Thanks Everybody.
Please de-recommend my diary and recommend zannie's diary here in its stead--
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Again, please move to the following diary--
http://www.dailykos.com/...
Good luck to everyone on the Rachel Corrie, and to everyone who needs the supplies their ship is carrying.
News is limited at this point, I'll try to keep on top of things--
BBC article (being updated in an ongoing manner)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/...
Mondoweiss--Just useful.
http://mondoweiss.net/
From the Flotilla--
http://twitter.com/...
News and opinion--
http://twitter.com/...
Watch Al Jazeera streaming live -- http://www.livestation.com/...
Official twitter of the folks who organized the Flotilla--
http://twitter.com/...
Update 3:19am:
Vittorio Arrigoni from #Gaza just saw 6 #Israeli gunships on the horizon, #RachelCorrie
http://twitter.com/...
Update 2:25am:
Engine expert. "They may be apprehensive to use helicopters this time. If you want to drag the Rachel, you must first break his engine." 2 minutes ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
Update 2:11am:
According to the IOF, the boat was stopped in international waters six minutes ago and that it is legal. #Flotilla
http://twitter.com/...
Update 1:44am:
# From the BBC: IOF issued initial request to ship to identify. No warning to the ship. Not boarding ship yet. No contact for hour and a half. less than a minute ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
Update 1:36am:
There really hasn't been much solid for a while, here's a recent-ish piece of news which confirms that the IDF had already fired upon the Mavi Marmara well before that video that the IDF released cuts in showing the mean ol' boatpeople attacking the lamb-innocent highly-trained heavily-armed commandos -- http://www.hybridstates.com/...
Not that it makes any difference to reasonable folks who realize it frankly doesn't matter who did what first when Israel was illegally boarding a flagged vessel in international waters to prevent a humanitarian aid mission from benefiting a group of people who they were actively oppressing in the first place, but still, it outright dismisses one of the main silly talking points against the Flotilla.
Update 1:25am:
Al Jazeera reports that the Navy is insisting they go to Ashdod. Passengers say 'no'. Navy says they will drag boat to Ashdod. Not possible less than 20 seconds ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
Update at 1:12am again courtesy of wwjd:
Greta Berlin from free gaza said that they have not been in touch with the ship in 30+ mins. They had a dedicated satellite phone line on board the ship that had a frequency the Israelis didn't know about, but since they can't get through now, she believes they've found it and ended it. So, she doesn't know what's going on with the ship now. :(
by wwjjd on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 10:06:34 PM PDT
Update 1:02am:
Haaretz says Rachel Corrie ship closing in on Gaza shore. Posted this information to their page 20 minutes ago. #Flotilla 5 minutes ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
Update 12:48:
We have been trying every two minutes to contact passengers. No answer. #Flotilla 3 minutes ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
Update 12:38:
UNCONFIRMED *** REPORTS THAT #RACHELCORRIE CAN BE SEEN FROM #GAZA SHORES****UNCONFIRMED...#FLOTILLA #PALESTINE 11 minutes ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
Update 12:31am EST:
Mary Hughes Thompson from Free Gaza Movement was just on the phone with the BBC and she said that she just spoke with the people on the Rachel Corrie. They are about 20 miles from Gaza. They didn't go past Israel this time, they went up the coast of Egypt. She said when they go down along the coast past Lebanon and Israel, they are usually intercepted. She believes going up the coast of Egypt was a strategic decison made by the captain because the Israeli ships would have been waiting for them at one location and they, instead, went in another direction. She said the maneuver is allowing them, at this point, to proceed unimpeded towards Gaza. She too reiterated that they will not resist if they are boarded.
by wwjjd on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 09:26:39 PM PDT
Update 12:15:
# Trying to contact passengers on dedicated phone. No answer from them. #Flotilla 2 minutes ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
BBC article is being continuously updated
http://news.bbc.co.uk/...
Update 11:58, more conflicting info:
# SKY NEWS reports they talked to passengers just now. They have NOT been boarded and are on their way to Gaza. #Flotilla less than a minute ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
# No contact with the Israeli navy who has not contacted them at all. Ship proceeding toward Gaza. #Flotilla 3 minutes ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
BBC News has it.
