact trying to break the Israeli blockade of ships coming into harbor. The fact that you do not know anything about security and the importance of security of any country shows me that you have a manipulative attitude which does not want to talk about operational security of a nation, but you want to act like this is another poster pic for your facebook page. It is not possible to protect any country without security measures. Obviously you have no idea of national security measures that Israel has put down due to the rockets and terrorism to all people of Israel, no just the Jews. Your insult is not to discuss fact, it is just to get attention like some spoiled child. You must remember, your life is just important as anyones and if your country denied you security and defensive protections, your life and all lives would be in danger. I don't expect a seriously thought out debate from you, but maybe you should live in Israel where the rockets are hitting and there are acts of violence so that you could understand the severity of the situation. But, if not living there, then at least think of where you do live and if your own country can not protect it's nation - that includes everyone - not just the few. I have a no trespassing sign and that means just what it says. That is nothing compared to a group of people trying to enter a country with notice, illegal intentions, no matter what the purpose. No country on this earth will allow that to happen, especially palestinian countries which naming a few: Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Gaza Strip, The West Bank, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US, Israel, South America, any country on this planet. I am sure you may be old enough to vote, but this is not about politics exactly, it is about the ability of a nation to have security measures in place for it's entire nation.

[woozybarnes]

TO BISHOPROBME:
Here is some background information on the 27 Dec 2008 Israeli war. I used to be a huge supporter of Israel until I saw this same scenario play out time and again. There would be a cease fire and suddenly Israel would have a "targeted assassination" (read murder) and Hamas would of course respond. The next day the American press would report that Hamas launched rockets into Israel. Deep in the middle of the article would be a one sentence remark about Israel having fired first. But that is not how it was reported to the world. Check this wikipedia article.
This was actually one of the incidents that changed my view of Israel:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_War#Background

November 4 incident

On November 4, 2008, Israel launched a military strike on Hamas to destroy what Israel said was a tunnel on the Gaza-Israel border dug by militants to infiltrate into Israel and abduct soldiers. According to Israel, the raid was not a violation of the ceasefire, but a legitimate step to remove an immediate threat. Israeli infantry, tanks, and bulldozers entered 250 m into the Gaza Strip, the first major incursion since the June truce.

[SumDuDeViper]

i have heard of an inspection, that is the WHOLE point. But your posts clearly say that since they declared it as non-munitions, and innocuous and mundane items, that somehow an inspection should not be carried out. That because someone bringing something in, it should be left alone.

But your reply, if even more mysterious. You say on one side, let the ship pass. On your reply, you imply inspections should be done. Either pick a side, or put down the pipe, and let the grown ups talk for awhile.

[Think3Times]

Thats not what I see he said or meant, maybe you haven't read back far enough?

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

SUMDUDEVIPER

i have heard of an inspection, that is the WHOLE point. But your posts clearly say that since they declared it as non-munitions, and innocuous and mundane items, that somehow an inspection should not be carried out.

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Wow. Perfect non-comprehension of my point!