Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested

Listen to the Buck Sexton Show Live on TheBlaze Radio

World

Israeli Navy Boards Pro-Palestinian Boat Bound for Gaza Attempting to Break Blockade

Oct. 20, 2012 7:32am Madeleine Morgenstern

The Estelle welcomes Greek activists on board Oct. 16, 2012. The Israeli Navy on Saturday announced it had taken control of the Gaza-bound boat after it ignored repeated warnings to stop, in defiance of the Jewish state’s military blockade. (Getty Images)

JERUSALEM (TheBlaze/AP) — 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 some 30 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.

“The Navy force operated as planned to guarantee the safety of the soldiers and passengers on the deck. The soldiers did not use force while seizing the ship, and gave the activists food and water,” the military added, according to the Jerusalem Post.

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.

Strand told CNN that because the boat was still in international waters, it was “an act of piracy to board the ship.”

The Swedish-owned, Finnish-flagged Estelle left Naples, Italy, on Oct. 7 with about 30 people from eight countries, reportedly 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 U.S. and Israel consider Hamas a terrorist group. The ship was the latest in a series of activist-manned boats challenging Israel’s blockade on Gaza, imposed out of concern over militants smuggling in arms to attack the Jewish state. Activists have sent a series of blockade-defying vessels to Gaza, most of which have been similarly diverted to Ashdod.

Israel warned Finland earlier this week it would keep the ship out of Gaza waters, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

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.

An Israeli military spokesperson told the Jerusalem Post any organization or country wishing to reach Gaza or deliver humanitarian aid may do so legally over land with cooperation of Israeli authorities.

–

RELATED:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (49)

Ducky657
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 1:05pm
These guys are obviously not to bright since they put a big sign on the side of their ship giving away their destination. Here is a great idea. Pack the boat full of explosives and see how high in the air you can blow it up!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Honestybefore truth
  Posted on October 21, 2012 at 5:38am
  Could some tell me if I have some “facts” related to me about Palestine are accurate. There has never been, prior to 1988 (with lands provide by Israel), an actual Palestinian state. That the Palestinian people that now inhabit those lands were kicked out of Jordan into the buffer area that developed from the series of wars between the Arab nations and Israel. And among Arabs the Palestinians are considered something like Gypsies in Europe. Some honest facts [with sourcing] would be appreciated.
  
  Report this comment
Uechi
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 12:08pm
There lucky they were stopped by Israel. If it was up to me I’d torpedo the scow.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Robert Hawk
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 11:17am
Idiots, they will simply wind up in jail in a foreign country. Personally they should send them to Libya to guard the fire damaged consulate there. Lets see what their attitude is about one week of being on the ground in Benghazi.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Bonnieblue2A
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:52am
Were the Obama’s close friends and neighbors, the unrepentant domestic terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, connect to this Pro-Hezbollah flotilla as they have been others?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- barber2
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 11:04am
  Of course. Goes way back to their Weatherman days : hated American capitalism then; hate American capitalism now. Hated Israel back then; hate Israel now. Sided with the Palestinians and the Communists then; side with the Palestinians and the Communists now. Only difference ? Back then they were branded as anti-American ” terrorists.” Now, they are branded as loyal Obama supporters. Tells you tons about the mess the world and America are in today….( Ayers and Dorn should still be in jail )
  
  Report this comment
woodyee
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:39am
“The soldiers did not use force while seizing the ship, and gave the activists food and water,”

Why?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Right wing nut job
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 11:01am
  “This is a demonstration of ruthlessness,” Strand said.
  
  Must be rough being boarded without force, given a free meal, and then taken to Ashdod which I understand has beautiful beaches.
  
  Report this comment
getourcountryback
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:29am
Good for Israel. THEIR leader has some balls which is more than can be said of the ones in the US.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
DeOppressoLiber
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:28am
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2012/10/19/new_poll_egyptians_turning_toward_iran_want_nuclear_weapons?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foreignpolicy%2Fthecable+%28The+Cable%29

I am so glad that Clinton the Progressive let Islam obtain a nuclear weapon. That was a fundamental strategic mistake that is going to haunt us. Now more Islamic states want the weapon and will obtain it under Dear Leaders watch.

