The cargo boat sailed from the Tripoli port in Lebanon a few days ago, docking in Cyprus before continuing its journey to the Gaza Strip. While at sea, the cargo boat was contacted by Israel, clarifying that it would not be permitted to enter Gaza because of security risks in the area.

Starting yesterday evening, the Israel Navy has been making direct contact with the boat and continued to clarify that the ship would not be permitted to enter the Gaza Strip’s coastal waters. The boat crew stated their intentions of changing their destination to the port in El-Arish, Egypt.

During the morning hours today, 05 February, the cargo ship changed its bearing, and began heading towards the Gaza Strip, contrary to the claims made by the boat crew last evening.

Disregarding all warnings, the cargo boat approached the Gaza shores. The actions of the boat crew raised suspicion, as it could threaten security concerns, or furthermore, the boat could be used for smuggling banned equipment (weaponry, etc.) in to or out of the Gaza Strip.

As a result of the actions taken by the boat crew, an Israel Navy force intercepted, boarded, and took control of the cargo boat, directing it towards Ashdod, Israel. No gunshots were fired on board during the boarding and capturing of the cargo boat. The boat crew will be taken for questioning by the Israeli Police, and any humanitarian goods found on the boat will be transferred to the Gaza Strip.

Any organization or country that wishes to transfer humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, can do so via the established crossings between Israel and the Gaza Strip with prior coordination.

Note: The true motivation of the ship’s voyage can be discerned by the fact that not only were a number of journalists invited to join, but also on board was Hilarion Cappuci – a former Greek Catholic bishop who was caught in 1974 smuggling weapons bound for Palestinian terrorists in the trunk of his official church vehicle while entering Israel from Lebanon.

Addendum: Haaretz reports that despite earlier claims that the boat was carrying tons of humanitarian aid, a search of the ship revealed “about 150 bottles of mineral water and a few dozen kilograms of food and medicine.”

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