19-10-2012
Swedish Ship to Gaza
Former Israeli Air Force combat pilot boards Gaza-bound boat
Came by motor boat, evading Greek coastguard, greeted with cheers
"Estelle" due at Gaza shore Saturday or Sunday
Activists on board:"Determined to reach Gaza, consent to UN inspection"
Israeli peace activist Yonatan Shapira, who had been a combat pilot in the Israeli Air Force and refused to take part in
the bombing of Palestinian cities, has arrived on board the Swedish boat "Estelle" which is making her way towards the
coast of Gaza. When the Estelle passed near the shores of Greece, Shapira and other activists made their way in a motor
boat, evading vessels of the Greek Coast Guard which sought to bar their way. "Along with the Greek Coast Guard we saw a
ship which seemed very much like an Israeli Navy vessel, though it did not fly a flag" said Shapira. He was received
with cheers by activists already on board. Shapira had taken part in a similar sailing last year, being taken off by
Israeli Navy Commandos near the Gaza shore and spending time in police detention, but not charged with any criminal
offence.
Meanwhile, Israel's Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor has sent a letter calling on the United Nations to stop the Estelle
from reaching her destination. To this activists on board respond: "If this means that Israel has decided to cede
control over Palestinian territorial waters to the UN, this would actually be a step forward.
The UN and many other representatives of the International Community have for years characterized the siege of the Gaza
strip as inhuman and incompatible with International Law.
Ship to Gaza Sweden assumes that that UN will not take over the implementation of this policy, by itself preventing a
peaceful vessel from delivering humanitarian supplies.
Ship to Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla have never opposed lawful inspections of cargo and vessel by representatives of
the UN, as well as by national authorities in the ports and waters we have passed through. We welcome further
inspections of this kind by the UN, once we have anchored at Gaza City. What we refuse to accept is something which also
the UN and the majority of The International Community oppose: The illegal siege of the Gaza Strip, with its devastating
humanitarian results.
The Estelle has now set course to Gaza and, weather permitting, is due to get there on Saturday.
Adam Keller, Spokesperson of Gush Shalom, who is in ongoing contact with the Estelle activists, says that Israel's Prime
Minister and Defense Minister still have some forty-eight hours' grace to make a wise and courageous decision, avoid
another show of Israeli brute force in international waters and let the Estelle dock at the Port of Gaza – while
implementing a thorough UN inspection of her cargo, to which the activists specifically consent.
Ship to Gaza-Sverige
Gush Shalom
Spokesperson
Adam Keller ,