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Israel intercepts second Gaza-bound activist boat: army
JERUSALEM, Aug 4, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – The Israeli navy intercepted a Swedish-
flagged activist boat bent on breaching its more than decade-long blockade of
Gaza, the second in less than a week, the military said on Saturday.
“The ship was monitored and was intercepted in accordance with
international law,” the army said in a statement, before the vessel, named
Freedom for Gaza and carrying 12 people, was taken to the Israeli port of
Ashdod.
“The (military) clarified to the ship’s passengers that they are violating
the legal naval blockade and that any humanitarian merchandise can be
transferred to Gaza through the Port of Ashdod,” the statement said.
The people on board were taken for “further inquiry”.
Freedom was the second boat of the “Freedom Flotilla” to be intercepted en
route to “break the blockade” on Gaza, organisers said.
The boat was carrying medical equipment.
Four boats left from Scandinavia in mid-May and stopped in some 28 ports
along the way, with two remaining behind after a recent stop in the Italian
port of Palermo.
On Sunday, the Israeli navy intercepted a Norwegian-flagged activist boat
that was part of the flotilla.
Israel has fought three wars with Palestinian militants in Gaza since 2008
and says the blockade is necessary to keep them from obtaining weapons or
materials that could be used for military purposes.
UN officials have called for the blockade to be lifted, citing
deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Palestinian enclave run by
Islamist movement Hamas where 80 percent of the two million population are
dependent on aid.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1230 hrs