Region | Palestinian Territories

Israel moves swiftly to expel Rachel Corrie activists

Activists and crew on board Gaza aid ship to be expelled after they sign a waiver

AFP
Published: 11:27 June 6, 2010

Pro-Palestinian activists demonstrate against Israel

Image Credit: Reuters
Pro-Palestinian activists demonstrate against the raid in Barcelona in this June 5, 2010 photo.

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Occupied Jerusalem: All activists and crew on board the Rachel Corrie aid ship which tried to run the Israeli blockade of Gaza would be expelled from Israel on Sunday, said an Israeli immigration official.

"Everyone on board the boat will be expelled on Sunday after they signed a waiver renouncing their right to appeal to an Israeli judge," said Sabine Haddad.

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She said six Malaysian nationals and a Cuban would leave Israel through the Allenby crossing into Jordan, while the remaining 11 people would fly out of Israel from Ben Gurion international airport near Tel Aviv.

Immigration officials earlier said the process had been delayed after the five Irish nationals, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, had initially refused to sign the waiver.

Israeli forces intercepted and seized control of the Rachel Corrie on Saturday as it tried to reach the Gaza Strip, in a peaceful operation which had a radically different outcome from an earlier raid on an aid flotilla that left nine dead.

The Irish-owned 1,200-tonne vessel was escorted into the southern Israeli port of Ashdod, and the activists and crew were taken to the Holon immigration centre near Tel Aviv for questioning.

Comments (21)

Added 15:57 June 6, 2010

In actuality Rami it was the Jews who accepted the 1948 UN partition plan (sickeningly unfair to the Jews as it was, since all the fertile land was given to the Arabs) and it was the 7 Arab countries who attacked us. It was also the Arab governments who told the Arabs in Palestine to leave because they would soon get rid of all the Jews so they could come back after. Most left then, some left after the war, and some I regret to say died at the hands of Jewish extremists. The difference is I denounce that and see those isolated actions as a stain on the history of the ppl, you see the horrors hamas and hezbolah commit as honorable, that is the difference between our people. You are right we did kill a lot of Arabs in that war and in all the other wars because from day one it has been ARABS who have vowed to "push all the jews into the sea" -Nasser, and to "wipe Israel off the face of the earth"- Ahmadenejad (yes i know he's persian). In the face of such hate and lust for violence do you really expect us to fight fire with anything but fire?

shai, winnipeg, Canada

Added 15:42 June 6, 2010

@Debapriya Chakraborty, through your comments it seems breaking illegal block and supplying essential aid is a drama. so what will you do if your house is blocked [from the rest of the world] and you are being deneid of essentials things.

shanak, dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 13:26 June 6, 2010

Debapriya Said: "all drama costing life of people. you do not have to advertise your aid. that should be done silently through so many organisations, if one is really serious about the service factor....." To Debapriya, If the people of GAZA can receive AID, then your statement will make sense, however, you are forgetting that Israel has a Blockade on GAZA, which means nothing gets in and out without authorization of Occupying Force (Israel). So to Send AID through organisations will be confiscated and only %25 would be passed to GAZA... do you see where the problem is? The Flotilla Freedom and Rachal Corrie's Ship is sailing to "break the Blockade" And to provide "All" Aid to the Palestinian people. I hope this has clarified the situation.

Anonymous, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 12:49 June 6, 2010

@Ali of Sharjah, The solution is certainly and will not come from outside world. Both side must compromise, share a common ground if necessary. All Im saying is, our brothers is dying because of this conflict and I hope this gives you enough reason to stop fighting teeth to teeth with the enemy, whoever it may be. I believe that the restoration of peace will come from you who dwells in the area. Change can be achieve not buy guns and mass distructive weapons. If you truly believe in God, its plain and simple " Blessed are the meek and righteous". Again I share the pain with you my brothers, all I want is Peace among us. The Palestinian - Israeli conflict is a good example that violence is not a good ways to resolve issues. "COMPROMISE" is the key.

Jhel Villaruel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 12:28 June 6, 2010

What will happen to the supplies that were seized? How do we know that it will indeed be delivered to Gaza? Why are the activists not allowed to enter Gaza with their ship after the Israeli inspection, but instead being deported? It does not make sense. It is my understanding that Hamas will stop the attacks when Israel leaves the occupied territory, but instead Israel infuriate the situation by building more on the occupied land. Why is Israel always crying victim and who are the real victims here? Too many questions without answers.

Anonymous, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Added 11:31 June 6, 2010

This Aid was "advertised" as Debapriya mentioned for one purpose, to get the aid to REACH, IN FULL. and ON TIME to the Palestinians who need it. Israel would never allow it to cross therefore they went public so the world would support them, so the world would stop Israel from starving the ppl of Gaza. However, as we've all seen, Israel will defy the whole world, but finally showed it's true colors to those who did not see.

Rami, Dubai, Afghanistan

Added 11:28 June 6, 2010

I am happy to see a comment like Hassan's. thank you brother. And to quickly reply to Shai, you say we should compromise?! Israel did not compromise from the very first day of it's existence, in 1948 when they killed thousands of Palestinians and left thousands homeless to say the least. They storm an Aid ship to kill and scare anyone from trying it again. No Shai, no compromise, we wont take when we know israel wouldn't, we are no less than them and it is our right to live in dignity as well. Maybe you need to read a bit more arab media and less western and you'll come to understand. or simply google if you choose not to trust either.

Rami, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 09:40 June 6, 2010

all drama costing life of people. you do not have to advertise your aid. that should be done silently through so many organisations, if one is really serious about the service factor. we all knew the fate of that drama, then why plunge to disaster by wish.

Debapriya Chakraborty, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 09:32 June 6, 2010

Shall we believe Banjamin Netenyahu saying activists used axes and knives or Witnesses saying they saw red lazer dots on ther foreheads and fire coming through .... I think I would neevr believe Benjamin . We still remember the time when British marines entered Iran's water lines and got captured, what a fuss was made with threats given for war against Iran... we all knw how that incident ended and how this incident ended where innocent people were killed but all we heard from west is "deep regret"......

Sid, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Added 08:25 June 6, 2010

Why would someone criticize Hamas? are they not aware how and above all why was it formed? lemme refresh your memory, retaliation of bullets with stones, getting killed like sitting ducks, humans being used as target practice, do you not remember that little boy killed in the crossfire if front of world's eye? THIS HAS MADE HAMMAS. So, I think people should stop criticizing Hamas just because they can now retaliate to the opressers and have immense public support and ask people to stop supporting the illegitimate state of israel who can kill living beings in the shadow of self defense!!

Hassan, Dubai, United Arab Emirates