Thursday, June 03, 2010

Flotilla update

From the Guardian

• Released activists have said Israeli commandos opened fire before boarding Gaza flotilla. Turkish activist Nilufer Cetin said Israeli troops opened fire before boarding the Turkish-flagged ferry Mavi Marmara, which was the scene of the worst clashes and all the fatalities. Israeli officials have said that the use of armed force began when its boarding party was attacked.

• Israel's military may have sabotaged two boats carrying Free Gaza activists after both malfuntioned at the same time in the same way prior to the raid. The ships were forced into port in Cyprus on Friday evening when both their steering systems broke down on the journey from Heraklion in Crete, a campaign spokeswoman said.

• Egypt has temporarily lifted its blockade of the Gaza Strip to allow aid into the area. Several thousand Gazans are reportedly making a dash to the Egyptian border, hoping to take advantage of a rare chance to escape the blockaded territory. Cars with suitcases piled on their roofs are streaming to the border, while many others are lugging overstaffed bags on foot. Dozens of Hamas police with automatic weapons are patrolling the area to maintain order.

• The MV Rachel Corrie, which was part of the Freedom Flotilla but had fallen behind, will still make for Gaza, according to the Free Gaza Movement. Spokeswoman Greta Berlin said the vessel would probably arrive next Monday or Tuesday. An unnamed Israeli marine lieutenant told Israel's Army Radio his unit was prepared to block the ship.

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