Testimony: Aboard the 'Jewish boat to Gaza'

Ma'an - The following is an excerpt from the written testimony of Glyn Secker, captain of the Irene, the latest boat to attempt the breaking of Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.

... There then developed a sight which will remain with me for the rest of my life – with the frigate in the background, two gunboats, two landing craft and four high powered ribs spread out in a semi-circle speeding towards us at perhaps 35 knots, with their bow waves and wakes flashing in the sunshine. It was surreal, it was like an action movie, and entranced by the sight I had to remind myself this was actually happening – this overwhelming force for a 9.7 meter 40-year-old boat, the majority of its Jewish occupants over 60 years old, with no weapons and a publicized policy of passive resistance.

On the opposite side of the cockpit Yonatan Shapira [a former officer in the Israeli Air Force] and his brother Itamar had been identified by the naval commander in charge. He sought to separate them from the others. Yonatan clasped Rami in a hug to prevent himself being removed. The senior officer then moved one side Yonatan’s lifejacket covering his left breast, placed a Tazer gun in contact with his clothing and fired it directly into his heart. more