IDF confirms contact with Libya ship
By JPOST.COM STAFF, ASSOCIATED PRESS
LAST UPDATED: 07/13/2010 16:00
Organizers pledge to steam on for Gaza.
A Palestinian boy holds a poster of Libyan leader Photo: Associated Press
The IDF on Tuesday afternoon confirmed that it had made radio contact with a Libyan aid ship trying to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The confirmation came after the ship's organizers said that an Israeli military vessel had confronted the ship and ordered it to change course for the Egyptian port of el-Arish.
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The Gadhafi International Charity and Development Foundation said its boat refused to alter its destination and will steam on for Gaza.
The
foundation
said in a statement
posted on its website Tuesday that the Israeli vessel was continuing to
shadow the aid ship.
There
was no immediate comment from the IDF.
The
ship's intentions appeared conflicted. Earlier Tuesday,
one
of the owners of the Amalthea
said that the crew would unload its humanitarian
goods in the Egyptian
port of el-Arish if refused permission to reach Gaza.
"If this
is the only option put forward by the Israeli authorities,
we will
choose to sail to the port of el-Arish and transfer the assistance by
ground to Gaza," Greek businessman Aleksei Angeolopoulos said in an
interview with the Arabic newspaper
Ashraq al-Awsat.
However, it appeared the ship was now resolutely sailing toward Gaza,
rather than agreeing to dock in a neighboring port.
"If Israel wants, the Israeli navy is invited
to board the ship and to search it so that they can see with their own
eyes that it is only carrying food and allow it to continue to the port
of Gaza."
Activists
aboard the Libyan aid ship headed for Gaza plan to arrive at
their destination
Wednesday, AFP news agency reported Monday.