Gaza Flotilla Organizers Report 2nd Damaged Boat

The Washington Post reports:

Organizers of a flotilla seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip said Thursday that another of their boats had been damaged in port, and accused Israel of sabotage.

It was the second boat reported damaged in recent days, setting back plans by the pro-Palestinian activists to sail this week.

Fintan Lane, coordinator of a boat that was to carry Irish activists, said the propeller shaft of the vessel had been damaged when it was at a marina in Gocek, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. He said a gash in the shaft appeared to have been caused by cutting equipment or a small explosive charge.

“There’s no way this could have happened accidentally,” Lane said by telephone from Turkey. “I think Israel was behind it. No one else has an interest in sabotaging our boat.”