Israel will not allow any ship to reach Gaza, said Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, referring specifically to the approach of the freighter MV Rachel Corrie carrying aid.
“We will not allow boats to reach Gaza. Neither now nor later,” said Netanyahu quoted by local news service Ynet. He made this statement during a meeting with ministers convened to discuss ways to settle the case of cargo Rachel Corrie, who is heading to Gaza with the aim of breaking the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian coastal enclave. Aboard the boat there are activisites Irish peace and Malaysia.
The approach of the freighter is a new attempt to distrust the siege imposed on Gaza after the episode of the “freedom flotilla” that drew worldwide attention after the confrontation on Monday with the Israeli navy. Nine civilians were killed and dozens wounded in the clash.
Sources have revealed to Xinhua Monday that the Israeli army intends to board the boat in case it does not follow the order to dock at Israeli port of Ashdod in southern Israel. They believe that the management of the ship will be simple, since it is a small boat can only carry a few dozen passengers.