I must say some great foreign policy.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- SITDOWNANDSHUTUP
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 2:39pm
  Scariest thing I’ve read in a while………
  
  Report this comment
overthecliff
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:23am
Israelis should sink the ships and leave the survivors in the water,or pick them up and sell them into slavery. That is what Muslims would do.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
lynnissmart
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:15am
No matter if the Israelies treat these below the earth s c u _ well, the story will be spun that it’s Israel’s fault…..Ugh!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
KangarooJack
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:37am
Basketballs, cement, musical instruments…

Wonder what the mini-sub underneath had on it? They did a Han Solo and floated away with the trash…
{sorry, I read/watch way too many Crime Drama/Mystery….}

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 666Sucks
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:01am
  But your thinking, and that’s critical and what to many of our leaders fail to do!
  
  Report this comment
- mr.goodvibe
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:29am
  Come on IDF, put a diver in the water with a plasma cutter, cut a 3ft diameter hole in the hull, problem solved. Drop all of the white commies in gaza on your way home so they get the real muslim experience.
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:34am
In the 1970′s the Baader-Meinhof Gang of Communists united with the Palestinians to try to bring down the ” capitalists” whom they hated in government. Sounds like the same unholy alliance of Far Lefty thugs and anti-Israel / capitalism are still united…and behind all of these so-called “democratic” revolutions . WAKE UP. Our own government , with its international Far Left Obama Democrats , are now part of the thug union. NOBAMA 2012

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- AmazingGrace8
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 12:46pm
  Food and water for THOUGHT. When you mentioned the 70′s it is very compelling how “brick-by-brick” with “disappearing mortar” the “mad world” is in-a-state of travail.
  
  Report this comment
666Sucks
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:34am
I learned a great lesson from a 4 Star General back in Korea, while conducting war games at CP TANGO, as part of the excercise a N Korean gun boat crossed the DMZ and attacked a S Korean fishing vessel, while all the young Captains & Majors were talking about sanctions and this ***** response and that, finally Gen. Luck interrupted and barked, not only should you have blown that gun boat out of the water, you should have obliterated the base it came from (in so many words)! Israel needs to announce that they will scuttle any and all boats attempting to reach AuchMcMoronville, and then do it! See how long the insurance company’s allow these flotillas! We need to stop being so passive and fight this war to win! As for all you Sheeple environmentalist, there will be some great artificial reefs for all your cute little fishys, its all good!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 666Sucks
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:51am
  Wow, I was snored lol. Ok, Instead of ***** I should have said kitty cat responses. Sorry.
  
  Report this comment
- PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:10am
  The most feared terrorists in the world is the ll Silvestre ECO-Terrorists based in Italy. Seems like they are connected to Sweden & Finland too? The Eco-Freaks and (many EU countries have banned GE food) are up in arms in the EU over Monsanto and IBM’s new nano-technology for genetically modified food which is going to be laced with psychotropic drugs to make the public more docile, so they will not riot. It is being engineered in chocolate of all foods. The nano-tech headquarters in IBM Rueschilkon, Zurich. NOTE: the 2012 US Farm Bill was amended at the last moment to allow ALL GE (genetically engineered) food in our markets WITHOUT labels etc. It is part of the US government wanting control of all Agriculture by Agribusiness in the U.S. The damage and take-over and control that is being done to EVERY industry in this country is overwhelming and perverted, i.e., evil and planned. This Farm Bill has not passed yet, I’m not sure what is holding is back….it’s not a good bill for anyone.
  
  Report this comment
BeardedDog
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:11am
They should round these people up and make them look at graphic photos of all the people who have been blown up by the Terrorists over there.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Bluefish49
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:08am
I had bumper stickers made after I listened to Iran’s leader speak at the United Nations calling us Zionists…..I now have a bumper sticker on my truck that say’s “Proud Zionist” I’m also amazed at the number of people that have asked me what it means….

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- songbird7
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:29am
  in the last 3½ decades , there is a worldwide muslim-nazi propaganda ( with a spirit of ” the protocols of the elders in zion ” ) trying to
  demonize the term ” zionists ” or ” zion ” with a lot of help from all our kapos ( just a true researcher will understand this unique phenomenon in the israeli / jewish poeple )
  
  so , after all that propaganda , i just want to tell you that we appreciate that support a lot !
  there is a little group of people all over the world , that just remained out there , with a commonsense and knowledge thet doesn’t come from the syringes of the devil NWO media …
  
  thanks mate
  
  Report this comment
AmericanBorn
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:00am
It is obvious where they were heading. They were warned to change course. They didn’t. That, to me, shows blatant intent to run the blockade. If they had waited for them to get into Israli water, it likely would have been too late. I support Israel’s boarding the ship and turning it around. What part do these people not understand. So no boo hooing for those on the ship. Of course you won’t find weapons as cargo – this was a test. And now they can call foul. We’re not stupid nor naive.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Bluefish49
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:57am
In hindsight I think the Israeli Navy should have just sunk it in the middle of the night and killed all survivors….problem solved….its what the Iranian Navy would have done.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Dont be a sucker
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:20am
  After all Isreal is no better than Iran, right?
  
