Pro-Palestinian, French Flotilla Activists Escape Greek Waters, Head to Gaza Strip
- Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:27am by
Billy Hallowell
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Last week, we reported on Greece’s determination not to allow activists to sail to the Gaza Strip from national waters, the arrest of one ship (The Audacity of Hope’s) captain and activists’ ongoing determination to set sail regardless of the restrictions placed upon them. Now, new flotilla drama has unfolded.
To begin, French pro-Palestinian activists say a pleasure craft linked to a flotilla banned from sailing from Greek ports to the Gaza Strip has left Greek waters and is on its way.
Jean-Claude Lefort, a spokesman for the group, told The Associated Press Tuesday that the “Dignite-Al Karama” left port near Athens early Monday and has reached international waters. On board are eight activists and two crew members.
Greek authorities say they are looking into the report. Joseph Dana, a correspondent with the liberal magazine “The Nation,” who has been live tweeting the entire event, however shared a tweet that claims the boat may turn back and that activists may not want to head to Gaza on their own:
In a separate incident, authorities have detained three activists attempting to breach Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip, after a boat set sail in defiance of a Greek ban, officials and pro-Palestinian activists said Tuesday.
David Heap, a spokesman for the Tahrir, identified those detained as Canadians Sandra Ruch and Soha Kneen, and Australian Michael Coleman. The boat tried to leave the southern Greek island of Crete on Monday, but was forced to turn back by Coast Guard vessels.
The Greek Merchant Marine Ministry said one of the Canadians, who was responsible for the boat, was arrested on charges of illegally sailing without permission. The other Canadian national and the Australian were arrested for using kayaks to block a coast guard vessel from setting sail to stop the flotilla boat.
The captain of another boat in the flotilla, the Audacity of Hope, appeared in court in Piraeus Tuesday to give a deposition after being arrested over the weekend for setting sail in defiance of the Greek ban.
John Klusmire was led into the building in handcuffs, holding a bottle of water and escorted by police.
“It’s a terrible, terrible thing that the government of Greece has done. We are here in support of the captain, an honorable man and a professional sea captain,” said one campaigner, retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright, at the courthouse. “It is terrible that they feel they had to keep him in jail.”
On Monday, another Canadian ship that was trying to deliver aid to Gaza was also detained and boarded by Greek authorities. The Canadian Press has more:
The Greek coast guard has damaged a Canadian ship bound for Gaza, forcing it back to shore after ramming it against a cement pier, activists said Monday.
Activists at first believed the ship was sinking as a result of the hard landing. While it appeared the damaged ship would stay afloat, it remained confined to a Greek port late Monday after an unsuccessful attempt to reach Gaza.
The Tahrir, bearing at least 30 Canadians, left a Greek port early Monday evening local time and was boarded 15 minutes later by armed officers from the Greek coast guard.
Below, watch a video report that discusses this occurrence in detail:
The Associated Press contributed to this report.




















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Comments (213)
Seede
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:28amI really don’t understand these Hamas sympathizers. The money spent in all of this is astounding — The thing that really irritated me the most was the mind set of these people when they are told that Hamas is a global terrorist organization and that these Palestinians voted for this government. Yes I feel for the kids but this flotilla will not solve the problem whatsoever. All it will do is inflame the Jewish people all the more. You would have to have a continuous flotilla forever to support this bunch. Their history speaks for itself. This is a crazy move on the part of no brain activists who simply want to stir the pot. A female retired Colonel is among these stupid people and that speaks for itself.
Report Post »Scrubpuppy
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:11amEnough with the torpedo comments. You’re all supposed to be better than that, even if it is the internet. Violence only begets more violence. This whole situation can be averted without a loss of life.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:26amYes, we can all hold hands and sing the old Cocoa-Cola song…” I’d like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony….” Magic unicorns will fart pixie dust that will make us all get along.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:29amJust as you are, everyone else is entitled to their opinion, even if you or I don’t agree with them. You also, should practice tolerance.
Report Post »liberalsarealiens
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:39amTell that to an extreemist muslim! The ONLY thin they understand is strength! You can’t reason with insanity!