Israeli troops 'intercept' Rachel Corrie Gaza aid ship.
It is unclear whether there was any violence. The activists on board the Rachel Corrie had said they would not resist.
My comments may not be used for any purpose without explicit permission.
by cai on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 08:55:24 PM PDT
With apologies to cai for using that comment without explicit permission.
Update 11:52:
# Report from Malaysians: Rachel is not turning around until they get to destination. Two warships from the back. Will continue. #Flotilla 3 minutes ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
# On the phone with passengers. 25 miles from Gaza. They have NOT been boarded but are followed by two war ships. #Flotilla 5 minutes ago via web
http://twitter.com/...
and:
Aljazeera just reported that they have not (0+ / 0-)
been boarded either.
by wwjjd on Fri Jun 04, 2010 at 08:40:20 PM PDT
Update again, 11:46:
Unconfirmed report from Malaysia states the Rachel Corrie has been taken by the Israeli navy.They have boarded the ship. #Flotilla 5 minutes ago via web
Update: 11:22 Press Release from FreeGaza.org in charge of the Flotilla
# Confusing information coming from ship. Please bear with us as we do our best to get accurate information. #Flotilla
# Report from the ship's passengers. They have NOT been boarded. Followed by Israeli warships only. #Flotilla
# No struggle or injuries, but the Rachel Corrie has been captured. Communications jammed. Report from Irish radio. #Flotilla
# Reports from Malaysians that the Rachel Corrie has been taken by the Israeli navy who has boarded the ship. #Flotilla
# Unconfirmed reports from Israeli radio say troops have boarded Rachel Corrie. #Flotilla
# Israeli Radio reporting that all satellite signals have been jammed by Israeli authorities. #Flotilla
I'm not sure how to rearrange this diary so it's not just copying and pasting a twitter feed.
Again, news seems very limited at this moment, because that's the way the IDF wants it.
Another source:
http://twitter.com/...
# To all our followers, THANK YOU for supporting the #RachelCorrie....#gaza #flotilla 3 minutes ago via web
# Official*** #RachelCorrie to be taken to Ashdod Israel***Official all on board arrested...#Gaza #Flotilla 5 minutes ago via web
# @ipsc48 freegazaorg via twitter 9 minutes ago via web in reply to ipsc48
# OFFICIAL**** THERE ARE NO INJURIES REPORTED****OFFICIAL #RACHELCORRIE #GAZA #FLOTILLA 9 minutes ago via web
Good news seems to be no casualties--how wonderful that Israel is so magnanimous as to hijack a ship full of aid without killing anyone :} Thanks, Israel :]
Press Release from FreeGaza.org
http://www.freegaza.org/...
Rachel Corrie boarded, equipment jammed
Press Release - Wed 5th June, 3.30am
The IPSC has been contacted by the MV Rachel Corrie in the past few minutes. Jenny Graham reported that they had been followed by Israeli ships for about 2 hours, and that in the last few minutes 2 ships were approaching from the port side. Ms Graham said that equipment on board had been jammed by the Israeli navy, and that they expected their satellite phone (number below) to be jammed soon as well. The line was bad, and we were unable to determine the exact location of the Rachel Corrie relative to their destination.
On hearing of the news, Freda Hughes of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) said: "We all hope that those on board the Rachel Corrie will remain safe and that there will be no repeat of Monday's terrible attack on the Freedom Flotilla. Our hearts are with you."
The Rachel Corrie is flying their Irish, Malaysian and Filipino flags at half mark as a mark of respect for their murdered comrades from the Mavi Marmama which was hijacked on Monday by Israeli commandos in an attack that left at least 9 people dead.
Speaking about Minister Micheal Martin's statement earlier in which he said that those on board the Rachel Corrie had rejected a so-called deal that would involve them docking in the ISraeli port of Ashdod, Jenny Graham said: "We will have no part in a deal that involves us legitimising the siege of Gaza. We intend to continue on our mission to deliver our cargo of aid and supplies to the people of Gaza. This has always been our intention."