  Report this comment
Reeealy
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:47am
Speaking of naval events, have anyone noticed the three (2bill slips and hill bitch slapping the war on women) warning shots the USS CLINTON shot across the bow of the USS OBAMA?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
BIGWUN
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:40am
Israel has submarines so please conduct torpedo drills on future murderous Muslim blockade runners.
Visit Sponge Bob you medieval morons.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Vickie Dhaene
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:33am
The date under the picture is Oct. 16, 2016. Are we seeing into the future?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Gonzo
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:50am
  Who is President?
  
  Report this comment
- reconmarine
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:06am
  It’s good to see that Israel is still around in 2016 which would obviously mean that President Romney is in office getting ready for his re-election in November 2016.
  
  Report this comment
progressiveslayer
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:32am
I’d like to see all the Hollywood nut jobs get on a boat go over there and show their support for the MB and the Palestinians and get sunk by the Israeli navy killing all of them,now that’s a happy ending.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RJJinGadsden
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:32am
Hehehe, this really caught my attention. “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 some 30 passengers on board did not offer resistance.}”
For one thing I bet the Israeli boarding parties no longer use paintball guns in an attempt to be less than lethal. I would think they now board armed to the teeth and mean business. So, there is no doubt that there is no offer to resist.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
dublinthewagons
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:21am
Community organizers @ their best. Send aid overland or suffer the consequences.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:34am
  Indeed, this was done by the ship owners and passangers to try and provoke a hostile response from Israel for international attention. Under international law, Israel has the right to detain shipping that is headed into a declared blockade zone – and that is what they did.
  
  Report this comment
ellietoo
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 7:56am
Why do they insist that Gaza needs aid? Gaza gets hundreds of millions of dollars in aid yearly just from the United States. The palestinians receive billions of dollars in aid yearly and yet the place is desolate of business or industry. They build housing projects that turn into slums. The places where the so called “palestinians” live are disgusting messes despite billions upon billions of dollars in aid. Where has all the money gone? To buy weapons! No one has made any attempt to improve the quality of life of the people that live there. If the place became prosperous they couldn’t push their agenda of hatred of the Jews! Gaza was a beautiful prosperous place when the Jews were there. Now it is a desolate disaster area. The “palestinians” have learned to live on handouts from their corrupt leaders. They have no intention of helping themselves.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Cemoto78
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:41am
  What they don’t use to buy weapons goes into the pockets of the leadership which continually keeps the other Palestinians in poverty. Sadly, these people just can’t open their eyes to this as they swallow the propaganda where it’s Israels fault.
  Kinda reminds you of Obama’s continual attempts to blame all the ills in this country on the rich, banks, GOP, George Bush, ATM’s, etc., etc., etc..
  
  Report this comment
- lel2007
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:28am
  Maybe so, but they don’t get basketballs.
  
  Report this comment
- AlwaysAmazed
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:08am
  I believe these people actually like living in squalor. I don’t think most of them would know how to use a bar of soap in a shower (if there were any working showers left in their beautiful ‘country’). Whew! A prime example of the waste of human skin. They will never amount to anything more than they are today – nothing…
  
  Report this comment
- Chromo200
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 10:13am
  ELLIETOO … Best comment I have read for many years about the Palestinians .. Job well done.
  
  I’d like to add .. that without western influence all of Arabian countries would still be living in squalor/tents/ or poorly built block houses and mostly remain uneducated.
  
  Report this comment
KingCanon
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 7:51am
I support Israel !

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
JimCDew
Posted on October 20, 2012 at 7:44am
Thousands of rockets fired into Israel from gaza this year and they should not take steps to stop the flow of weapons? Wake up people, the war is coming.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- justangry
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:24am
  Yes, Israel has every right to stop the boats from getting to Gaza. I only wish they’d wait until the vessels were out of international waters before doing so.
  
  Report this comment
- Fubared
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 8:29am
  They should scuttle them where they find them. Screw international agua.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.