Report Post »Uechi
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:27amHope they have up close and personal encounter with Davie Jones, AHs.If it wasn‘t for violence in WW2 you’d be speaking German or Japenese!
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 5:10pmWell good, at least there will be some opportunity for target practice for the Israeli military:-)
And for the chronically clueless among us, and scrubpuppy seems to fall in this group, violence is the only thing the Hamas understands and you need to learn this simple fact of life.
In addition may I point out that the border between Gaza and Egypt is NOW OPEN so there is NO REASON for this flotilla, unless it is to bring in things that even the Egyptians will not allow to cross. Understand now?
Report Post »NedKelly707
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 11:27pmOh hay-el no, scrubpuppy; I pray for a richeous torpedo or two on their way, to send ALL those boats and ships, plus their Godless and filthy pro-terrorist passengers to ALLAH.
Report Post »dsm
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:10amThis whole thing is getting out of control. I am so fearful of the UN decision to make a Palenstinian state. Israel will have no choice but to abide. These pro-Palestinian morons do not realize if Israel falls so does the US and the morons will be one of the first to be beheaded.
Report Post »shazam3
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:13amThe third world countries have taken over the UN. It was a useless adventure in my opinion in the first place. I‘m not sure it just wasn’t a plot by the Super Powers at the time to spy on each other without going into each others country which we all know is a crock. Now the screams of Democracy which now has become‘s everybody’s buzzword only means that a country can be taken over by some minority who will corrupt the voting system to win without a war. Yell Democracy and the rest of the world says OK, go for it but they are only lying to the people of the country they want to control. Much the same here, say anything to get elected under the guise of Democracy and do what you want after you get control. True Democracy works only for the moral minded
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:06amDynamite-Al Karama. Fooltilla of one, boom, zero.
Report Post »flfshrmn
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:57amLeave it to the French and the Canadians to support a back a$$ward point of view! Why do you suppose those two countries have problems with their Muslim populations? The haves and have nots are becoming more aparent all the time. Just a product of UN absurdity and Soros prodigal fools.
Report Post »jblaze
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 12:38pmI am Canadian but most other Canadian’s have no idea what is going on and when you tell them they think it is you who is nuts! We do not have a Glenn Beck or anyone else for that matter that brings out the truth. They just believe the main stream media which it most likely owned by Soros. A bunch of Canadian coos just sent $60,000 to the flotilla cause and were all bragging about it. If Glenn could get to our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, he would support Israel. He has in the past even when no one else would.
Report Post »choisha
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 1:48pmThis Bunch of Canadians are no doubt stupid Frenchies in Canada. French are the Most stupid Idiots in Handling Muslims Terrorist Problems like what what have happened in France before….They are not able to Control the Muslim Brotherhood in France therfore they are Aiding them to make Peace with the Muslim Terrorists….*
Isreal have to shoot these Bastards upon Arrival and finish the Matter …*
Report Post »psst
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:52amHumanitarian aid to Gaza by ships/boats?
Report Post »What a crap. The brohood have opened up the land blockade to Gaza that Ol Hosni had put up.
These so called activists,really marxist, can bring all the supplies overland into Gaza through Egypt that they need.
This ship thingy is all about bringing World opinion against Israel
BTW. The NWO/OWG/World Governance Cabal have dumbded down the citizenry of the Western World w/ the help of “One” of their World subsidiaries. World MSM Inc.
All kinds of weapons and food supplies are flowing into Gaza through Egypt at present. Before, the radicals had to use tunnels to get their weapons into Gaza when Ol Hosni was in charge.
Just One of the reasons why ol’ Hosni had to go.Soetoro is a member of the Moslem Bro-Hood
I hope the Israelis sink the ships/boats of all of these activists, aka marxists.
Sooo, they may drown. Soooooo?
lynnissmart
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:50amMore hate for Israel displayed thanks to Obamie the Commie and the U.N. May each one of the people on the flotilla meet with the same harm they want to inflict upon Israel…..These are my wishes for them.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:49amFor those who are advocating that they sink the flotilla, you are wrong. First you fire a shot across the bow, then you sink them.
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 12:14pmRick……thank you!! We would not want to be ignorant of protocol before they are gone!! :-)
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:47am.
