Channels

Raid on Marmara ship
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Office

Two ships still heading towards Gaza

Organizers of flotilla say Irish 'Rachel Corrie', American ship await news on those killed in raid

Organizers of an aid flotilla to Gaza kept mum Tuesday on additional ships scheduled to arrive in Israel's international waters in the coming days, while Israeli officials mulled possible responses.

 

Greta Berlin, of the heads of the Free Gaza Movement, told Ynet that the Irish 'Rachel Corrie' and another American ship are scheduled to make an appearance next week, and promised that "this is not the end".

 

"The ships are currently docking at certain ports, we are waiting to see what happened to those who were murdered by your army, and then we will decide how to proceed," she said.

 

Berlin added that she believed the ships would continue on their path early next week. "We don't plan on stopping, we have people from all over the world interested in donating money and we have no problem recruiting additional people and ships."

 

She said the ships had docked after the violent occurrences Monday, and that they would not set sail until the movement succeeds in identifying the people killed on the Turkish vessel Marmara.

 

"What about the bodies?" she asked. "What will Israel do with them? Are they in some freezer somewhere? Why won't they tell us what happened to them?"

 

Meanwhile Israeli officials were responding to the unexpected turn of events. Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said, "We cannot expect 100% success in operations such as the takeover of the Gaza Strip flotilla."

 

Speaking at a Finance Ministry conference in Jerusalem, he added, "We are experts in self-flagellation, which is excessive and harmful, and in this case causes more harm than good.

 

"Breaking the maritime siege on Gaza would have led to a further escalation of rockets and acts of terror. The State of Israel has no choice but to defend itself. The Navy did what was required of it, while putting its men's lives in danger."

 

Zvi Lavi contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.01.10, 12:10
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment