Israel trying to dissuade Irish ship from sailing to Gaza

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, — The Israeli government is holding official contacts with its Irish counterpart in a bid to convince the Rachel Corrie aid ship to unload its shipment of relief material to Gaza Strip in the Israeli-controlled port of Ashdod.

The Hebrew radio said on Thursday that Israel was trying to convince the Irish government and the captain of the Ship to divert its destination to Ashdod to avoid another attack at sea similar to the one against the Freedom Flotilla on Monday that ended with the killing and wounding of many solidarity activists on board at the hands of the attacking Israeli commandos.

The Irish vessel is expected to reach the Gaza coast within the coming 48 hours following a technical problem that delayed its arrival at the time of the other ships in the Freedom Flotilla.

A crew member said that the ship was adamant on continuing its voyage to Gaza despite the Israeli siege.