July 20th 2011

Israel Navy Boarded Boat Attempting

to Break Maritime Security Blockade

IDF naval forces boarded Al-Karama vessel

Israeli naval forces on Tuesday afternoon (July 19) boarded the Al-Karama vessel. The boarding was conducted, in accordance with the orders of the Israeli government, after numerous appeals, delivered both directly to the ship and via diplomatic channels, for the ship not to attempt to reach the Gaza Strip, were ignored. READ MORE The legal framework for the establishing of a naval blockade on the territory of Gaza. READ MORE

The Legitimacy for the naval blockade on Gaza

A review of attempts to run the Naval Blockade on the Gaza Strip with military hardware - The IDF, and its Navy in particular, constantly invest efforts in intercepting these attempts, in coordination with other nations and armies. READ MORE

Israeli navy prepares for provocative Gaza flotilla

Israeli naval forces prepared during the last month for an anticipated attempt to breach the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip. Using lessons learned from the flotilla that took place a year ago, the navy will employ non-lethal tactics, including the use of water cannons. READ MORE

Watch the videos of the incident

The "Al-Karama" on its way to Gaza. WATCH The French Boat, "Al-Karama", Declares its Destination as Gaza Port. WATCH Passengers Moved to Israel Navy Boat. WATCH
IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch

Israel Navy Boarding "Al-Karama". WATCH

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July 20th 2011

Israel Navy Boarded Boat Attempting

to Break Maritime Security Blockade
IDF naval forces boarded Al-Karama vessel
Israeli naval forces on Tuesday afternoon (July 19) boarded the Al-Karama vessel. The boarding was conducted, in accordance with the orders of the Israeli government, after numerous appeals, delivered both directly to the ship and via diplomatic channels, for the ship not to attempt to reach the Gaza Strip, were ignored. The Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, oversaw the operation from the navy's command center. "The IDF has been monitoring the ship since last Saturday," IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, said. "We knew there were 16 passengers onboard seeking to create a provocation, without any connection to providing assistance to the residents of the Gaza Strip." After it became clear that the ship would not cooperate and accept Israel's invitation to dock at the Ashdod port, it was decided to intercept the ship and lead it to Ashdod. IDF forces took all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the passengers on the deck of the ship. After taking control of the ship, IDF forces checked the condition of the passengers and offered them food and beverages. When they arrived to the Ashdod port, the passengers were turned over to officials from the Israel Police, the Immigration and Population Authority and the Interior Ministry. The IDF wishes to emphasize that any country or organization seeking to send humanitarian aid to Gaza can do so in a legal and orderly manner

IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch

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July 20th 2011

Israel Navy Boarded Boat Attempting

to Break Maritime Security Blockade
The Legitimacy for the Naval Blockade on Gaza
On January 3rd 2009, the Israeli Minister of Defense instructed the application of a maritime blockade on the shores of the Gaza Strip, up to a distance of 20 nautical miles from shore. The announcement was publicized on a number of international channels in addition to being transmitted twice daily to all vessels sailing within 300 km of Israels shores. A Maritime and Naval Blockade is an internationally accepted legal means of monitoring and stopping the passage of vessels into ports that are under the control of the enemy, in this instance the Hamas and other Palestinian Terror Organizations. The particular naval blockade on the Gaza Strip has a specific defensive purpose in view of Hamas being a terror organization with the clear intent of hurting the State of Israel and its inhabitants. Both the Hamas and other terror organizations in the Strip constantly seek to use sea channels as both supply lines for rearming with hardware that is used directly for attacks against Israeli citizens, as well as exit routes for attacks and ambushes within the sovereign territory of Israel. An example of the supply of arms is best shown in the interception and capture of the vessel Victoria by the Israel Navy, carrying a vast array of combat hardware destined for Gaza. The purposes for this hardware were clear, and its capture probably saved a number of potential Israeli casualties and further attempts to damage Israels sovereignty This case as well as previous similar incidents prove beyond any doubt as to the need for a naval blockade for the preservation of the security of Israeli citizens. From the moment a naval blockade is applied on a given region, the applying party is entitled to stop the entry or exit of any vessel. This directive entails severe security implications, particularly where there is a suspicion that the enemy will seek to use the sea space for its military re-enforcement as well as for the purpose of conducting directed attacks against the IDF and the State of Israel. According to International Law, so as to guarantee the effectiveness of the blockade, it is the role of the applying nation to apply it by forbidding the reaching of vessels to the blocked enemy shores as well as forbidding exiting to the open seas. In view of the acute defense needs that form the base of this blockade, the IDF is the appointed party that has effectively overseen the Gaza Strip Naval Blockade and has applied the blockade to all vessels without prejudice. According to International Law, it is forbidden to apply a maritime and naval blockade if the sole objective is the starvation of or the prevention of means of survival for the affected civilian population. As mentioned, the Gaza Naval Blockade has strict defensive grounds, and it is evident that it is not being applied for the starvation or prevention of survival means of the population therein. Furthermore, the blockade does not affect in any way the smooth supply of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian supplies required by the Gaza population are being transferred entirely through land crossing points, and in fact, the Gaza Strip has not been supplied with goods by way of sea channels since 1967. As a result, the application of a Maritime and Naval Blockade in January 2009 has NOT affected in any way the supply of goods and merchandise to the Gaza Strip, since for at least the past 40 years this has not been effected by sea.

