Corrie crew: We are, for sure, on our way to Gaza

Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies - The remaining aid ships, including the Challenger II and the MV Rachel Corrie have been reported to be lost at sea, bound for Gaza and set to return to their home ports by various news agencies around the globe.

An afternoon statement by Free Gaza organizers, however, quashed the statements, saying "There are many rumors out there started by Israeli authorities, but there is no way we are going to Ashdod. We are, for sure, on our way to Gaza."

As the world outcry continues over the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla on Monday that resulted in the deaths of an unknown number of activists, with reports from one organizer that at least four were shot in the head, little appears certain over the plans of the remaining ships delayed from the initial flotilla.

The latest from the Free Gaza team says the the MV Rachel Corrie "is 150 miles away from Gaza in international waters and on her way," adding that the ship is expected to arrive on Saturday morning, with some 1,200 tons of cargo.

Singapore's Straits Times quoted Free Gaza organizer Audrey Bomse as saying "[t]the situation is we lost all contact with the boat. We assume this was sabotage by the Israelis," while Israeli media is reporting that the MV Corrie is heading back to Ireland, for reasons as diverse as instructions from organizers to agreements with Israel that the ship not continue toward Gaza.

According to the Free Gaza statement, however, the communications equipment on board is at times unreliable. Organizers quoted the crew as saying "Communication is difficult and sometimes impossible."

Al-Jazeera spoke with officials in Malaysia, who funded the Irish-flagged boat, where the nation's government reportedly urged Israel "not to take any action that could harm people aboard."

According to the Irish Examiner, officials in the country have appealed to the UN to ensure that the boat reaches Gaza shores safely, with calls coming directly from former UN assistant secretary general Denis Halliday, who is on board the ship.

Halliday reportedly sent in requests for a UN escort, while rumors continue to circle that Turkey may in fact volunteer naval craft to accompany the ships.

Head of the government of Ireland, Taoiseach Brian Cowen, was said by the Times to have warned the Israeli military of "the most serious consequences" if any of the five Irish citizens on board was injured.

Tags:

siege

flotilla

blockade

gaza