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| This photo released by Israeli Defense Forces shows the seized Gaza-bound Finnish Estelle ship before reaching the coast of Gaza Strip. Israeli Navy soldiers boarded the Gaza-bound Finnish Estelle ship Saturday morning and were currently leading it to Ashdod port in southern Israel, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman's office confirmed in a statement issued on its website. (Xinhua/IDF spokesperson) |
JERUSALEM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Navy soldiers boarded the Gaza-bound Finnish Estelle ship Saturday morning and were currently leading it to Ashdod port in southern Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman's office confirmed in a statement issued on its website.
"The Navy's boarding was carried out in accordance with international law, as the ship attempted to break the maritime security blockade of the Gaza Strip," said the statement. "The boarding took place only after the Navy had made multiple attempts to dissuade the ship's passengers from sailing to the Gaza Strip -- both via direct contact and through diplomatic channels -- but to no avail," it added. "Despite numerous calls to the passengers onboard, they remained unwilling to cooperate with Israeli authorities," the statement claimed.
The statement also said that the Israeli Navy soldiers took every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the passengers and "did not use force." The Estelle was carrying 30 activists from Europe, Canada and Israel, humanitarian cargo such as cement, and goodwill items such as children's books, a mission spokesman said earlier on Saturday
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