Israeli Army's 'Readiness' to Stop Ship of Women Supporting Palestinians

As a small ship of women supporting Palestinians approaches the Gaza coast, the Israeli army is preparing to take control of the ship and seize it. Israeli media reported on Wednesday, October 14, that the country's navy has been ordered to stop the ship carrying European women supporters of Palestinians before it reaches the shore of Gaza City. The Ynet news website reported that the Israeli navy is likely to divert the ship from its course to Gaza on Wednesday evening and tow it to the Israeli port of Ashdod to expel the passengers and return them to Europe. Meanwhile, a military spokesperson refrained from officially responding to these reports, stating, "We do not discuss operational preparations in the media." The ship 'Zitouna-Oliva' with fifteen passengers and a journalist from Al Jazeera set sail from Spain and then Italy in September and was approaching Gaza in the early hours of October 14. Ms. Mairead Corrigan Maguire, a Nobel Peace Prize winner from Belfast, Ireland, and an anti-war activist, is the most prominent peace activist on board this ship. Ms. Maguire was also present on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, from which she was expelled by Israelis. Israel has banned this 72-year-old peace activist from entering Israel for ten years, labeling her an 'anti-Israeli' activist. Former American diplomat Ms. Ann Wright is also among the passengers of the 'Zitouna-Oliva' ship. Additionally, Ms. Madeleine Habib, the captain of the ship whose father is Egyptian, told international media that the Gaza blockade has continued for about a decade and must end. Ms. Habib emphasized that the passengers of this ship carry a 'message of peace' and do not engage in 'violent actions.' According to the ship's captain, the Israeli attack six years ago on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was attempting to provide aid to Gaza and break the blockade, was 'regrettable' and 'hopes Israel will not repeat this attack.' Israel officially apologized to Turkey for the attack on the Mavi Marmara and last week transferred $20 million to Turkey for the survivors of the ten victims of that attack to normalize relations between the two countries. Despite Israel's apology to Turkey, the Israeli army and government still claim that the Gaza blockade is 'legal' and prevent similar ships from approaching this port. Since 2007, when Hamas took control of Gaza, Israel has imposed a maritime, land, and air blockade on the strip. Israel has stated that Gaza 'does not need' aid for these ships and has agreed that countries worldwide can send their aid through the Israeli port of Ashdod so that Israelis can send the shipments to Gaza overland after inspecting the cargo to ensure it does not contain weapons. After signing a reconciliation agreement with Israel in recent weeks, Turkey sent two aid ships to Ashdod, and their shipments were taken to Gaza by trailer after inspection; Turkish Red Crescent aid workers and several Turkish reporters who came with these two ships also went to Gaza after Israeli inspections and obtaining 'permission' from the Israeli Ministry of Interior. Simultaneously, Israeli air and artillery attacks on Gaza occurred following a rocket landing near a school. According to Israeli media reports, on the morning of Wednesday, October 14, a rocket fired from Gaza hit a street in the city of Sderot in southern Israel. This rocket fire did not cause any casualties, but two passersby suffered nervous shock and were taken to the hospital. Windows of nearby homes and cars were also damaged.