OK everybody sing:
One Little, Two Little Tiny Torpedo’s
Three Little, Four Litte Tiny Torpedo’s
THEN WHAM!!!!! Teeth, Hair and French Moron all over the place……
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:32amGigging for frogs?
Report Post »Ken
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 12:13pmGood one!!! Bwahahahahaha!!!
Report Post »Voice_of_One
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 1:05pmOh my, coffee, laptop….
Report Post »I think I need a new laptop!!!!
Anyway, thanks for that thought (and picture).
Ron_WA
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:45amMaybe Obama can get our military involved in setting up a blockade; yeah that’s a good idea, yeah. Noy my issue.. Israel has all the resources they need to blockade the Palestinians.
Report Post »betsp
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:45amLiberal crazies never change. They love publicity and violence. These are Obama’s people.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:45am@Aaron in Polk County
Report Post »“Gallery of Cats is very disturbing.”
That grinning thumbs-up Jesus statue is kind of creepy too.
Classical Liberal
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:52amUlyssesp, buddy Christ is hilarious, the gallery of cat folks is kind of off. Then again, YMMV!
Report Post »rienheart
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:44amSink them.
Report Post »pschlentz
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:50amThe world has no idea what is even going on here. I’m with you, sink ‘em!
Report Post »choisha
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 1:27pmSink the Bloody Flotilla Ships upon Arrival at Isreal and shoot the Radical Terrorists and feed them to the Great Whites..*
This is the only Medicine for Radical Terrorists going into Isreal to Creat Troubles..
Report Post »Diploma with Terrorists will never Work,… Use tough Actions to stop these Terrorists upon Arrival in Isreallie Waters and there won’t be any more Such Terrorist filled Flotillas in Future….*
SafeguardOurLiberty
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:43amDo they really think the Palestinians care if they come? They might pretend, but would cut their heads off in an instant if they could. How can you choose evil over good? Makes no sense to me.
Report Post »mydogtippy
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 1:50pmthey won’t cut there heads off until there done using them to start a war
Report Post »jado1981
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:42amWho was guarding the flotilla, Barney Fife?
Report Post »cucycln
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 12:33pmgood one!
Report Post »snufy
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 1:55pmBarney would do a better job.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:41amGod bless the Greeks, sounds like they are serious about stopping these fools-they could be saving their lives, I don’t think the Israelies are kidding either. They want to start a war, and should be treated as war criminals if they try to go to Gazai in defiance of the law.
Report Post »OleTom
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:41amBlow them out of the water This video will open your eyes and blow your mind it takes obamas fraud to a whole new level Don’t miss it
Report Post »http://our-motivation.co.cc/Utube/28.php
Aaron in Polk County
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:40amGallery of Cats is very disturbing.
Report Post »palrider1
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:31amMedia matters looking for a few useful idiots. Trolls wanted.
Report Post »gwilliam
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:47amMaybe to you. To most of us it makes perfect sense.
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 12:17pmNo, Snow Leopard is not diusturbing.
People that can’t follow the rule of law are disturbing.
It’s amazing how liberals claim to be for the greater good but always end up causing greater pain.
Report Post »It’s all about emotions. Forget logic! Use your feelings no matter how warped they may be.
Midwest Blonde
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 6:18pmGlad I’m not the only one to notice that.
Report Post »Aaron in Polk County
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:39amI wonder if God will do anything about this.
I read this story once of a guy whose ship was sunk in a storm, but he was swallowed by a Big Fish and puked up days later, curtsey of divine intervention.
Now, I would argue, divine intervention would have been to move the storm around the ship and save the Big Fish the trouble… but hey, what can you do? It’s God, right?
So, back to my point, maybe God will send a message and sink the Freedom Flotilla.
Report Post »SacredHonor1776
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:33amWhile I understand you tried to make a reference to the story of Jonah you mangled most of the details. you seemed to have forgotten that;
1. The storm was sent as a warning by God for Jonah to follow his commands.
Report Post »2. Jonah was tossed over board by the crew, and Rhe ship was spared (i. e. It did not sink).
3. The fish/whale was sent by God to take Jonah to Ninevah, and make sure he followed his command.
Aaron in Polk County
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:01am@Sacredhonor1776
Report Post »Thanks for refreshing my memory. It’s been a while since I read that story.
