Gaza relief boat damaged in encounter with Israeli vessel

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/30/gaza.aid.boat/index.html
(CNN) -- An Israeli patrol boat struck a boat carrying medical volunteers and supplies to Gaza early Tuesday as it attempted to intercept the vessel in the Mediterranean Sea, witnesses and Israeli officials said.

CNN correspondent Karl Penhaul was aboard the 60-foot pleasure boat Dignity when the contact occurred. When the boat later docked in the Lebanese port city of Tyre, severe damage was visible to the forward port side of the boat, and the front left window and part of the roof had collapsed. It was flying the flag of Gibraltar.

The Dignity was carrying crew and 16 passengers -- physicians from Britain, Germany and Cyprus and human rights activists from the Free Gaza Solidarity Movement -- who were trying to reach Gaza through an Israeli blockade of the territory.

Also on board was former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney.

Penhaul said an Israeli patrol boat shined its spotlight on the Dignity, and then it and another patrol boat shadowed the Dignity for about a half hour before the collision.

One patrol boat "very severely rammed" the Dignity, Penhaul said.

The captain of the Dignity told Penhaul he received no warning. Only after the collision did the Israelis come on the radio to say they struck the boat because they believed it was involved in terrorist activities, the captain said.

But Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor denied that and said the patrol boat had warned the vessel not to proceed to Gaza because it is a closed military area.

how elegantly, "sanitary" :puke:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/30/gaza.aid.boat/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

It was a miracle it didn't sink the damage was really severe.

I read the story and donated to them. wouldnt have known about it otherwise....

How very Republican. How very Homeland Security. How very Attorney Journal of the US. Crap!!!!!!!

if Cynthia had been killed.

By the way, wasn't Olmert sentenced to jail time recently?

The Israeli Attorney General announced his intention to bring charges against Olmert but wanted to have a hearing first before making a final decision.

Medals are in order for the diligence of those that manned that patrol!
Another Terror act stopped by timely intervention! :sarcasm:

already to launch - something.

How pathetic. I have to say it again. Pathetically transparent and impososible to digest and believe.

Little better than outright piracy

Protocol for this kind of thing is:
- Hails (apparently ignored)
- Shots across the bow (apparently ignored)
- Physical contact (apparently effective)
- Shots on engines or steerage (not needed)

Bumping is something no Captain wants to do since his boat is equally at risk. You pull parallel to your target and then very slightly lean in toward them. The other Captain will normally veer off before contact. Looks like this one held his course. Bad news for him since few civilian hulls are built to the same level as military ones, though some reports say the Isreali boat was damaged too.

This is an Admiralty Court (London, UK) if the Captain of the Dignity wants to pursue it. However, his license would be at risk if they find it was his fault.

I for one am waiting for the You Tube videos from both sides

on this site concerning ramming whaling ships.

As much as I abhor whaling.

Ugh! :mad: