Israel must listen and respond to the clear concerns of the international community on this issue: Irish Prime Minister.

June 04, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Cargo ship Rachel Corrie MV is heading for Gaza carrying humanitarian supplies along with Malaysian and Irish passengers on board.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, ‘we shall not allow the ships to reach Gaza. Not now and not later on. We intend to direct the Rachel Corrie ship to the Ashdod Port and transfer its civilian goods to Gaza following a security check.’

The Irish Prime Minister also issued a blunt warning to Israel against harming people onboard the ship. Brian Cowen said Israel would face ‘the most serious consequences’ should its armed troops harm Irish passengers of Rachel Corrie MV. ‘Israel must listen and respond to the clear concerns of the international community on this issue. To do otherwise will only serve to reinforce the position of the extremists on both sides and jeopardize the hope of achieving some urgently needed political progress in the region, which the current proximity talks represent,’ Cowen said.

The ship is due to arrive in Gazan waters over the next few days. It had stopped at a Turkish port after Israeli secret agents allegedly carried out sabotage on some of the ships. An Israeli general was quoted as saying Israel had taken care of those ships.

There are unsubstantiated reports that Turkish warships are now escorting Rachel Corrie as it approaches Gaza. Confrontational Israelis have vowed to even challenge Turkish warships despite Turkey being a member of North Atlantic Treaty (NATO). Ankara has called for immediate lifting of Gaza blockade and an international investigation into Israeli act of piracy in international waters.