SacredHonor1776
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:35amWhile I understand you a tried to make a reference to the story of Jonah you mangled most of the details. you seemed to have forgotten that;
1. The storm was sent as a warning by God for Jonah to follow his commands.
Report Post »2. Jonah was tossed over board by the crew, and Rhe ship was spared (i. e. It did not sink).
3. The fish/whale was sent by God to take Jonah to Ninevah, and make sure he followed his command.
SacredHonor1776
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:49amWhile I understand you tried to make a reference to the story of Jonah you mangled most of the details. you seemed to have forgotten that;
1. The storm was sent as a warning by God for Jonah to follow his commands.
Report Post »2. Jonah was tossed over board by the crew, and the ship was spared (i. e. It did not sink).
3. The fish/whale was sent by God to take Jonah to Ninevah, and make sure he followed his command.
SacredHonor1776
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:57amWhat is wrong with the Blazes, reply system?!
Report Post »ZOMBIE JESUS LOVES ME
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 12:21pmAARON, before you start praying for God to sink a ship, why not pray for something else first.
Like curing cancer in all the innocent children that he gave it to in the first place!
Report Post »lacabeza
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 2:03pmGreat choice on the avatar image. The “buddy christ” from Dogma. funny
Report Post »Cesium
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 6:48pmMaybe god doesn’t exist… or maybe he does.. or maybe you’ll never know your whole life.. so stop imagining things and get back to logic and reality. thanks
Report Post »rightwingheroes
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:38amahahah owned
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:37amIf he loves them so much then he needs to move over there and help them.
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:37amIt is unbelievable to see all this hatred for Israel coming from throughout the world. History is indeed repeating itself. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn__rVWG65A
Report Post »rose-ellen
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 12:13pmIt is hatred of illigal occupation and cruel treatment as occupyiers. The only legal borders are the 67 borders and israel is tyranically violating international law and resorting to the might makes right doctrine which is tyaanica and illigal since ww2 [they act and think like nazis as do all their supporters of occupation].Kudos to the brace flotilla protesters daring to sshed ;ight on the reality that is racist israeli occupation[even as american media suppresses reality in its anti arab genocidal propaganda campaign which works to do the zionists bidding].
Report Post »liriadavila
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:37amLiberals activists always defy law; no matter what they always ignore law. They defend law only if it is at their convenience.
Report Post »NEAF
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:01amLiberals breaks laws. Then they creates laws and they want everybody to obey their laws. How convinience!
Report Post »snidley-whiplash
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:36am“It’s a terrible, terrible thing that the government of Greece has done. We are here in support of the captain, an honorable man and a professional sea captain,” said one campaigner, retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright, at the courthouse. “It is terrible that they feel they had to keep him in jail.”
Report Post »___________________________________________________________________________
Why, why should a retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright be allowed to receive taxpayer retirement pay?
What she is doing is violating her oath………………..Oh in the obama facist government no rules but his.
IMPEACH obama NOW!
Collapsitalism
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 3:52pmIf a law is immoral, break it. Or be complicit, if that’s your thing.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:36amWhat the governments of these idiot activists and radicals are failing to understand is the simple part of maritime and national laws…THEY have VIOLATED the soverign laws of GREECE!!
GREECE is responding to them as she would with any other violater of maritime laws in their interest and in their area of the Medditeranian waters. So also, pay attention to the illegal extent the radical activists are willing to go to in order to justify their point, breaking greecian law to break the blockade and still draw more world attention to their cause.
Report Post »http://artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
grandmaof5
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:24amMorning, SNOW, hope you had a good weekend and a patriotic 4th. All is good here, as I hope it is there; hot but should get rain in the next few days, so then muggy. Take care.
Report Post »Liberal Media Dropped Ball On Nine-Eleven
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:35amSink the Ship of Fools!
Report Post »randy
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:08am“The Nation,” who has been live tweeting the entire event, however shared a tweet that claims the boat may turn back and that activists may not want to head to Gaza on their own:
COWARDS. Lost your nerve when the MOB isn’t present huh?
Blow them out of the water if they show up Israel.
Report Post »Can’t take any chance in todays world.
They could have a suitcase nuke onboard dontchaknow
Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:24amSoon to be sea-bottom wreckage. Publicity stunt all the way. These people could care less about any so-called “Palestineans” as much as they love to be in front of cameras for the cause of the month.
