Israeli forces boarded the Merchant Vessel Rachel Corrie, bound for Gaza in defiance of the Israeli blockade there.
Naval commandos boarded the ship from boats pulled alongside the Corrie, unlike the raid five days ago, in which commandos rappelled onto the decks from helicopters. TimesOnline reports,
The commandos boarded the ship "with the full compliance" of the crew and passengers without any of the violence that had marked the storming of the Turkish ferry Mavi Marmara on Monday, Israeli officials said.But here's the kicker: Hamas says it will not accept any of the supplies carried by the vessels of the Western Free Gaza movement.
"Our forces boarded the boat and took control without meeting any resistance from the crew or the passengers. Everything took place without violence," a military spokeswoman said.
The MV Rachel Corrie, carrying 20 passengers and crew as well as humanitarian aid for Gaza, had ignored orders not to break the three-year blockade of the Palestinian enclave that has been enforced by Israel and Egypt.
Meanwhile, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the Islamic militants have refused to accept any aid from the Israeli-intercepted flotilla. “We are not seeking to fill our [bellies], we are looking to break the Israeli siege on Gaza,” he said.
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