MV Rachel Corrie 80 Miles from Gaza

by papakias - athens imc Sat Jun 05, 2010 01:53

Hi all, I watch Flotilla since 5 days and feed Athens Indymedia with posts. As far as I know, Rachel Corrie is about 70 miles-maybe less-from Gaza.
There is a team of people watching on it and expecting news. At the moment, many informations arrive but mostly are not true, like a Turkish army ship near RC or many other ships participating. Please do not beleive them in case you hear. At the moment everything is quiet, we expect any action comes about 6 in the morning or later. In case you need to check, please use the following links:
http://opeiratis.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-post_2637.html
http://athens.indymedia.org/front.php3?lang=el&article_...80271 (here you can find articles in English and Greeks)
Regards

by Kev - IPSC Sat Jun 05, 2010 03:40

Israeli ships approaching MV Rachel Corrie, equipment jammed

The IPSC has been contacted by the MV Rachel Corrie in the past few minutes. Jenny Graham reported that they had been followed by Israeli ships for about 2 hours, and that in the last few minutes 2 ships were approaching from the port side. Ms Graham said that equipment on board had been jammed by the Israeli navy, and that they expected their satellite phone (number below) to be jammed soon as well. The line was bad, and we were unable to determine the exact location of the Rachel Corrie relative to their destination.

On hearing of the news, Freda Hughes of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) said: "We all hope that those on board the Rachel Corrie will remain safe and that there will be no repeat of Monday's terrible attack on the Freedom Flotilla. Our hearts are with you."

by Mark O'Connor Sat Jun 05, 2010 03:52 markpeteroconnor at yahoo dot com

Reports are that Rachel Corrie has been taken by Israeli navy ships, 3.45 Irish time:

http://twitter.com/Waterfordsgroup
http://twitter.com/liberategaza
http://twitter.com/pgporg

Mark.

by Róísín Sat Jun 05, 2010 04:04

Following the Twitter feeds, it's been confirmed that the Rachel Corrie was boarded by the IOF and now all passengers are under arrest and being brought back to Ashdod for deportation.

http://www.ipadio.com/phlogs/Gaza_TVNews/2010/06/05/Gaz...Under

by CC Sat Jun 05, 2010 04:20

I am lurking around several sites at the minute and it seems the world is watching. Respect to all the comrades in Ireland and hope to see you all soon.

Gods speed Rachael Corrie

by Róísín Sat Jun 05, 2010 04:33

My apologies, according to some news feeds the IDF have boarded and arrested, however there was a phonecall to Al Jazeera more recently from passengers on the ship saying that they were being followed, but had not yet been boarded, and are 16 miles from Gaza.

I should really wait before commenting, sorry!

by 40m - MV RACHEL CORRIE Sat Jun 05, 2010 07:37

Israelis tell aid ship it won't reach Gaza (updated 2:19 a.m. ET June 5, 2010)
Navy makes contact with boat from Ireland
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37504817

JERUSALEM - Israeli Defense Forces contacted a Gaza-bound aid ship Saturday and told the crew it won't be allowed to reach the Palestinian territory.

The MV Rachel Corrie was about 40 miles off the coast of Gaza at about 8 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET) Saturday when officials asked the crew to identify themselves, Israeli officials told NBC news.

Three Israeli naval ships were shadowing the Irish-owned boat in the Mediterranean, a spokeswoman for the campaign group supporting the ship said.

