Govt should take legal action against Israel - de Rossa

Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa is calling on the Government to initiate legal action against Israel in light of the attack on the aid convoy last Monday and the boarding of the MV Rachel Corrie.

He said: "The Government and European Member States have a case to take against Israel for kidnapping Irish citizens and using armed force against shipping in International waters."

Mr de Rossa called for sanctions to be imposed on Israel.

The Israeli military said its forces seized the Gaza-bound aid vessel today, preventing it from breaking a maritime blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.

The military said its forces boarded the 1,200-tonne MV Rachel Corrie cargo ship from the sea.

They said that helicopters were not used to board the Irish boat, and no resistance was encountered.

The takeover stood in marked contrast to a violent confrontation at sea earlier this week when Israeli forces blocked a Turkish aid vessel trying to break the blockade. At the time, Israeli commandos rappelled from helicopters and a clash with passengers left nine pro-Palestinian activists dead.

Army spokeswoman Lt Col Avital Leibovich said today’s takeover took only a few minutes and that the vessel was being taken to Israel’s Ashdod port.

Sinn Féin's Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said Israel's step was unjustified and unacceptable.

“They know the Rachel Corrie and her cargo presents no threat to Israel. The human rights activists on board the boat had made it clear they had no issue with UN officials checking the cargo before they proceeded to Gaza,” he said.

“The Rachel Corrie should have been allowed to proceed to Gaza without Israeli aggression.”

Fine Gael Foreign Affairs Spokesman Billy Timmins said the action was wrong and said the Irish passengers should be allowed home without delay.

“I must also reiterate that the blockade is illegal. The international community must continue efforts to have blockade lifted and if Israel is to have no regard for international opinion, the international community must look at ways to increase the pressure,” he said.

The Irish ship – named for an American college student who was crushed to death by a bulldozer in 2003 while protesting Israeli house demolitions in Gaza – was carrying hundreds of tonnes of aid, including wheelchairs, medical supplies and cement.

The stand-off has raised international pressure on Israel to lift the three-year-old blockade that has plunged the territory’s 1.5 million residents deeper into poverty.

Activists on board the boat, including Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan, had said they would not resist if Israeli soldiers tried to take over their vessel.

This latest attempt to breach the blockade differs significantly from the flotilla the Israeli troops intercepted on Monday, killing eight Turks and a Turkish-American after being set upon by a group of activists.

Nearly 700 activists had joined that operation, most of them aboard the lead boat from Turkey, the Mavi Marmara, that was the scene of the violence.

That boat was sponsored by an Islamic aid group from Turkey, the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief.

Israel outlawed the group, known by its Turkish acronym IHH, in 2008 because of alleged ties to Hamas. The group is not on the US State Department list of terror organisations, however.

By contrast, the MV Rachel Corrie was carrying just 11 passengers from Ireland and Malaysia, whose effort was mainly sponsored by the Free Gaza movement, a Cyprus-based group that has renounced violence. Nine crew were also on board.

Irish members of the relief mission include former UN assistant secretary-general Denis Halliday, Nobel peace prize winner Mairead Maguire, Derek Graham, who has been on four of the five voyages which docked in Gaza, his wife Jenny, and Dundalk film-maker Fiona Thompson.

The vessel is captained by Eric Harcus from Scotland.

Meanwhile, thousands of people are expected to attend a mass demonstration in Dublin called by the IPSC.

Campaigners and activists already expelled from Israel will assemble at 2pm at the Garden of Remembrance, where there will be a wreath-laying ceremony.

Protesters will then march to the Department of Foreign Affairs on St Stephen’s Green.

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said he was glad the interception had been peaceful.

He repeated his call for a full, credible, impartial and independent investigation into last week’s loss of life.

“We continue to stress to the Israeli government the importance of an investigation that ensures accountability and commands the confidence of the international community, and includes international participation,” he said.

“We urgently need to see unfettered access to Gaza to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza and to enable the reconstruction of homes, livelihoods and trade. That is why we continue to press the Government of Israel to lift Gaza’s closure.

“I am also discussing these issues urgently with our international partners - including during my visits to European capitals in the next few days.”

Scotland's External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop MSP said she had discussed the situation with Foreign Minister Micheál Martin.

Ms Hyslop said: “The Scottish Government has had direct contact with the MV Rachel Corrie – captained by a Scot, Eric Harcus – and it is essential that the safety of the activists and crew aboard is assured by Israel’s Government.

“There are concerns that the vessel may have been boarded and commandeered while in international waters.

“Micheál Martin and I both agreed that all the humanitarian aid, which includes vital medical supplies, wheelchairs and cement must reach its destination.

“The Scottish Government has joined other international voices in condemning the violence on the Mavi Marmara, and the First Minister has written to Israel’s UK Ambassador calling for the immediate lifting of the Gaza blockade.”

She said it is “imperative” that there is an impartial, UN-led inquiry into the violence on the Mavi Marmara.