Israeli navy on high alert to storm approaching Libyan aid ship Amal

[ 13/07/2010 - 11:07 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)--

The Hebrew radio reported Tuesday morning that the Israeli occupation forces navy has been put on high alert to storm the Libyan aid ship Amal which resumed sailing on Sunday evening for the besieged Gaza Strip after a short stop off the shores of the Greek island of Crete.

It said that the navy's commandos and gunboats are now ready to intercept the ship pursuant to the maritime siege imposed on Gaza.

A top naval officer was quoted as saying that the navy would deal with the Libyan ship the same way as it did with the Freedom Flotilla convoy.

He also added that if the ship's captain violated the naval blockade on Gaza, he would be clearly told that he must unload the cargo in the Israeli port of Ashdod after boarding it for search, and if he resorted to force to reach the shores of Gaza, the naval units, for their part, would use force to stop him.

The website of the Gaddafi international charity and development foundation said the team on board of Amal reported that the journey was going normal so far, and that the ship was sailing in international waters on its route to Gaza after it left the Crete shores.

The foundation’s team on board of the vessel confirmed their morale is high and they are getting ready to reach Gaza on Wednesday. The group also re-emphasized the humanitarian and peaceful nature of the goals of this aid ship, and that it is not intended to arouse excitement or cause provocation.

In another context, the news of Islam agency in Russia reported that the Turkish city of Istanbul would host on July 15 a two-day meeting of multinational lawyers to explore avenues of filing a joint lawsuit against Israel with the international criminal court at The Hague to punish it for its deadly attack on the Freedom Flotilla aid convoy.

It added Monday that representatives of the countries whose nationals participated in the convoy would attend the meeting.

For his part, Turkish premier Recep Erdogan stated during an official visit to Serbia on Monday that his country would continue its quest for an apology and compensation for the families of the victims who were killed by Israeli troops during a raid on their ship.

Erdogan also stressed in a news conference in Belgrade the need for lifting the siege on Gaza, and added that his government would keep up its effort to end it.

Gaza: Hundreds urge Libyan ship to continue

Published yesterday (updated) 13/07/2010 13:50

Gaza – Ma'an –

Hundreds of Gaza residents brought Libyan flags and photos of Libyan leader Mu'ammar Al-Qaddafi to the city's main square on Monday, urging a Libyan ship to stay its course for the Strip.

Following an announcement by Palestinian MK Ahmad Tibi on Sunday, denying Israeli reports that The Hope would be diverted to the Egyptian port of Al-'Arish, independent Gaza PLC member Jamal Al-Khudari said residents of the besieged area once again came out to thank a nation for its support.

A similar show was staged the day set for the arrival of the international aid fleet the Freedom Flotilla, on the day it was set to have arrived in Gaza, but the event was a public mourning for the nine dead, shot by Israeli commandos who commandeered the ships and diverted them to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

"Again Palestinians rushed to stand by the people who supported them and called for ending the Gaza blockade, this time holding Libyan flags," Al-Khudari said.

The official, who also heads of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, said Gaza residents were heartened to hear from MK Tibi, that The Hope was nearing Crete and on its way to Gaza.

The world will not fall for Israel's media revolution against ship, Al-Khudari said, adding that he did not believe that Israel would stop the ship.

Israeli Navy Readies To Attack Libyan Aid Ship

Tuesday July 13, 2010 12:56 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli Radio reported Tuesday morning that the Israeli occupation forces navy was placed on high alert on Monday at night, and is preparing to intercept the Libyan aid ship that sailed two days ago from Greece to deliver humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip.

A special navy unit and a number of advanced combat boats are preparing plans to intercept, and, if needed, use force against the ship should it try to reach the Gaza coast.

A senior navy commander said that the navy will deal with the Libyan ship, that carries Moldavian flag, the same way it dealt with the Freedom Flotilla at the end of last May.

The commander added that clear messages will be sent to the captain of the ship to sail to Esdod “Ashdod” Port in order search it and unload its cargo.
He said that should the pilot ignore the commands of the navy, Israel will be obliged to use force”.

Furthermore, Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported Tuesday morning that the Foreign Ministry instructed the army and the navy not to intercept the ship before its reaches the Gaza territorial waters, or at least when it is close to the territorial waters in order to avoid “violating the international law”.

Haaretz added that the ministry made the same request regarding the Freedom Flotilla but the government rejected it.

The Legal Department at the Foreign Ministry believes that the statements of the crew of the Libyan ship regarding determination to reach the Gaza shore might not be enough to justify attacking the ship in international waters.

Nine Turkish activists were killed and dozens were wounded when the army attacked the Marmara ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla that was heading to Gaza.

On Monday, Israel concluded what it called an official investigation into the attack on the Freedom Flotilla, and determined that “serious mistakes on the planning and intelligence levels were conducted leading to the death of the nine activists”.

The report was presented to Israel's Intelligence Chief, Lt. Gen Gabi Ashkenazi. It revealed “although the army had underestimated the amount of violence, the attack was the only way to make sure the ship does not reach Gaza”.

The report was not made public yet, but it refrained from naming officials responsible for the shortcomings and failures.

Giora Eiland, the retired Israeli commander who headed the investigation, said that the “operation was complicated”, and that there were no negligences or wrongdoings in what he called the “complex operation”.

Yet, he acknowledged that some high ranking officers and officials made mistakes, and added that the outcome of the attack was not what Israel anticipated.

The report said that the navy failed in two of three objectives; it failed to “protect the commandos who took part in the attack, and failed to avoid casualties. But it added that the aim to stop the ship from reaching Gaza was achieved.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign slammed the Israel report, and said that it came to “wash the hands of the soldiers and officials responsible for the deadly attack.