The small catamaran the ‘Irene’ is currently around 25 miles from the Gaza coast, heading for the Gaza strip in violation of an Israeli-imposed blockade against Gaza. The world’s attention has been drawn to the Israeli blockade since the Israeli raid on the now-famous ‘Freedom Flotilla’ earlier in the year, resulting in 9 deaths aboard the lead ship in the Flotilla.
The captain of the ‘Irene’ Glynn Secker says that his vessel is being approached by an Israeli warship and that he expects the navy to intercept his vessel very shortly. The ‘Irene’ carries nine Jewish activists from countries including Israel and like the ‘Freedom Flotilla’ sailed from Cyprus.
The activists say they are only intending to draw attention to the blockade and the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza, and will cooperate if intercepted by the Israeli military. The Israelis are likely to tow the vessel to the Israeli port of Ashdod as was the case with the ‘Freedom Flotilla’ at which point the aid it carries will likely be taken to Gaza by land.
Andy David, spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry, called the activists claims of bringing aid to Gaza "ridiculous" and called the whole thing "a politically motivated provocation."
Israel has lifted the ban on some good going into Gaza since the ‘Freedom Flotilla’ incident, but has yet to lift the blockade entirely. It faces extreme international pressure to lift the blockade and allow banned goods back into Gaza.
