Israeli Navy Raided Ship En Route to Gaza Strip

The Super Dvora patrol boat (Photo IDF Spokesperson)

23/4/2012 Israel Defense

The operation was carried out during routine activity. The ship was suspected of carrying weapons, but none have been found in the ship’s cargo so far

Israeli naval forces raided a ship on Sunday located approximately 260 kilometers from Israel's coast.

The ship was suspected of carrying weapons meant to reach the Gaza Strip. The naval forces that raided the ship inspected its cargo, but no weapons have been discovered so far.

The operation took place during routine naval activity. According to military sources, the ship was bearing a Liberian flag. Fighters from Shayetet 13, the Israeli Navy’s commando unit, were among the participating forces.

Officials commenting on the raid said so far "nothing outstanding has been found" on the ship, and declined to provide details, saying that the interception was a "routine protection of our territorial waters."

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit issued a statement saying, "In the framework of the Navy's routine activity aimed at preventing smuggling, a naval force stopped the Liberian-flagged cargo ship 'Beethoven' some 160 miles off Israel's coast. The search is being conducted with the captain's authorization. If no suspicious items are found, the ship will continue on its way.

"The IDF and security forces will continue to act relentlessly in the fight against the terror organizations' efforts to arm themselves with the aim of harming Israeli civilians," the statement read.

In March 2011, the Israeli Navy took control of the “Victoria,” a ship which was hauling weapons intended for the Palestinian terror organizations in Gaza. Containers with numerous weapons were found onboard the ship, which also sailed under a Liberian flag.

In November 2009, Navy forces took control of the “Francop,” which was on its way from Iran to Syria with more than 40 tons of weapons, including rockets and small arms, which were intended to reach Hezbollah.