Organisers lose contact with Gaza aid boat, blame 'sabotage'
Saturday, 5 June 2010
JERUSALEM, June 4 (AFP): Organisers of the Gaza flotilla said they lost contact with the Gaza-bound MV Rachel Corrie Friday just as they are seeking to delay the latest bid to bust the embargo with an aid-laden ship.
The ship had been on course for arrival in the Palestinian enclave Saturday, just five days after Israeli commandos killed nine activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in a botched raid that plunged Israel into a diplomatic crisis.
"The situation is we lost all contact with the boat. We assume this was sabotage by the Israelis," said Audrey Bomse of the Free Gaza Movement.
It was now unclear whether the Irish and Malaysian activists aboard the ship would turn around or steam on towards the Hamas-run Gaza which is under a crippling blockade Israel says aims at halting Palestinian rocket fire.
Monday's raid sparked worldwide outrage with more massive protests expected on Friday, particularly after weekly prayers in Muslim countries.
In Kuala Lumpur, some 5,000 Malaysians rallied outside the US embassy where the Israeli flag was burned
Some demonstrators burned the Israeli flag while others brandished posters that said "Destroy America, Destroy Israel -- Long Live Islam" and "Allah will destroy you Israel".
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah called for a mass rally in Beirut Friday evening where he said he would announce "serious measures."
In Jerusalem, police restricted access to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound and deployed in force in and around the Old City.
Angry anti-Israel protests have been staged across the Middle East and in major cities since Monday's deadly raid, with vast crowds taking to the streets to demand an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Turkey will reduce economic and defence ties with Israel, but bilateral cooperation will not be entirely frozen after the Gaza ship raid, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Friday.
Ankara "will reduce relations in these fields to a minimum level, taking into account whether (cooperation) already exists... whether payments have been made or not," Arinc said on NTV television.
"But as a state we cannot completely ignore a state whose existence we recognise," he said.
Relations between Turkey and Israel, once close allies, have been plunged into crisis by an Israeli commando raid on a flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip. Nine Turks, including one who also held US citizenship, on the lead vessel were killed.
The ship had been on course for arrival in the Palestinian enclave Saturday, just five days after Israeli commandos killed nine activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in a botched raid that plunged Israel into a diplomatic crisis.
"The situation is we lost all contact with the boat. We assume this was sabotage by the Israelis," said Audrey Bomse of the Free Gaza Movement.
It was now unclear whether the Irish and Malaysian activists aboard the ship would turn around or steam on towards the Hamas-run Gaza which is under a crippling blockade Israel says aims at halting Palestinian rocket fire.
Monday's raid sparked worldwide outrage with more massive protests expected on Friday, particularly after weekly prayers in Muslim countries.
In Kuala Lumpur, some 5,000 Malaysians rallied outside the US embassy where the Israeli flag was burned
Some demonstrators burned the Israeli flag while others brandished posters that said "Destroy America, Destroy Israel -- Long Live Islam" and "Allah will destroy you Israel".
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah called for a mass rally in Beirut Friday evening where he said he would announce "serious measures."
In Jerusalem, police restricted access to the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound and deployed in force in and around the Old City.
Angry anti-Israel protests have been staged across the Middle East and in major cities since Monday's deadly raid, with vast crowds taking to the streets to demand an end to Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, Turkey will reduce economic and defence ties with Israel, but bilateral cooperation will not be entirely frozen after the Gaza ship raid, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc said Friday.
Ankara "will reduce relations in these fields to a minimum level, taking into account whether (cooperation) already exists... whether payments have been made or not," Arinc said on NTV television.
"But as a state we cannot completely ignore a state whose existence we recognise," he said.
Relations between Turkey and Israel, once close allies, have been plunged into crisis by an Israeli commando raid on a flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip. Nine Turks, including one who also held US citizenship, on the lead vessel were killed.