World Jewish News
Ashkenazi: Hundreds of kilograms of explosives found on Gaza boat
13.04.2009
IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi on Monday commended naval forces for meticulously following procedures, hours after a booby-trapped Palestinian fishing boat exploded off the Gaza coast as it headed north toward Israeli territory.
Ashkenazi said hundreds of kilograms of explosives were found on board the boat and that it appeared the vessel was meant to be used in an attack against the Navy.
The Navy spotted the boat, which it said was unmanned, and followed it for about an hour in the Monday morning incident.
When it was some 300 meters off the Gaza coast and making its way north, the boat blew up, the army said. No one was wounded.
The IDF speculated that terrorists had detonated explosives on board the boat from afar and, because of a thick fog, had failed to correctly calculate its position, missing their target, Army Radio reported.
Palestinians accused the Navy of firing a shell at the boat.
In 2002, four sailors were wounded when Palestinians detonated a fishing boat laden with explosives next to a navy patrol off the northern Gaza coast.
Two Palestinians seen on board were killed in the blast. The Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.
Источник: JPost.com
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