Tag Archive for Gaza flotilla

| January 14, 2014
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Turkey no longer protecting IHH: Sends police to detain members over Al-Qaida links

 

IHH, the Turkish aid organization behind the Gaza-bound flotilla & Mavi Marmama in 2010, reports storage facility near Syrian border was searched & employee was taken away by Police.

By

 

 

Turkish media said police have carried out raids in six Turkish cities, detaining several people allegedly linked to Al-Qaida, including an employee of a prominent Islamic charity.

Mavi Marmara

A crowd greets the Mavi Marmama, the lead ship of the ‘Gaza flotilla,’ upon its return to Istanbul, Dec. 26, 2010. – Photo: AP

The aid organization, IHH, confirmed Tuesday that its storage facility near the Syrian border was searched and an employee was detained. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| December 3, 2013
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Hundreds launch from Gaza in ‘reverse flotilla’ to confront Israel’s naval blockade

 

 

Hundreds of Gazans launched protest flotilla in protests of joint Israel-Egyptian blockade of Gaza but fail to make it to Israel

By News agencies

Hundreds of Palestinian youth activists sailed from the shores of the Gaza Strip on Monday to protest at Israel’s restrictions on fishing in the seas off the Islamist-ruled enclave.

En route to Israel (Photo: EPA)

En route to Israel – Photo: EPA

Around 20 Gaza fishing boats carrying several dozen activists claimed to have broken the naval blockade on the territory in a move denied by the Israeli military. The “resistance flotilla” was at sea for several hours before returning with the claim it had “broken” the blockade which bars fishing vessels from sailing six nautical miles from the shoreline. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 2, 2013
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Israeli Navy Expects ‘Exiting Gaza Flotillas’

Gaza protest group plans to sail from Gaza to confront Israel’s naval ships enforcing the strip’s blockade.

By Gil Ronen

 

The IDF and Israel Navy are prepared to encounter what has been dubbed a “reverse flotilla” from Gaza, reports Israel Hayom Monday. The political flotilla will be coming at the Israeli ships from Gaza and going westward, as opposed to previous political flotillas that came from the west toward Gaza, hence the name “reverse flotilla”.

Israeli navy ship – Israel news photo: IDF spokesman

The IDF estimates that dozens of Arab and European activists will be on the flotilla, and that it will include several boats. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| November 25, 2013
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Palestinians plan new flotilla to launch from Gaza

 

 

Palestinian protesters & fishermen will try to reach the open seas of the Mediterranean to remind the world Gaza is still under closure.

The activists are expecting Israel’s Navy to interfere, but say they will not confront seamen.

BY Elior Levy

A group of Palestinian activists from Intifada Youth Coalition is planning on sailing from Gaza Strip in an attempt to challenge the naval blockade on the territory.

Swedish flotilla to Gaza in 2012 (Photo: AFP)

Swedish flotilla to Gaza in 2012 – Photo: AFP

The group of 200 Palestinian activists, backed by other foreign activists who are currently in Gaza, is planning to take boats from the Palestinian coast to the line of the marine closure, six nautical miles from shore, on Friday. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| November 24, 2013
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Finnish police charge captain of ship to Gaza on safety violations

The activists were arrested, then deported to their countries of origin & the ship confiscated by Israeli authorities. Now, the captain is being dealt with.

By JTA

 

Finnish police are investigating whether a captain overloaded a boat that sought to breach Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip.

'Estelle' en route to Gaza Photo: Ship to Gaza

‘Estelle’ en route to Gaza – Photo: Ship to Gaza

The captain, Mika Jamian, is suspected of exceeding the maximum number of passengers allowed, according to a report Thursday by the Turun Sonomat daily. It said the ship, the Estelle, carried 30 people when it sailed to Gaza last year although its maximum allowed capacity was 17.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| September 26, 2013
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Turkish FM says ‘Israel must do more to normalize ties’

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said speaking about Israel to a news conference at the UNGA: ‘some progress’ has been made but, they have yet to fulfill all 3 conditions.

By

 

There has been “some progress” in improving Turkish-Israeli relations but Israel has not yet fulfilled all conditions for normalizing ties, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at a news conference on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly Wednesday.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu – Photo: AP

Relations between the former allies soured dramatically after Israeli commandos stormed the Gaza flotilla trying to breach a blockade of the Gaza Strip in May 2010. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| August 9, 2013
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Why has Egyptian Blockade of Gaza Produced No Flotillas?

The Egyptians, like most Arabs, simply don’t care about the Palestinians. They want the Palestinians to be Israel’s problem & to continue being a burden by relying on handouts from Western countries.

The Arabs don’t care if the Gazans starve to death as long as Israel will be blamed.

By Khaled Abu Toameh

 

Hamas has finally admitted that it is the Egyptians, and not Israel, who have turned the Gaza Strip into a “big prison.”

The Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, January 2009. – Photo Source: International Transport Workers’ Federation

 

Ghazi Hamad, a senior official with the Hamas-controlled foreign ministry, was quoted this week as saying that the Gaza Strip has been turned into a “big prison as a result of the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing by the Egyptian authorities since June 30.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| July 10, 2013
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Canadian and European activists instigating another flotilla from Gaza

Gazans & outside activists plan to sail to Europe in September from Gaza carrying local produce.

 

Organizers say flotilla’s goal is to raise awareness on Gaza naval blockade. 

By Ahiya Raved

Canadian and European activists staying in Gaza are planning to launch a flotilla which will carry Gazan produce and textiles from the strip to Europe. The vessel, currently a fishing boat, is being converted to a cargo ship, and organizers are planning to set sails in the near future.

