- Title: MIDDLE EAST: Israel says Gaza boat explodes in attack attempt
- Date: 14th April 2009
- Summary: CHILD ON BEACH FIXING FISHING NET
- Embargoed: 29th April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVACFQSMZYR2HTQFDZN0WOHETQG2
- Story Text: Israeli Army Chief of Staff says Gaza boat bomb plot failed.
An unmanned Palestinian fishing boat laden with explosives blew up off the coast of the Gaza Strip on Monday (April 13) in an apparent attempt to attack Israeli navy patrol in the area, Israel's military chief of staff said.
No one was hurt in the explosion, which Palestinians said could be heard miles away. Local fisherman in the Hamas-controlled territory said the Israeli ship fired at the boat as it approached, causing the enormous blast.
An elderly fisherman, Farouk Abdallah said: "I'm 60 years old now, and since I was born, I never witnessed such actions here. This is the big mistake."
The Israeli military said it had not shot at the vessel, which exploded some 600 metres from the naval patrol.
"A big explosion occurred while they (Israeli navy boats) were a few hundreds meters -- about 600-700 meters -- away from that fishing boat, that seemed to be unmanned, no men or fishermen were identified on its board.
We estimate that there were few hundred kilograms of explosives there.
"We believe this was an apparent attempted attack that to my joy, was unsuccessful. No damage was caused to any of the navy vessels," said Gabi Ashkenazi, the head of Israel's armed forces.
Ashkenazi added that the navy crew was unharmed because it followed regulations and did not approach the suspicious boat.
There was no Palestinian claim of responsibility In 2002, two militants from the Islamic Jihad blew themselves up with a boat full with explosions next to an Israeli army vessel, killing themselves and injuring four Israeli soldiers.
Israel closely monitors the coast of Gaza, it also controls all the crossings which lead in and out of the strip.
Israel has tightened its siege on Gaza since Hamas government took over the Gaza strip in 2007, from their rival Fatah which is loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, which now controls the West bank. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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