Organisers 'lose contact' with Gaza aid boat

[EFerrari]

AFP Patrick Mose

Organisers of the Gaza flotilla said they lost contact with the Gaza-bound MV Rachel Corrie on Friday just as they are seeking to delay the latest bid to bust the embargo with an aid-laden ship.

The ship had been on course for arrival in the Palestinian enclave on Saturday, just five days after Israeli commandos killed nine activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in a botched raid that plunged Israel into a diplomatic crisis.

"The situation is we lost all contact with the boat. We assume this was sabotage by the Israelis," said Audrey Bomse of the Free Gaza Movement.

It was now unclear whether the Irish and Malaysian activists aboard the ship would turn around or steam on towards the Hamas-run Gaza which is under a crippling blockade Israel says aims at halting Palestinian rocket fire.

Monday's raid sparked worldwide outrage with more massive protests expected on Friday, particularly after weekly prayers in Muslim countries.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20100604/twl-organisers-lose-contact-with-gaza-ai-3cd7efd.html

[aquart]

1. Gosh, I hope it was sabotage by the Israelis.

I'd like to believe they still maintain a minimum of competence.

And don't you love the way she's shocked! shocked! that there's gambling in Rick's?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. The sabotage meme has come up on some of the other ships too

No follow up of course, and one must consider the source and Occam's Razor

As for the vessel in question in had not been properly maintained for years. That it is having problems should surprise no one, especially electrical ones.

The other possibility is RF jamming which the IDF is quite capable of doing. If that was going to be employed, we would have seen it earlier this week.

[demoleft]

2. "Rachel Corrie on Her Way" states freegaza press release

"The passengers on board the ship have stated, “Communication is difficult and sometimes impossible and there are many rumors out there started by Israeli authorities, but there is no way we are going to Ashdod. We are, for sure, on our way to Gaza.”"
http://www.freegaza.org/en/home/press-releases/1204-rac...

this is from the haaretz:

10:54 Palestinian news agency: 'Rachel Corrie' ship still scheduled to arrive in Gaza (Haaretz)
http://www.haaretz.com/misc/breaking-news

[hayu_lol]

4. I sort of wonder at the kind/type/make of radio gear...

the 'Corrie' has on board. Jessica Watson, the 16 year old who just sailed a boat around the world never had any problems with her radio gear including picture transmission.

If this is stuff that came with the ship, it could be so antiquated and low-powered that it just can't get out.

If they are using old antennas, that could be part of the problem. Or, even faulty cables from the transceiver to and from the antennas. Lots of possible problems in this area.

Even if they can't send radio traffic out, the Corrie ought to be able to receive whatever is broadcast to them. I seriously doubt that any sort of jamming aircraft are circling the ship in it's present position. Any jamming would immediately be reported by any other ships in the general area...and we have had no jamming reports.

Wonder if they did a radio check before leaving port?

Has anyone picked up any details on the radios being used?