Ógra Shinn Féin comment on Gaza flotilla attack

Ógra Shinn Féin has strongly condemned the sabotage of the MV Saorise, the Ireland based ship which joined the Gaza Freedom Flotilla.

The attack came as the Irish vessel was about to embark on its voyage to deliver aid to Gaza, which has been illegally blockaded by the Israeli state.

Ógra Shinn Féin's International Officer Daithi Byrne condemned the act of sabotage;

"The Irish aid vessel MV Saoirse was stationed in Turkish territory yesterday for refuelling when the ships crew and later engineers found that the ship had been severly sabotaged. One of the propeller shafts had a component missing from it, which was alleged to have come off perhaps from the use of plastic explosives. It would appear that one or more divers under the ship removed the component and deformed one of the propeller shafts. This would eventually have led to a 'camshaft effect' which would see the propeller shaft rip through the hull of the vessel, into the engine room. Anyone in that area of the boat would have been injured or killed and the boat would have sank - no doubt resulting in loss of life."

This is the second vessel to have been imobilised. Days ago, the exact same damage was caused to the Italian vessel. There is wide speculation that the damage was caused by the Israeli military. These attacks come after months of Israeli efforts to halt the flotilla, with pressure being mounted on governments to put a stop to the solidarity act. In May 2010, Israel exhibited its characteristical opposition to humanitarian efforts when its navy commandos absailed onto the deck of the Mavi Marmara and murdered nine Turkish activists.

Ógra Shinn Féin would like to wish the humanitarian aid activists the very best on their voyage, despite the Irish ship being unable to take part. In particullar, we would like to wish Derry Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry MacLochlainn all the best as well as Charlie Mcmenamin, John Mallon and Phil McCullough who were unable to find alternative space on the flotilla.

Sinn Féin Press Conference: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=202344943145663

Irish Ship to Gaza: http://www.irishshiptogaza.org/

Derry Friends of Palestine: http://www.derryfriendsofpalestine.org