Israeli forces seized a Gaza Strip-bound aid vessel without meeting resistance on Saturday, preventing it from breaking an Israeli blockade. According to AP, the Israeli army said its forces boarded the 1,200-ton Rachel Corrie cargo ship from the sea, not helicopters.
Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich said Saturday's takeover took only a few minutes and that the vessel was being taken to Israel's Ashdod port. The Irish ship was carrying hundreds of tons of aid, including wheelchairs, medical supplies and cement.
Activists on board the boat, including Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan, had said they wouldn't resist if Israeli soldiers tried to take over their vessel. The Rachel Corrie was carrying 11 passengers from Ireland and Malaysia. Nine crew were also on board.
