Raw Story
A boat carry former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was struck by an Israeli patrol boat according to reports from witnesses and Israeli officials.
CNN reported, “CNN Correspondent Karl Penhaul was aboard the 60-foot, Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat Dignity when the contact occurred. In a radio message, the Israelis accused the vessel of being involved in terrorist activity, its captain said.”CNN’s John Roberts talked to McKinney about the experience. “I would call it ramming,” she explained.
The boat “Dignity” was apparently trying to deliver much needed medical supplies to Gaza City. Israel is saying that they never struck the boat. Photos of the damage would suggest otherwise.. How fortunate that “Dignity” happened to have that CNN correspondent on board to back up what really happened.
From CNN:
CNN correspondent Karl Penhaul was aboard the 60-foot, Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat Dignity when the contact occurred. When the boat later docked in the Lebanese port city of Tyre, severe damage was visible to the forward port side of the boat, and the front left window and part of the roof had collapsed.
The Dignity was carrying crew and 16 passengers — physicians from Britain, Germany and Cyprus and human rights activists, including former U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney — who were trying to reach Gaza through an Israeli blockade of the territory.
The captain of the Dignity said the Israelis broadcast a radio message accusing the vessel of being involved in terrorist activity. But Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor denied that and said the radio message simply warned the vessel not to proceed to Gaza because it is a closed military area. [..]
[..] [CNN correspondent Karl] Penhaul said at least two Israeli patrol boats had shadowed the Dignity for about half an hour before the collision, moving around the vessel on all sides. One of the patrol boats then shined its spotlight on the Dignity while the other, with its lights off, “very severely rammed” the boat.
The captain of the Dignity told Penhaul he received no prior warning. Only after the collision did the Israelis come on the radio to say they struck the boat because they believed it was involved in terrorist activities. More..
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