Rachel Corrie aid ship docks at Israeli port
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The Gaza-bound Rachel Corrie aid ship, which is under control of the Israeli navy, approaches southern Israel's Ashdod port June 5, 2010.[Xinhua/Rafael Ben-Ari] |
The Gaza-bound Rachel Corrie aid ship, which is under control of the Israeli navy, docked at southern Israel's Ashdod port Saturday afternoon, said Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Aboard the boat are eleven activists and eight crew members, IDF spokesperson's office said in a statement. The passengers will be taken custody by Israeli authorities.
Earlier that day, Israeli navy soldiers boarded and controlled the vessel after its crews rejected orders to dock in Ashdod.
The Rachel Corrie, named after a peace activist killed in Gaza in 2003, intended to deliver over 1,000 tons of medical and construction supplies to the besieged Gaza strip.
The latest tension between Israeli navy and pro-Palestinian activists came five days after at least nine people were killed and dozens of others were injured in a raid by the Israeli military on a Gaza-bound international aid flotilla with more than 600 people on board.
The Rachel Corrie was originally part of the flotilla, but it was delayed for sailing to Gaza reportedly due to mechanical problems.