RTE 1.00 radio news yesterday -
Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate, says the vessel, which is carrying humanitarian aid, is 150 miles from Gaza
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0604/mideast_av.html?276593...l,230

"There port has been closed off for 42 years, we will be the first cargo ship entering the port of Gaza"

by TWITTERER Sat Jun 05, 2010 08:27

Rachel Corris- followed by Israeli forces without being boarded-35 miles from shore http://tinyurl.com/33gs4gz #rachelcorrie #flotilla #gaza

Israel navy tails Gaza aid ship. Mairead Maguire: "We are not afraid" http://tinyurl.com/2v392re @AJEnglish #freedomflotilla #rachelcorrie

Watch Al Jazeera english live stream http://tinyurl.com/6ydo6g #freedomflotilla #rachelcorrie #gaza #flotilla @AJEnglish

Vittorio Arrigoni from #Gaza just saw 6 #Israeli gunships on the horizon, #RachelCorrie /via @freegazaorg

catch news quickest via TWITTER #rachelcorrie tag - http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23rachelcorrie

by Rachel Corrie nears home Sat Jun 05, 2010 08:55

Irish aid ship bound for Gaza won't stop 'unless forced to' (CNN)
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/06/03/gaza.raid....html

"We have not stopped and have no intention of stopping," ,
said former Assistant U.N. Secretary-General Denis Halliday from aboard the vessel. "We will only stop when Israelis force us to do so."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Rachel_Corrie
The ship was built as yard number 625 by J J Sietas, Germany. She was completed in May 1967. She is 68.43 metres (224 ft 6 in) long, with a beam of 10.52 metres (34 ft 6 in) and a depth of 6.25 metres (20 ft 6 in). The ship is powered by a Deutz diesel engine which can propel her at 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h).[3]

video - The MV Rachel Corrie sets sail, the first ship in the flotilla to launch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkNmwohwSeE

FREE GAZA - Martin wants Rachel Corrie allowed into Gaza
http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/press-releases/1208-mar...-gaza

Israel navy tails Gaza aid ship
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/06/20....html

Al Jazeera's Nicole Johnston, reporting from Gaza, said that nobody had heard anything in the last couple of hours.

"Last we heard that the ship was 25 nautical miles from the Gaza coastline," she said.

Dennis Halliday, the former UN assistant secretary-general who is also on board the ship, said on Friday that they expected Israeli military to intercept them.

"The cargo was checked three times - by trade unions in Ireland, by a member of the Irish senate, as well as Irish customs at the port," Halliday said.

"The current arrangements are unsustainable and must be changed. For now, we call on all parties to join us in encouraging responsible decisions by all sides to avoid any unnecessary confrontations"

"The cargo is sealed and we can't even access it ourselves," he said, explaining why they refused to take the ship to Ashdod.

Were 25 miles from Gaza town... comes from thinking about "90 miles from dublin" by christy moore http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6BWiTVEhcM

If your not too familiar with what TWITTER is, how it works, etc... heres helpful short vid - Twitter in Plain English
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o

Rachel Corrie - 35 miles from Gaza

The international community must ensure the safety of this boat and all her crew

MV Rachel Corrie, waiting in Dublin, preparing to be the first boat into gaza port in 42 years

#rachelcorrie tag on TWITTER

Caption: Video Id: qkNmwohwSeE Type: Youtube Video
The MV Rachel Corrie sets sail, the first ship in the flotilla to launch

Caption: Video Id: ddO9idmax0o Type: Youtube Video
Twitter in Plain English

by Michael Gaallagher - Photographer Sat Jun 05, 2010 09:09 Libertypics at yahoo dot ie

BREAKING NEWS : RACHEL CORRIE IN THE PORT - REFUSES TO STOP....ISRAELI NAVY SAY THEY WILL BOARD HER - THE SHIP IS BEING SHADOWED BY TWO ISRALEI NAVY SHIPS - ONE ROCKET FIRED FROM GAZA STRIP (unconfired).......

Hope and keep hoping...that this could be another moment in Palestine's long and trajic history that won't be forgetten.....but for GOOD reasons this time. The breaking of the blockade on Gaza and the beginning of the end of the siege.

