An Israeli Navy commander engages the seventh flotilla ship
Israeli Navy soldiers approach the seventh flotilla ship
Israeli Navy soldiers board the seventh flotilla ship with permission from the crew
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ba0iXUzxu0]
Aerial footage from 5 June 2010: When IDF naval commandos boarded the ship attempting to break the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip, they did so with the full compliance of the ship’s crew members. According to initial reports, there was no violence or injuries amongst the soldiers or the crew, as the use of force was unnecessary and no shots were fired.
The boat and its crew are being led to the Ashdod port and will be transferred to the custody of the appropriate authorities.
Israeli Navy Contacts 7th Flotilla Ship Attempting to Break Gaza Maritime Closure
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDkqYrwuDP0]
Israeli Navy ship operators question the Gaza flotilla ship about their next port of destination to which they reply “our next port is Gaza port, we will be there for 2 and half to 3 days over.” The motor vessel Linda is then requested to remain on the channel 1-6 for the navy can continue to communicate with the ship.
As of 12:00, 5 June 2010, the Linda (original name of the ship which was renamed the Rachel Corrie) had refused 4 requests by the Israeli Navy to dock at the Ashdod Port where they could unload their aid materials and after a security inspection all goods would be transferred to Gaza via the land crossings.
Audio of Radio Transmission Between Israeli Navy and Seventh Flotilla Ship
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_2Zd9e9dNE&feature=channel]
In an audio communication between the Israeli Navy and the seventh flotilla ship, the navy operator informs the flotilla that the ship is heading towards an area that is under a naval blockade. The Israeli navy requests that the ship dock at the Port of Ashdod, where they can unload their cargo and the IDF will deliver the goods through the land crossings after a security check. The seventh flotilla ship responds that they have received the message but do not respond to the request.
The ship was contacted 4 times and refused to respond to request. As of 12:45 5 June 2010 the crew of the ship permitted the IDF soldiers to board the ship. They boarded by land, no helicopters were used. There were no reports of violence.
For Immediate Release
June 5th, 2010
12:45
Ship Attempting to Break Maritime Closure of Gaza Strip Boarded by Israel Naval Forces with Compliance of Crew
IDF naval commandos boarded the ship attempting to break the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip a short while ago with the full compliance of the ship’s crew members. According to initial reports, there was no violence or injuries amongst the soldiers or the crew, as the use of force was unnecessary and no shots were fired.
The boat and its crew are being led to the Ashdod port and will be transferred to the custody of the appropriate authorities.
During the morning hours a naval force identified the ship and, as it did in the past, issued numerous calls for it to dock in Ashdod and transfer the goods via the crossings upon inspection. The calls were ignored and it became clear that the boat intended to reach Gaza’s shores. The Israel Navy contacted the boat and clarified again that the Gaza Strip was under maritime closure and due to security risks in the area, it would not be permitted to enter.
A short while ago, with the compliance of the crew members, the naval force boarded the ship without incident under the command of the Commander of the Israel Navy, Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom, and is now directing it to the Ashdod port.
Any organization or country wishing to transfer humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip can do so legally via the established ground crossings by coordinating with the relevant authorities, as is done on a near daily basis.
The closure of the Gaza Strip prevents the smuggling of arms to the Hamas terror organization and ensures the security of vessels traveling in the area.
It should be noted that Hamas has refused to allow any of the aid carried by the other six flotilla ships into the Gaza Strip thus far. Five days have passed since trucks were loaded with cargo and were ready to enter Gaza.
The rules of warfare allow the capturing of naval vessels prior to their actual violation of a naval blockade. This is dependent on the vessels being on their way to a blockaded area, being outside the territorial waters of neutral states and when there is a substantial likelihood (based on credible evidence) that the vessels intend to violate the blockade.
Declarations by the flotilla’s organizers and their reactions to the messages that were transmitted to them during their approach clearly show that they had intended to break the naval blockade, thus allowing for the steps taken by IDF forces.
June 5th, 2010
08:50
Israel Navy Communicates Radio Message to 7th Flotilla Ship
The Israel Navy conveyed the following message to the 7th flotilla ship a few moments ago via radio transmission:
“This is the Israeli Navy. You are approaching an area of hostilities which is under a naval blockade. The Gaza area, coastal region and Gaza Harbor are closed to all maritime traffic. The Israeli government supports delivery of humanitarian supplies to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and invites you to enter the Ashdod port. Delivery of the supplies in accordance with the authorities’ regulations will be done via the formal land crossings and under your observation, after which you can return to your home ports aboard the vessels on which you arrived.”
The ship organizers chose to ignore the invitation to dock at the Ashdod port where the cargo could be unloaded and transferred to the Gaza Strip upon inspection.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxY7Q7CvQPQ]
In response to a radio transmission by the Israeli Navy warning the Gaza flotilla that they are approaching a naval blockade, passengers of the Mavi Marmara respond, “Shut up, go back to Auschwitz” and “We’re helping Arabs go against the US, don’t forget 9/11″
The spokesman for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announces that the unloading of humanitarian aid from the flotilla continued during the day.
Up Until now, 30 truckloads were unloaded, containing clothes, blankets, schoolbags, mattresses, children’s safety seats, closets and medical supply such as mechanical wheelchairs, X-ray reflection, wheelchairs, bandaging supply, medical beds and medications.
Some of the medicine unloaded from the ships had expiration dates from 2009. Furthermore, military camouflage fabrics, supposed to be delivered to the Hammas terror regime, were found on the ships.
The Palestinians are delaying the transfer of the humanitarian aid that was unloaded at Kerem Shalom crossing. As of today, 8 truckloads were already unloaded.
The coordinator of government activities in territories will continue to coordinate the transfer the humanitarian aid into the Gaza strip, in collaboration with the international community and the Palestinian authority.
Attached are photos of expired medicine and uniform fabric included in the cargo of the flotilla aid.
[slideshow]
After Israeli Naval forces intercepted the Gaza flotilla and brought it to the Port of Ashdod, the humanitarian cargo on the ships was immediately unloaded at the port. The cargo, which included expired medication, clothing, blankets, some medical equipment, and toys was loaded onto 20 trucks. These trucks were brought to the Kerem Shalom Crossing in order to import the goods into the Gaza Strip, however Hamas has refused to allow international organizations and the Palestinian Authority to take the materials.
Below are photos of the humanitarian aid being loaded onto the trucks, and the trucks on their way to the Kerem Shalom Crossing:
[slideshow]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16sANhzjcC0]
The opening footage of the video shows knives, rods, wrenches, gas masks, bulletproof vests, and binoculars found on the ship and gathered at the Port of Ashdod. IDF soldiers then reenact how rioters prepared weaponry by using electric saws to remove metal poles from the stairs and other parts of the ship in order to attack the soldiers. The closing seconds of the film come from actual footage found on the Marmara showing the demonstrators preparing the weaponry.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSAxAj2KIdU]
