This press release is followed immediately after by minute-to-minute updates, prior to the attack, from Matthias Chang, Mission Leader onboard the Spirit of Rachel Corrie.
The Spirit of Rachel Corrie was carrying 7.5 kilometres of PVC pipe meant to help repair Gaza's sewer system.
According to other news agencies, no one aboard the ship has been injured.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
16 May 2011 (Wednesday)
The Spirit of Rachel Corrie Mission, involving a Malaysian owned ship carrying aid for Palestine, has been intercepted and attacked by the Israeli naval forces in the Palestinian security zone this morning at 0654 Jordan time. Currently the ship has been forced to anchor in the Egyptian waters at one and a half nautical miles from the Gazan waters.
The vessel left the Port of Piraeus, Greece on Wednesday, May 11 carrying 7.5 kilometers of UPVC (plastic) sewage pipes to help restore the devastated sewerage system in Gaza.
The humanitarian initiative is sponsored by Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) and participating in this mission includes anti-war activists and journalists, consisting of 7 Malaysians, 2 Irish, 2 Indians and 1 Canadian
About PGPF
The Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF), formerly Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO), is a first but resolute step in the arduous journey towards global peace, moves towards the single goal of putting an end to war. Its founder, YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, envisages “a serious, active and sustained struggle against war and for peace”. Sharing and supporting this agenda are world-prominent professionals, intellectuals, authors, statesmen – all passionate advocates of international peace. Together, they have signed the Kuala Lumpur Initiative that defines the Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Criminalise War.
"The Palestinian struggle is nothing more than a struggle for justice, to which they, as much as everyone else, have a right." Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, President of PGPF.
Tan Sri Norian Mai – PGPF Chairman
T(O) +603 2092 7248
Tan Sri Dr Samsudin Hitam – PGPF (Jordan)
HP +6 012 528 3414
Tan Sri Abdul Halil Abdul Mutalif – PGPF (Malaysia)
T(O) +603 2092 7248
Dr Zulaiha Ismail – PGPF (Malaysia)
T(O) +603 2092 7248
Alan Lonergan – Representative (European Media)
HP +962 7941 2169
Visit our website at www.perdana4peace.org
16/5/2011
From Matthias Chang, Mission Leader Onboard The Spirit of Rachel Corrie - Mission to Gaza
10:54am KL, Gaza 5:54am:
We have been intercepted by Israeli ship and Egyptian ship.
We are disobeying the orders and sailing ahead to Gaza.
10:57am KL, Gaza 5:57am:
One Israeli warship coming to us very fast!
We are in international waters, therefore they have no right to attack us.
We are still sailing ahead.
10:59am KL, Gaza 5:59am:
They are opening fire across our ship!
We are still sailing ahead.
11:09am KL, Gaza 6:09am:
They are shooting all over the place.
We can't continue ...
11:35am KL, Gaza 6:35am:
They circled our ship twice and fired across our ship. Machine guns.
No one was injured.
One of the fishing nets caught the propeller, so we can't move now.
11:37am KL, Gaza 6:37am (Derek Graham):
The Israeli ship was coming from one end and the Egyptian ship was coming from another end.
Firing.
We are just stalled now.
Everybody is okay.
No one is injured.
From The Office of Matthias Chang