©LEFT

by linker Sat Jun 05, 2010 09:15

Latest report in last minutes from Al Jazeera live stream (@9AM Irish time)
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

All communication with the boat has been cut for some time. Reporter was talking with a lady head army commander, summing up is the following:

- The Israel army have been shadowing the MV Rachel Corrie with a number of Israeli warships
- The Israel army have made a number of calls requesting the boat to steer to Israel port of Ashdod, they recieved no response
- Boat is about 30 miles from Gaza coast and has made no attempt to change coarse
- Israel army have been given government command to NOT permit boat to reach Gaza
- Boat is going slow but will soon approach line at which Israeli army will take measures
- One measure is the physical boarding of boat, to physically take it to Israel port

by Justin Morahan Sat Jun 05, 2010 09:31

With radar reportedly blocked, now is the time that our non-violent friends on the Rachel Corrie have reached a critical point of no return and need our long distance support for their non-violent stand.

The world is watching and Israel knows it. Not that the world would make much difference but the slight change in the US position does worry Israel.

Solidarity to all on the Rachel Corrie and may they succeed in breaking the siege . Already they have made people aware of the whole rotten situation in Palestine and Israel - people who had never heard of Palestine/Gaza except from the lying propaganda of such as Zion Evrony and his fellow travellers in Ireland.

Great that the brave Rachel Corrie, in death, can achieve even more than she did in her short life.

by linker Sat Jun 05, 2010 09:54

[Press TV Live] Israel Threatens Rachel Corrie - Update From Gaza - June 05, 2010 @ 0800GMT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyP0N5NM8Kg

Robert Fisk: The truth behind the Israeli propaganda
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/....html

Caption: Video Id: eyP0N5NM8Kg Type: Youtube Video
Israel Threatens Rachel Corrie - Update From Gaza

by expel ambasador now Sat Jun 05, 2010 09:57

That report states

"The Irish government has reported that if Israel intercepted the boat, they will expel the representative in Ireland"

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:12

Haaretz reporting Rachel boarded

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:28

Breaking news stream says 'navy aboard'

by linker Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:28

Israel ready to board Gaza bound ship
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east...9.ece

“If they won’t leave us any choice, we’ll have to board the ship,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Avital Liebovich, the Israeli army spokeswoman. “We are ready to use force,” she said.

A spokesman for a Gaza based organisation liaising with the ship said Israeli warships had surrounded the vessel.

The Rachel Corrie has been intercepted 35 miles off Gaza,” Amjad al-Shawa said. “Several Israeli boats surrounded them between 30 and 35 miles off Gaza and prevented them from reaching Gaza.”

“They try to take the boat maybe to Ashdod or maybe to another place,” he said.

Shamsul Akmal, an activist on board the ship told Sky News: “They have been flanking us for the last two hours or so. They have kept their distance, about eight miles abreast from us. They are not showing any signs that they are going to come nearer.

“We will not do anything, we just want to get to Gaza,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet on Thursday the Irish boat would not be allowed to reach Gaza.

However, he has reportedly instructed the military to avoid harming the passengers on board the ship.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said their policy had not changed. “We have made it clear to the Irish and others, no ship will reach Gaza without a security inspection,” he said. (they rejected denis halliday proposal for a UN inspection)

by Rachel Corrie borded Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:46

al jazeera live - #rachelcorrie boarded and no violence - being towed to ashdod @AJEnglish #freedomflotilla THANK YOU MAIREAD, DENNIS + ALL

http://twitter.com/climatecaravan/status/15478149851

by old codger - pensioner Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:54

Our heroes on the high sea's have restored some pride in our nation, although it is ordinary citizens that are showing courage and bravery for human rights instead of our government doing so.
All we can expect from Martin and his cronies is the usual waffle( Chris Andrews exepted)
And where is the eu condemnation of israel for attacking eu citizens asaulting them and stealing their property?
I can only hope that our brave people will emerge safely from this continuation of israeli atrocity.
Good luck and best wishes from a proud old man.

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Sat Jun 05, 2010 11:04

Well done Zion.The Goliath suit fits.But your brains dont look too big in it.Martin's appeasement revealed for its shortsightedness.Never mind Evrony.Martin should go.He is supposed to be our representative.his repeated failure to confront these thugs, forgers and assassins has endangered us all.He blew a major opportunity to stall the dozer and turned it into stronger conviction in Tel Aviv that the best bully wins.