GAZA CITY: The Israeli Navy yesterday fired at and boarded a relief ship that was trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip while Egypt prevented a senior Hamas official carrying $9 million and two million euros in cash from entering the territory via Rafah.
The Tali, a cargo vessel flying the flag of Togo, was escorted into the port of Ashdod by Israeli naval vessels. No weapons were found aboard, Israel Radio said. It said those aboard would be returned by land to Lebanon, from where the ship sailed.
Al Jazeera television quoted a correspondent aboard the vessel as saying the Israeli Navy had fired shots. “They are opening fire at the vessel ... there are Israeli soldiers who have actually boarded the vessel,” said Salam Khoder. “Three of them are pointing their weapons at us ... They are beating those on the vessel, they are beating and kicking us.”
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora condemned the action. “Those who commit massacres against innocent civilians in Lebanon and Gaza will not stop themselves from assaulting, in front of the world, a ship carrying humanitarian supplies,” he said.
The cash seizure was done at the Rafah border crossing when Egyptian officials insisted on searching the bags of a six-member Hamas delegation returning to the strip from truce talks in Cairo.
The officials allowed five members to cross, but prevented Hamas spokesman Ayman Taha, who was carrying the cash, from entering Gaza with the money. After contacting the Finance Ministry, border officials accompanied Taha to a bank in nearby El-Arish to deposit the money, an official said.
Earlier, Fawzi Barhoum, spokesman for Hamas, said the group was returning to Gaza without reaching a final truce agreement.
He said the Israeli offer was unacceptable as it linked a lifting of its Gaza blockade to the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who was captured by Palestinians in June 2006.
“The issue of the lifting of the blockade should not be linked to Shalit’s fate ... There are also details on the management of the border crossings that require explanations,” he added.
— With input from agencies
