Description

Gaza's Ark, a Palestinian-built protest boat which was preparing to run Israel's naval blockade, after it was damaged in an explosion at the Gaza port, April 29, 2014. Photo by AFP


by Gaza's Ark

At 3:45 AM Gaza time, on April 29th, the night guard on board Gaza's Ark received a call to leave the boat because it was going to be attacked.

The guard left but, when nothing happened after 5 minutes, he returned. A few minutes later, a large explosion rocked the boat, causing extensive damage.

The boat sank part way and is now sitting on the shallow sea floor. The guard was not injured but was taken to a hospital for tests.

Mahfouz Kabariti, Gaza’s Ark Project Manager, says: “The extent and nature of the damage are currently being investigated. We will provide an update when available.”

"Gaza’s Ark and all our partners in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition are considering our next move in response to this cowardly act of terrorism, but our position remains clear: Neither this nor any other attack will stop our efforts to challenge the blockade of Gaza until it ends," adds David Heap of Gaza's Ark Steering Committee.

"Freedom Flotilla boats have been sabotaged before. This attack comes as we were almost ready to sail. You can sink a boat but you can't sink a movement," concludes Ehab Lotayef, another member of the Steering Committee.

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