Free Gaza: 21 more miles to Strip; Israeli navy continues to surround ship
Date: 30 / 06 / 2009 Time: 09:28
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Gaza - Ma'an - At least five Israeli warships are attempting to halt a ferry
carrying civilians and supplies, which is attempting to break the siege on
the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement from the Free Gaza movement, the Sprit of Humanity
ship was intercepted by Israel's navy 60 kilometers from Gaza early Tuesday.
The Israeli warships issued an ultimatum, urging the ship to turn back,
though statements from the crew indicate the ship will continue on toward
the Strip.

The most recent communication from the ship said "21 more miles and they
will be there. Still 'escorted' by two Israeli gun boats."

The ship set sail from the port of Lanarca, Cyprus on Monday after being
delayed by Cypriot authorities. The activists planned to arrive in Gaza on
Tuesday in what would have been their fourth successful voyage. Two other
attempts to break Israel's naval blockade were thwarted by the navy.

Twenty-one human rights advocates representing 11 different countries are
aboard the ship. The passengers include Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire,
former US Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and 83-year-old Holocaust survivor
Heddy Epstein.

The converted ferry boat carries three tons of medical aid, children's toys,
and rehabilitation and reconstruction kits for twenty family homes.

Israel's military spokesperson unit had no information to release about the
ship. Attempts to contact the Israeli Foreign Ministry were unsuccessful.

"This aid is desperately needed by the people of Gaza," said Nobel Laureate
Maguire in a statement relayed from on board the ship. "President Obama has
called upon the Palestinians to abandon violence but Israel is denying them
the right to non-violently resist the siege of Gaza."

At 1:30am, the crew of the ship said, Israeli warships surrounded the boat
and threatened to open fire if they did not turn around. They said that when
they refused to turn back, the Israeli navy "began jamming their
instrumentation, blocking their GPS, radar, and navigation systems."

Responding to this, Congresswoman McKinney declared, according to the
statement, "I am extremely angry. We demand that the Israeli government call
off their attack dogs. We are unarmed civilians aboard an unarmed boat
delivering medical and reconstruction aid to other human beings in Gaza. Why
in God's name would Israel want to attack us?"

Another ship was due to arrive in Gaza on 26 June, but the organizers
cancelled the trip after Israel threatened to stop all solidarity ships and
send them back.

***Updated 13:18 Bethlehem time