Israeli Navy Seizes Weapon-Loaded Ship Headed For Gaza

 

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) made a statement declaring that they intercepted a Liberian-flagged and German-owned vessel named Victoria about 200 nautical miles off the Israeli coast in the Mediterranean on Tuesday.  The vessel was en route from Turkey to the port of Alexandria in Egypt before being boarded by the Israeli naval officials.  

 

The prime minister of Israel said that this operation was internationally approved and that they had a solid basis that there was weaponry destined for Palestinian militant use against Israel on the ship.  The weapons are reputedly considerable and descended from Iran, although the details of the seized weapons is limited, there are reports that the weapons included land-to-sea missiles that could lead to a drastically different power shift in the middle east.  It is known that 60 and 120-millimeter mortar shells, as well as two to four Chinese-made C-704 anti-ship missiles with a 35-kilometer range were seized.

 

So far, an initial search yielded 3 containers loaded with arms, and more of that cargo will be examined once the ship reaches Israel.   The IDF estimates that there are around 50 tons worth of weapons aboard the Victoria.  

 

Despite the reports from Israeli prime minister of the weapons being sent from Iran a “certain thing”, Iranian officials dismiss these allegations and that they do not confirm this in any way.  A spokesperson from the Palestinian group, Hamas, also denied that the ship’s contents were intended for their use and that Israel is  using this as propaganda to tarnish their reputation within the international community

 

Israel confirms Turkey was not affiliated in with this incident.