Freedom Flotilla

[Badh]

Thought this might be worth its own thread. The freedom flotilla The Madleen was getting close to Gaza but seems to have made a diversion, as it was the closest boat to answer a distress call. They seem to also have four Sudanese asylum seekers on board who were trying to escape the Libyan coast patrol.

The UK and France are asking Israel for its safe passage.

The tracker is here but is in and out of action.
https://freedomflotilla.org/ffc-tracker/

More details here, although the latest detour is not covered in the article.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-navy-gears-up-to-block-high-profile-protest-ship-headed-for-gaza/amp/

If they breach the blockade successfully and deliver whatever aid they have, it sets a global precedence. I believe it will push the governments who have just been sitting and moaning about Israel's actions, to do more. Just my opinion which I'm sure some will agree and others disagree with.

So you want counties to enter another’s territory without permission. I’m pretty sure that’s effectively war.

Pretty sure it's Gaza's territory not Israel.

I want our governments to push Israel into allowing in more aid that the population so desperately needs and to stop using aid as a weapon of war. If the Israeli government ceased to weaponise aid and use it as a means of collective punishment, then we wouldn't be here right now.

They aren't docking into Israel. They are going to Gaza.

Well you’re incorrect. Israel continues to have territorial rights of the waters off the Gaza Strip so the boat will need to enter Israeli territory

you understand the concept of territorial waters don’t you?

Yes, and as stated above, i hope this leads to further action from my government to push for more aid into Gaza.

I read they would be there Sunday night ( Gaza 2hours ahead of UK so it’s midnight there now )
but they would wait till Monday am to make final aproach. Or at least try to

If you search in the freedom flotilla website for

Barcarole. That’s the original name of the boat it will pick up its location.

However for reasons unknown it’s not necessarily always live. Sometimes the location is several hours old

Oh yes I forgot about those rights they gave themselves which contradicts the Oslo Agreement.

Israel have been blocking Gazas waters for years .

That doesn’t mean they are Israel’s obviously

I’m worried for them. I hope it gains the publicity necessary for aid to get to the Palestinians.

What they are doing is incredible and so brave as there is a genuine risk to their lives. Of course they can't carry much aid but if they do manage to create a safe aid passage there will be a domino effect and thousands of lives will be saved. Israel say they will stop them but it will be very hard for them to actually do it as it will be illegal under international law and there are high profile passengers including a French MEP.
In time, when the full scale of what Israel is doing is known and accepted, and these people are celebrated for the heros that they are, I have no doubt that you and others with similar views will be pretending that you supported them all along.

So it’s not war when any ship enters any waters without permission - that is incorrect. But In general countries can stop ships, even detain crews within their country’s waters.

In this case it’s a bit of a grey legal area according to a legal analysis I posted up the thread.

Essentially, the flotilla is challenging the blockade’s legality.

The Israeli commandos will keep them safe.

It’s just wild to me how much the ship is bothering the Israeli authorities.

First of all they are accused of launching a drone attack on the previous ship that was for to sail last month. Now they make this incredibly confrontational response.

They are 12 unarmed people in a sail boat containing aid. Hardly the most threatening situation the IDF have dealt with. You’d think they’d keep the statements more low key,

Totally agree .

If Israel wanted to defuse the whole situation they would ignore them leave them drop off aid get some photos and head away again.

The whole thing reminds me of when Paul Gascoigne went to meet Raoul Moat with chicken and beer while he was surrounded by police.

Dreadful dreadful thing to say

How could you????

You haven't read any of my other posts have you.

Makes a change from being called a Hamas supporter.

I know. Telling the IDF to stop them “by any means necessary “

I do think the profile of some of the crew, the UK flag and the six French crew will ultimately keep them safe. But that’s an extraordinary statement.

I was thinking it paints a David & Goliath image. But love your example @IAmAHomewardBounder . It did make me laugh.

@Bobafett2020 I’d say @Martymcfly24 will be very surprised to be a suspected IDF member.

I think we’re just making the point that there is so many better ways the Israeli authorities could handle this and they’ve gone with the most threatening option.

Thanks @badh. I think @Bobafett2020 misunderstood me. I was just trying to say that if Israel were smart and wanted to avoid an international incident that is what they would do..
But as well know the IDF generally like to liken themselves to a bull in a china shop when it comes to defusing situations.