PM Netanyahu on last night's Navy action
"I would like to commend the Israel Navy for their efficient action in
detaining the ship that tried to reach the Gaza coast in contravention of
the law." Use of force was unnecessary, and the vessel is currently being
escorted to Ashdod Port.
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
29 June 2015

IDF Spokesperson: After exhausting all diplomatic channels, the Israeli
government ordered the Israeli Navy to redirect a vessel in order to prevent
a breach of the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

"In accordance with international law, the Israeli Navy advised the vessel
several times to change course. Following their refusal, forces visited and
searched the vessel in international waters in order to prevent the intended
breach of the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip. The forces have reported
that use of force was unnecessary, and that the process was uneventful. The
vessel is currently being escorted to Ashdod Port and is expected to arrive
within 12-24 hours."


Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this morning (Monday, 29 June 2015),
issued the following statement:

"I would like to commend the sailors and commanders of the Israel Navy for
their determined and efficient action in detaining the passengers on the
ship that tried to reach the Gaza coast in contravention of the law. This
flotilla is nothing but a demonstration of hypocrisy and lies that is only
assisting the Hamas terrorist organization and ignores all of the horrors in
our region. Preventing entry by sea was done in accordance with
international law and even received backing from a committee of the UN
Secretary General.

Israel is the only democracy that defends itself in accordance with
international law. We are not prepared to accept the entry of war materiel
to the terrorist organizations in Gaza as has been done by sea in the past.
Just last year we foiled an attempt to smuggle by sea hundreds of weapons
that were destined for use in attacks against Israel's citizens.

There is no siege on Gaza. Israel assists in transferring goods and
humanitarian equipment to Gaza - approximately 800 trucks a day that have
recently brought into Gaza more than 1.6 million tons of goods. Moreover,
Israel assists in hundreds of humanitarian projects, through international
organizations, including the building of clinics and hospitals.

Israel is a state that seeks peace and acts in accordance with international
law so that the residents of Gaza might have safe lives and their children
may grow up in peace and quiet."


Following is a copy of the letter that was issued last night:

"Welcome to Israel,

You seem to have gotten lost. Perhaps you meant to sail to a place not far
from here - Syria, where Assad’s army is slaughtering its people every day,
and is supported by the murderous Iranian regime.

Here in Israel we face a reality in which terrorist organizations like Hamas
try to kill innocent civilians. We defend our citizens against these
attempts in accordance with international law.

Despite this, Israel transports goods and humanitarian aid into the Gaza
Strip - up to 800 trucks a day. In the past year we enabled the entry of
over 1.6 million tons of products, an average of one ton per person in the
Gaza Strip. By the way, these supplies are equivalent to 500,000 boats like
the one you came in on today.

Israel provides assistance to hundreds of humanitarian projects through
international organizations, including the building of clinics and
hospitals.

However, we will not allow the terrorist organizations to transfer weapons
into the Gaza Strip by sea. Only one year ago, we thwarted an attempt to
smuggle hundreds of weapons into the Gaza Strip by ship. These weapons were
meant to target innocent Israeli civilians.

There is no siege on the Gaza Strip, and you are welcome to transfer any
humanitarian supplies for the Gaza Strip through Israel.

Barring the entrance of boats and ships into the Gaza Strip is in accordance
with international law, and was even backed by a committee commissioned by
the United Nations Secretary General.

If you were truly concerned about human rights, you would not be sailing in
support of a terrorist regime which summarily executes citizens in the Gaza
Strip, and uses children as human shields.

If you were to travel around in Israel, you would see for yourself that the
only stable democracy in the Middle East guarantees equality for all its
citizens and freedom of worship for members of all religions; it is a
country that upholds international law so that its people can live in safety
and its children grow up in peace and quiet."