תעשה את כל הדרך מעזה לאירופה? ספינת הפעילים

Converted to cargo ship

The project’s goal, the activists say, is to raise public awareness to the strife of the maritime blockade on the Gaza Strip. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| May 14, 2013
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Int’l Criminal Court opens investigation of Gaza flotilla fiasco

International Criminal Court’s prosecutor obliged to open investigation after request from Comoros, an Indian Ocean island nation, to which one of the vessels Israel raided in 2010 was registered.

Few preliminary probes lead to a full investigation, let alone trial.

By Reuters

The International Criminal Court’s prosecutor said on Tuesday she would open a preliminary examination into the events surrounding the 2010 Israel Navy raid on a Turkish-flagged aid flotilla to the Gaza Strip.

Mavi Marmara AP 22.5.10

Mavi Marmara taken on May 22, 2010 – Photo: AP

 

Nine Turkish citizens died during the raid on the flotilla, which set out from Turkey to the Gaza. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| April 27, 2013
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No criminal charges against Israelis as Flotilla deal becomes Turkish law

Israel-Turkey agreement will become binding int’l treaty once approved by the Turkish gov’t & parliament.

Turkish paper reports Israel also to compensate 70 Turkish citizens injured aboard the Marmara.

By

 

The agreement between Israel and Turkey over reparations to the Gaza flotilla victims’ families is slated to be brought before Turkey’s parliament in Ankara for approval. According to senior Israeli officials, once it passes, the agreement will be legislated into a law that will prevent Turkish citizens from filing of criminal charges against Israel Defense Forces soldiers and officers involved in the Gaza flotilla incident.

Pro-Palestinian activists wave Turkish and Palestinian flags welcoming the Marmara.

Pro-Palestinian activists wave Turkish and Palestinian flags during the welcoming ceremony for cruise liner Mavi Marmara at the Sarayburnu port of Istanbul December 26, 2010.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| March 28, 2013
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Naftali Bennett: Turkish PM doing his best to make Israel regret its apology

Newly-appointed minister says ‘no country is doing Israel a favor by renewing diplomatic ties’ & Erdoğan should know  Israel’s response will be no less harsh on future acts of terrorism.

By and

Newly-appointed minister of industry, trade and labor Naftali Bennett, chairman of Habayit Hayehudi, sharply criticized Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday for his comments regarding Israel over the last few days.

Turkey-Israel - AP

A billboard with photos of Netanyahu and his Turkish counterpart Erdogan, celebrating Israel’s apology, in Ankara, March 25, 2013 – Photo: AP

Referring to Israel’s apology over the loss of life on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara in 2010, Bennett said: “It seems Erdogan is doing everything in his power to make Israel regret it, while conducting a personal and crude campaign at the expense of Israeli-Turkish ties.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| February 18, 2013
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Israel supplies Turkey with military hardware for 1st time since Marmara

Under pressure from Boeing & White House officials, the Israeli gov’t capitulated & ended its freeze on advanced electronic warfare systems to Turkey’s Air Force.

 

Israel has supplied advanced electronic warfare systems to the Turkish Air Force, marking the first exchange of military equipment with Turkey since relations between the two countries deteriorated in the wake of the Israeli Navy raid on the Mavi Marmara ferry in May 2010.

AWACS plane.

A Turkish AWACS plane. – Photo by Seattle Aviator (Wikipedia)

The deal was reported on Sunday in the Turkish newspaper Zaman and confirmed today by a senior Israeli defense source. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| October 15, 2012
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PA Calls For Int’l Protection For Estelle

PA Calls for int’l protection for Finnish flagged boat, Estelle, sailing to Gaza.

By Scott Krane

 

On Sunday, the Palestinian Authority (PA) called for international forces to protect a boat carrying pro-PA activists trying to break Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza.

Hamas has urged the world to respond to the Finish-flagged boat, Estelle, by pressuring Israel to end its blockade on Gaza, Xinhua has reported.

PA spokesperson Nour Odea said “The international community must provide protection for the flotilla because it is a legitimate peaceful activity directed against the Israeli siege…”

The boat set sail from Naples, Italy, on October 7, carrying more than a dozen activists bearing “humanitarian aid”, most of them from Western countries. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| October 13, 2012
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Israel warns Finland of action against Gaza ship

Finnish Foreign Ministry says Israel would take action against Gaza-bound ship ‘Estelle’ if it tries to break blockade.

By the Associated Press

 

Finland says Israel has warned that it will take action against a boat carrying international pro-Palestinian activists if it tries to break a naval blockade of Gaza.

'Estelle' en route to Gaza Photo: Ship to Gaza

‘Estelle’ en route to Gaza – Photo: Ship to Gaza

Finnish Foreign Ministry spokesman Risto Piipponen said Saturday that Israel had sent a message to the ministry earlier this week but that it didn’t say what it would do against the Finnish-flagged Estelle.

“Israel said that it would take action to stop the ship from reaching land if it tries to break the blockade,” Piipponen said. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| August 7, 2012
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Israel’s blockade to be challenged as Scandinavian ship sails to Gaza

The SV Estelle, boarded by Swedish & Norwegian groups, sets sail from Oslo as organizers hope other ships will join on its way to Gaza.

By Reuters

 

Scandinavian activist groups are launching an aid ship destined for Gaza on Tuesday, hoping to challenge the Israeli blockade and draw international attention to the conflict in a move reminiscent of the 2010 “Freedom Flotilla”, organizers said.

The SV Estelle, a 53-metre Irish vessel

“We have the same goal as the previous flotillas, to put an end to the blockade of Gaza by challenging the Israeli navy,” said Torstein Dahle, the leader of the Norwegian section of the activist group “Ship to Gaza.” Continue Reading »

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