Report Post »canadian_right
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:55amAgreed! It is appalling that these nitwits say they speak for Canadians…quite frankly they don’t. They are probably Vietnam draft dodgers they look about the right age. We are still paying for liberal policies of the past.
Report Post »chazman
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:02amWhat a pack of ULTRA MAROONS!!
Report Post »Conservative Hippy
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:08amThe bottles stand as empty
as they were filled before
Time there was and plenty
but from that cup no more
Though I could not caution all I yet may warn a few:
Don’t lend your hand to raise no flag
atop no ship of fools
Ship of fools
on a cruel sea
Ship of fools
sail away from me
It was later than I thought
Report Post »when I first believed you
now I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools
No I cannot share your laughter
Ship of Fools
sissykatz
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:12amI do pray that Greece continues to keep them from leaving.The people do not realize that the Greeks are
Report Post »saving their lives. Israel will put them under if they go there. I will be standing with Israel.
fastfacts
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:31amThe Flotilla is claiming that Greece is being controlled by Israel: http://tiny.cc/8c1ex
Report Post »richard the lion-hearted
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 10:37amThe corruption is ripe! This is all to draw us into World War III, bring about the ‘world order’, and subjugate the masses globally starting with a stand-off with Israel, get ready for ‘all nations’ gathered against Israel via the U.N., I think most readers know already that the U.S. as of this past week put Israel on the ‘harboring terrorists’ watchlist through the U.N.. All our petty differences need to be put aside and we all need to focus on the troubled times ahead and hold those in high offices accountable, for the sake of this country, and in turn the rest of the world.
Report Post »DirectlyUnPCman
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:30amYep, sink em and be done with it.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 11:47amShow them where Osama now lives…inside if fish bellies!
Report Post »Jim
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 1:29pmYes, I agree!
Report Post »HairOfTheDogSob
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 4:27pmReady/Aim/Fire!
Report Post »idrathermisstotheright
Posted on July 5, 2011 at 8:18pmSure hope no one throws a bunch of blood in the water ahead of time, wink, wink.
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:36am“It’s a terrible, terrible thing that the government of Greece has done. We are here in support of the captain, an honorable man and a professional sea captain,” said one campaigner, retired U.S. Army Col. Ann Wright, at the courthouse. “It is terrible that they feel they had to keep him in jail.”
Terrible??? Honorable??? And this twit was a Col in the US Army. These people are criminals and terrorists in their own right. They are attempting to run a military blockade, an act of war.
The Palestinians are actually Egyptians and Jordanians as there was never a country of Palestine. They are squatters on Israeli land, as is all of Lebanon, Jordan, and parts of Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey.
Look for yourself at the map of the land God gave to Abraham in Genesis… http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2xmHOoPqAIQ/SWpCmzRLrXI/AAAAAAAAAtE/yHjiIvn3sAE/s1600-h/greater_israel.gif
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:45am@NorthofPearl… “You do realize that most of the people on the flotillas are actually there to try to help the people affected in this country. Most, I‘m sure aren’t Hamas sympathizers. I’m sure that there are a few who are sympathizers, but its mostly not the racist gathering of ******** that you imagine. I mean from the comments on here, it seems that many of you are more hateful against muslims. Be more tolerant of others, and treat your fellow human beings with respect and not hateful ignorance, don’t stoop down to that level.”
Obviously you are not familiar with the organizers or the organizations that are involved in this. The flotilla was organized by famed anti-semite and known terrorist Bernardine Dohrn who is also a known socialist and has acted for the destruction of Israel and the US. Much of the same is true for most of the flotilla. As I understand it, under international law, the blockade of gaza can only be continued if NO boats are allowed to violate it. If someone does violate the blockade, Israel can no longer enforce it.
As for muslims, why would we not be against an entire group of people that are commanded by their satanic god to kill us, ambush us, enslave us, and subjugate us. These particular animals in gaza danced in the street and passed out candy on 9-11. They pine for the destruction of the US and Israel. They are not deserving of respect or dignity. If they live in squalor its the result of their actions. If I were up to me I’d
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:47amCarpet bomb gaza.
Report Post »