Israel threatens Irish vessel with similar fate to that of Freedom Flotilla

Israel threatens Irish vessel with similar fate to that of Freedom Flotilla

Israeli military sources threatened that the Irish cargo ship called Rachel Corrie would be attacked if it continued its sail to the Gaza Strip.

The Hebrew radio on Tuesday quoted those sources as saying that force would be used against the ship if necessary to stop its advance to Gaza.

“The army will seize the ship” to prevent completion of its voyage to the coastal enclave, the sources added.

Israeli commandos used violence in intercepting the Freedom Flotilla ships at dawn Monday and commandeered them to Ashdod after killing and wounding dozens of peace activists on board then arrested all of them.

The Rachel Corrie ship, which is attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza with six Malaysians on board, will go ahead with its plan despite yesterday’s attack by the Israeli navy on a Turkish ship on a similar mission, Bernama news agency of Malaysia reported on Tuesday.

Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is former Malaysian premier, said the ship was going to sail through Gaza waters and it had nothing to do with Israel.

Asked about the possibility of a confrontation like what happened yesterday, Tun Dr Mahathir said: “Well, if the Israeli navy stops the ship, I suppose they cannot fight against the Israelis who are armed with guns and are ready to kill”.

“But their mission is to take this aid to Gaza and they will proceed until they are stopped. And if they are stopped, they will appeal for safe passage because they are not combatants, they carry no arms, they are trying to help people in distress.” he said.