The ship was due to Sail to Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla II this week. The damage is extensive and the ship is now unsafe to sail. The propeller shaft of the ship has been severely damaged and had this not been discovered before the ship set sail it would have seriously endangered the lives of the 25 crew and passengers on board.
Jim Roche, steering committee member and passenger on board has this morning confirmed that the damage was definitely sabotage. He will be returning to Dublin today together with the majority of the other passengers. Six of the passengers will still travel as part of the flotilla on another ship. All passengers are safe despite this malicious act of violence against the Irish vessel (which is Sovereign Irish Territory).
Further details as well as photographs of the damage will be released later today after a press conference held in Buswell’s hotel.
The IAWM are supporting a protest called by the ISPC to take place at 6pm, this evening Thursday 30 June at the Spire on O’Connell Street, Dublin. We will march to the Israeli embassy.