Israel seizes Gaza freighter; no arms aboard

The Israeli navy boarded a freighter trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip on Thursday and escorted it into the port of Ashdod, Israeli officials said. It was the first apparent attempt by a foreign ship carrying aid to reach the Palestinian enclave since Israel ended its 22-day offensive in the Gaza Strip two weeks ago. No weapons were found aboard the Tali, a cargo vessel flying the flag of the West African state of Togo, an Israeli army spokesman said. Israel radio said those aboard would be returned by land to Lebanon, from where the ship sailed. The army spokesman had no immediate comment on the fate of those aboard the ship but military sources said they included a veteran Palestinian rights campaigner, Syrian-born Archbishop Hilarion Capucci of the Melkite Church of the Eastern Rite. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak confirmed that the navy boarded the vessel and ordered it to Ashdod. Barak said the navy had initially allowed the ship to sail to Egypt but its captain made a U-turn toward Gaza's shore. Qatar-based Al Jazeera television quoted a correspondent aboard the vessel as saying the Israeli navy had fired shots then boarded the Tali and beaten passengers and crew. "They are opening fire toward the vessel ... there are Israeli soldiers who have actually boarded the vessel," said correspondent Salam Khoder. "Three of them are pointing their weapons at us ... They are beating those on the vessel, they are beating and kicking us." Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora condemned the action. "Those who commit massacres against innocent civilians in Lebanon and Gaza will not stop themselves from assaulting, in front of the world, a ship carrying humanitarian supplies," he said. "I express my utmost condemnation for this blatant attack." BLOOD PLASMA An Israeli army spokesman said no gunfire was used in taking control of the vessel and most of the 20 passengers aboard were from media organizations. But he said warning shots were fired in the air when the ship tried to sail toward the Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera said the ship, dubbed Brotherhood by activists, was carrying humanitarian aid from Lebanese and Arab charities for those made homeless by Israel's devastating offensive. It was sent by the Palestinian National Committee Against the Siege in cooperation with the U.S.-based Free Gaza Movement, and the cargo included about 60 tons of medicine, food and toys, plus 10,000 units of human blood plasma which requires constant refrigeration. Israel maintains tight control of Gaza's access to the outside world, insisting it will not permit shipment of cash, steel or other materials that could be used by Hamas Islamists, who control the enclave, to make weapons. Sympathizers of Gaza's 1.5 million Palestinians have tried several times in past months to break the Israeli blockade. Some boats with peace activists were allowed to dock, others were warned off.