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    November 04, 2011

Israeli Forces Board Pro-Palestinian Flotilla

   VOA News

   IFRAME: [1]http://www.youtube.com/embed/uOk8xUUDxyI

   Pro-Palestinian activists say Israeli naval forces are boarding their
   two ships in international waters, as they were trying to break
   Israel's blockade of Gaza.

                                                   Timeline: Gaza Blockade
     * June 2007: Hamas takes control of Gaza from the Fatah movement.
       Israel tightens restrictions on the flow of goods into the
       territory, citing concerns about Hamas militants gaining access to
       arms. Egypt seals its border crossing.
     * January 2008: Thousands of Palestinians stream into Egypt after
       Hamas militants blow up a section of the border.
     * May 2010: Israeli commandos storm a Turkish-led aid flotilla. Nine
       pro-Palestinian activists are killed.
     * June 2010: Israel eases its land blockade of Gaza in response to
       international outrage over deadly raid.
     * June 2010: Egypt temporarily opens its Rafah crossing to allow
       humanitarian aid into Gaza.
     * May 2011: Egypt's new military rulers announce re-opening of Rafah
       crossing in effort to "end the divisions among Palestinians and
       finalize their national reconciliation." The decision, in general,
       allows Palestinians with passports to cross.
     * November 2011: Vessels carrying 27 pro-Palestinian activists sail
       from Turkey, face confrontation with Israeli navy ships

   [2]Twitter accounts associated with the activist groups running the
   flotilla said Friday that Israeli forces were boarding their vessels.
   The reports came shortly after an Israeli defense forces spokesperson
   said on the IDF's official Twitter account that the chief of staff had
   ordered the navy to board the vessels after all attempts to contact
   them failed.
   The IDF also posted on YouTube a video showing what it says were
   Israeli naval officers warning the activists' ships that they were
   attempting to breach a legal blockade. The video also shows the naval
   officer offering the activists access to Israel for the transportation
   of their cargo to Gaza.
   Spokeswoman Felice Gelman for the activists told VOA earlier that the
   ships are carrying medical supplies and letters of solidarity for the
   Palestinian people.
   Contact with the ships was lost shortly after two Israeli navy vessels
   intercepted them Friday evening local time.
   The 27 activists from countries including the United States, Canada,
   and Ireland set sail from Turkey on Wednesday. They say their goal is
   to deliver medical aid directly to Palestinians in Gaza, in defiance of
   Israel's blockade.
   Israel imposed a naval blockade on the Hamas-ruled territory in 2007 in
   what Israeli officials say is a bid to keep weapons from reaching
   militants in Gaza.
   On Thursday, the U.S. State Department renewed a call for Americans to
   avoid participating in the flotilla, saying they could face legal
   consequences. At least two Americans are on board.
   Last year, nine activists were killed after Israeli commandos stormed a
   Turkish-led aid flotilla headed for Gaza. The confrontation caused a
   deterioration in relations between Turkey and Israel.
   In July, pro-Palestinian activists launched an unsuccessful attempt to
   reach the Palestinian territory.

   Follow our Middle East reports on [3]Twitter
   and discuss them on our [4]Facebook page.

References

   1. http://www.youtube.com/embed/uOk8xUUDxyI
   2. http://twitter.com/#!/IDFSpokesperson
   3. http://twitter.com/VOAMiddleEast
   4. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667?%20%20%20%20v=wall

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