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IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch

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July 20th 2011

Israel Navy Boarded Boat Attempting

to Break Maritime Security Blockade
Since the Israeli Disengagement and the termination of effective Israeli sovereignty in the Gaza Strip in August 2005, the State of Israel has assumed the responsibility for the supply of goods and merchandise to the Gaza Strip. Under this responsibility, the State of Israel made clear that there was no reason to delay the transfer of Humanitarian aid and basic staples to the Strip. During the first half of 2011, some 400 trucks deliver DAILY goods and merchandises, compared to some 250 trucks daily in August 2010 an increase of 344% in the transfer of goods since the cabinet decision to enable the transfer of goods to Gaza. Furthermore, 3,332 tons of medical supplies and medication was coordinated on the back of an additional 456 trucks. During 2010, 3,818 merchants from Gaza were permitted entry to Israel, the West Bank and abroad. During 2010 Israel continued to supply some 5million cubic meters of drinking water in addition to the supply of 70,876,781 litres of diesel fuel. It should be further noted that following on the application of a Maritime and Naval Blockade, the Laws of War permit the applying nation to detect and arrest vessels attempting to trespass or break the blockade. This is on condition that the trespassing vessel, when arrested, is situated outside of the territorial waters of a neutral nation. All vessels attempting to break the blockade since the application of the Naval Blockade , were arrested whilst fulfilling the above condition. In the case where a vessel resists arrest and refuses to stop in its course, the Law allows for the use of force against the perpetrator.

IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch

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July 20th 2011

Israel Navy Boarded Boat Attempting

to Break Maritime Security Blockade

A review of attempts to run the Naval Blockade on the Gaza Strip with military hardware
We are listing here a reminder of past interceptions thanks to preparedness, high awareness, precise intelligence and up-to-scratch combat readiness of the Navy, the IDF and other security establishments. Victoria, March 2011

March 15th 2011 saw the raid of the Israel Navys Navy Seals alongside the Coastguard, on the vessel Victoria. Large stocks of military arsenal were found on board, including the strategic C-704 missile as well as numerous Rocket Propelled Grenades of 60mm and 120mm. The ship was rapidly overcome without any resistance shown by the crew, following which it was led into Ashdod Port for further inspection and offloading. The Vessel was on its way from the Turkish port of Mersin to Alexandria Port in Egypt. Prior to docking at Mersin, the vessel had visited the ports of Latakia in Syria and Beirut in Lebanon. 3 containers packed with military arsenal were discovered, among them 2 Chinese made C-704 missiles, presently used by the Iranians, alongside instruction manuals in Farsi. These missiles are ground to sea, capable of reaching Ashdod Port. Hamas does not deploy these as yet, and the mere fact of them obtaining these missiles would dangerously alter the balance of military power. These missiles are also known as Nasser with an effective range of 35KM. The missile carries a warhead of 130KG explosives and is guided by radar.

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IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch

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July 20th 2011

Israel Navy Boarded Boat Attempting

to Break Maritime Security Blockade
Francop, November 2009 The Iranian vessel Francop carrying the flag of Antigua was en route from Iran to Syria, loaded with 40 containers packed with arms, weighing a total of about 300 Tons. The Arsenal included sniper rifles, ammunition, grenades, Katyusha type rockets (122mm), all intended for the Hezbollah organization. It is assumed that had this shipload reached its destination, it would have sufficed for one months warfare against Israel.

