Click on photo to enlarge it.
Photos: A small boatload of Palestine human rights activists, including Parliamentarians, breaks the Israeli military blockade on the Gaza Strip, November 8, 2008.
Photos on the Web at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/sameh.habeeb/DignityBoatAgainInGaza3rdTrip#
Latest news coverage:
"European parliamentarians' 'Dignity' boat docks in Gaza"
November 8, 2008
Published by Xinhua News Agency at:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-11/08/content_10326960.htm
Palestinians wave to a boat carrying European politicians after they arrived at Gaza's seaport Nov. 8, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
"GAZA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- A third voyage to challenge Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip successfully completed on Saturday morning as the "Dignity" ship docked in the harbor of the Hamas-ruled territory...
The boat "carries 11 journalists, human rights and peace activists in addition to 12 European parliamentarians whom Egypt barred from traveling to Gaza through its territories last month.
"Hamas authorities arranged a three-day program for the delegation to inspect the effects of the Israeli closure, especially on the healthcare system.
"Nasser al-Badri, a London-based reporter for the Qatari satellite channel al-Jazeera, said this trip 'was easier than the previous two voyages,' adding that it is also more important 'since it carries parliamentarians whose governments boycott Hamas and its government.'
"The delegation is headed by Nazir Ahmed, a Labour member of the House of Lords in Britain. Most of the parliamentarians came from Britain and the remaining represented Italy, Switzerland and Ireland.
"Sami al-Haj, al-Jazeera's cameraman who spent five years in Guantanamo prison, is among the passengers. Clare Short, former British minister of international development, is also on board.
"Israeli navy allowed the ship to enter Gaza territorial waters as it has done with the previous voyage. Israel imposed a tight sea blockade on Gaza and banned Palestinian fishermen to work beyond two nautical miles..."
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Shortly afterward, Israel turns its military force against Palestinian fishermen:
| "URGENT ALERT: Israeli gunboats firing on fishing boat (Update 11am)" |
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| Date : 11-9-08 | |||
On the Web at:
http://freegaza.org/index.php?module=latest_news&id=7e7f40ab0b65a398e921ddf9e69ac7e0&offset=
"Vik is yelling at the Israeli gunboat, telling them that three internationals are on board and they are all unarmed and they just want to go fishing. The pleas were met by water cannon so strong that all of the people on board went into the cabin for protection...
"...At 10:53 an Israeli gunboat is off the port side of the fishing boat getting ready to spray dirty water on the crew and the fish. The crew is trying to raise the nets and the fish inside. The Israeli military on board the gunboat have masks on before they spray the boat, an indication that the water is going to be dirty.
"The way point of the boat is .021 as the fishermen frantically try to raise their nets. The larger gunboat with the water cannon mounted on it has gone around to the winward side of the fishing boat, where they always shoot the water cannon. It is 50 yards off and preparing to fire as the nets are being hauled in as fast as the crew can work. As David is talking at 11:05, gunboat started to fire dirty water, attacking the crew and the fish. Nicos has collected the water in a sample jar and will bring it back for analysis. They are trying to ruin the catch.
"The large gunboat has dropped back after spraying the crew with dirty water. The crew dropped the fish back into the sea to protect them and they were not hit. David said that the military men on the gunboat were wearing hazmat suits an masks, an indication of how dangerous the water must be..."
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