Ex-US Rep on Damaged Gaza-bound Ship

December 30, 2008
Associated Press LARNACA, Cyprus - Israeli naval vessels reportedly have rammed a Gaza-bound boat carrying doctors, medical supplies and international peace activists -- among them former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney.

According to a statement released early today by the aid mission's organizers, the 66-foot yacht Dignity was struck on the bow side. took on water and suffered engine damage.

In recent months Israel has permitted several similar missions to reach Gaza, but with the two sides now locked in combat the Israelis apparently have decided to prevent the latest ship from reaching port in the besieged territory.

The ship sailed to Lebanon after the incident, according to a statement released early today by organizers. They also said Dignity was 90 miles off the coast of Gaza, in international waters, when it was intercepted by the Israelis, who allegedly also fired machine guns into the water to stop the ship from reaching Gaza.

The Israelis have denied their ship deliberately struck the Dignity, telling The Associated Press that the ships collided when Dignity tried to maneuver around the Israeli ship.

The aid vessel left Larnaca with almost 3.6 tons of Cypriot-donated supplies and 16 passengers, including McKinney, Cypriot lawmaker Eleni Theocharous and activists from Britain, Australia, Ireland and Tunisia, organizers said.

McKinney, who unsuccessfully ran this year for the U.S. presidency on the Green Party ticket, said she will petition U.S. President-elect Barack Obama to speak out against the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Theocharous, who is also a surgeon, said supplies include urgently-needed surgical equipment and antibiotics that will be used to treat the wounded.

"We're hoping that the Israelis are receptive to our very clear focus that this is a humanitarian mission," said Caoimhe Butterly, the spokeswoman for the Free Gaza group. "This is a symbolic relief shipment and we hope that it will be the first of many."

The Free Gaza group has made five deliveries of aid by boat to Gaza since August, defying a blockade imposed by Israel when Hamas won control of the territory in June 2007. One of their ships was named for the USS Liberty, an American spy ship that the Israelis attacked during the Six Day War in 1967. Israel claims they thought the ship was Egyptian, though surviving crewmembers and others have long maintained their identity was clearly known to the attacking ships and aircraft.

The previous aid ships have all been allowed entry to Gaza, but organizers say they are aware the Israeli navy may stop them this time.

Israel launched the deadliest bombing campaign against Palestinians in decades on Saturday in retaliation for rocket fire aimed at civilians in southern Israeli towns.

The strikes in Gaza have killed at least 315 people and wounded 1,400. Israel has launched more than 300 airstrikes, and its military has said naval vessels have also bombarded targets from the sea.

It is also sending tanks toward the Gaza border and approving the call-up of thousands of reserve soldiers in apparent preparation for a ground offensive.

"We will try to make it to send the message to the Palestinian people that they are not alone and to the rest of the world that they must consider what is going on there right now," Theocharous said.

http://www.military.com/news/article/ex-us-rep-on-damaged-gaza-bound-ship.html

The Dignity is taking on water. Former U.S. Representative and Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney is on board ship that is taking on water. Israelis fired machine guns at ship in international waters. Barack Obama and his pro-Zionist advisers (Emanuel, Axelrod) silent as African-American politician's ship is fired on by Israeli aggressors.