The Israeli navy intercepted a ship carrying aid to the Gaza Strip today, as the activists aboard the Gaza-bound boat accused the IDF of threatening to fire upon them. The small ferry boat left Cyprus declaring that its docking port as Egypt’s Port Said. The Israeli government denied claims that it threatened the boat, however the IDF maintains strict control over goods permitted entry into the Gaza Strip due to fears that certain materials could aid Hamas. Because the boat continued to sail towards the Gaza Strip, the IDF commandeered the ship and docked it at the Israeli port city of Ashdod.
The same activists organized previous maritime efforts to deliver goods into the Gaza Strip in defiance of the Israeli blockade. Notifying media of their intentions prior to departure, and therefore also the IDF, the activists clearly use ill-fated voyages as a publicity stunt knowing full well that aid would not be permitted into the Strip. The activists included former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney who lost reelection after attacking a Capitol police officer. McKinney subsequently left he Democratic party to run for president under the auspices of a Green party candidate, although she failed to muster any legitimate domestic support for her candidacy.
The aid aboard the ship included medical supplies and reconstruction kits for some Gaza homes. Because the IDF clearly would not permit the ship entrance to the Strip, perhaps the activists should focus more on actually supplying the materials to Gaza through proper channels as opposed to inconsequential photo opportunities.