Cii Radio| Sabera Sheik Essop| 06 October 2016| 04 Muharram 1438
Israel’s navy intercepted an activist boat seeking to break the country’s decade-long blockade of the Gaza Strip, saying it was boarded without incident and was being directed to shore.
The navy said in a statement on Wednesday its forces had “redirected” the sailboat in order to prevent a “breach of the lawful maritime blockade” of the Palestinian enclave.
It said this was done “in accordance with government directives and after exhausting all diplomatic channels”.
Thirteen women, including 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, were travelling aboard the Zaytouna-Oliva sailboat in the Mediterranean towards Gaza, which is run by Hamas.
The Zaytouna-Oliva set sail from Barcelona in September and was carrying women of various nationalities in addition to Maguire, a Northern Ireland activist.
A delegation from the International Criminal Court is visiting Israel and Palestine this week, its chief prosecutor said on Wednesday, against the backdrop of an investigation into the last Gaza war.
Source : Al Jazeera