FRANCOP " Monchegorsk, January 2009 (Cypriot vessel)

A shipment of military hardware was seized in Cyprus after it was discovered on board the vessel Monchegorsk which was being leased to an Iranian shipping company. The shipment included Tank ammunition, Artillery ammunition as well as rockets and materials for the manufacture of rockets. Hansa India October 2009 A vessel sailing from Iran carrying a German flag is bound for offloading 8 containers in an Egyptian port, with their ultimate destination for Gaza. Following an alert provided by the German Authorities, the ship was forbidden from offloading in Egypt and proceeded to Malta, where it was inspected and found to be carrying bullets, as well as a variety of means for the manufacture of weapons, probably originating in Syria. Karin A January 2002 This was a Palestinian vessel seized by the Israel Navy in the Red Sea. The ship left an Iranian port, refueled in Yemen and carried a Tongan flag. The vessel was loaded with sealed barrels that proved to contain a vast arsenal of Katyusha rockets, mortars, Lau missiles, various types of rifles and guns, Sagger rockets, Rocket propelled grenades and mines. Santorini May 2001 The vessel Santorini left Lebanese port bound for Gaza loaded with a military arsenal intended for smuggling into the Strip. The ship manned by 4 crew members, was captured close to Haifa port and brought to Israel. Its load included mortars, RPGs, Kalashnikov rifles and a variety of other means of war. The crew had been instructed to throw the shipment overboard in sealed barrels with the purpose that they would float towards the Gaza coast. The crew told interrogators that this was their fourth smuggling attempt.

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IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch

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July 20th 2011

Israel Navy Boarded Boat Attempting

to Break Maritime Security Blockade
Overland Arms Smuggling Events Since the introduction of the Maritime and Naval blockade on Gaza, much of the smuggling effort into the Gaza strip has moved to underground tunnels dug under the Philadelphi corridor that separates the Gaza Strip from Egypt. The contraband that passes through these tunnels includes human beings, drugs, rockets, weapons, and other military hardware. During the past years this effort has increased several times over, helping improve the range and effectiveness of weapons launched against Israel from within the Gaza Strip. The tunnels provide a living for a large number of Egyptians, and the latter have little interest in shutting down this business. Following on Operation Cast Lead (Dec08/Jan09), smuggling has intensified once Hamas and Islamic Jihad have set it as their target to obtain quality weapons that will inflict greater damage and improve their standing versus Israel in a future conflict. In their rearming efforts, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have enthusiastic support from Iran, who in its campaign to increase its influence on the Palestinian movements as well as Palestinian Terror Organizations, expresses this support by supplying hardware generously. Since 2010, this means of smuggling has enabled the introduction of hundreds of internationally recognized and known rockets, about 1,000 mortar shells, tens of thousands of anti tank missiles, tons of explosives as well as the means to manufacture such. The smuggling industry brings about a meeting of interests between Iran who supplies, in its aim to expand its influence among Palestinians, and Hamas who in their staunch resistance to Israel, seeks an advantage by arming itself with quality arsenal.

IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch

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July 20th 2011

Israel Navy Boarded Boat Attempting

to Break Maritime Security Blockade
Israeli navy prepares for provocative Gaza flotilla
Israeli naval forces prepared during the last month for an anticipated attempt to breach the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip. Using lessons learned from the flotilla that took place a year ago, the navy will employ non-lethal tactics, including the use of water cannons. The government's instructions to the IDF remain absolute: to decisively thwart every attempt to breach the security blockade of Gaza. This blockade is based on international law, and is necessary to protect the safety of Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers by stifling the smuggling of weapons into the Gaza Strip. The efforts by terrorist organizations to smuggle weapons into Gaza have been evident with the interception of arms-laden ships, including the "Victoria" and the "Francop", among others. Navy Commander, Maj. Gen. Eliezer Marom, said of the flotilla: "Recently another hate flotilla to Gaza has been organized whose purpose is to clash with soldiers, create a media provocation and to delegitimize Israel." Maj. Gen. Merom called the planned flotilla "provocative and unnecessary" and asked that all influential parties to do what they can to prevent the flotilla from setting sail. IDF Spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Mordechai said that while the IDF hopes that the flotilla does not embark on its planned journey the IDF is preparing for all possibilities. "After taking into account lessons learned from the previous flotilla, the navy received clear instructions from the chief of staff in accordance with the instructions of the political leadership - to prevent the breach of the naval blockade, which is a legal and legitimate blockade that is recognized by international bodies," Brig. Gen. Mordechai said. "The navy conducted an extensive exercise, which among other things dealt with command, control and the training of fighters," Brig. Gen. Mordechai added. "We want very much to avoid serious consequences but the navy is determined to prevent the breaking of the sea blockade - this is an unequivocal directive."

IDF Spokesperson's Unit Public Affairs Branch

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