Thursday, April 3, 2014

Malaysian Ship MV Finch Runs Gaza Blockade

Malaysian Ship MV Finch Runs Gaza Blockade

May 11, 2011 Malaysian Ship MV Finch, dubbed Spirit of Rachael Corrie was an aid ship carrying

carrying 7.5 kilometers of UPVC (plastic) sewage pipes to help restore the devastated sewerage system in Gaza.

had reached Palestinian territorial waters and was just 400 meters from land when it came under attack by the Israeli Navy. After coming under gunfire from the Israeli Navy, the boat was forced to divert to Egyptian waters; and later on the same day, anchored off El Arish Port where it remained for the last 7 days waiting for permission to dock.


The mission leader was Matthias Chang.

“The Palestinian struggle is nothing more than a struggle for justice, to which they, as much as everyone else, have a right.” Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, President of PGPF.


The vessel left the Port of Piraeus, Greece on Wednesday, May 11 carrying 7.5 kilometers of UPVC (plastic) sewage pipes to help restore the devastated sewerage system in Gaza.

On Monday 16 May, the boat had reached Palestinian territorial waters and was just 400 meters from land when it came under attack by the Israeli Navy. After coming under gunfire from the Israeli Navy, the boat was forced to divert to Egyptian waters; and later on the same day, anchored off El Arish Port where it remained for the last 7 days waiting for permission to dock.


the Malaysian ship in 2011, MV Finch carrying humanitarian aid
to Gaza penetrated the infamous security zone surrounding the Gaza port and
reached approximately four hundred meters from the shores of Gaza before the
Israeli navy and commandos detected our presence and attacked our ship. None
of their so-called sophisticated radar and other surveillance equipment (air and
sea) detected our presence until we almost reached the shores of Gaza.


  1. MV Finch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Finch

    Wikipedia
    The MV Finch, also known as the Spirit of Rachel Corrie, was an aid ship staffed ... and Canada attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza in May 2011 ahead of the ...
  2. MV Finch in berth and cargo discharged | Irish in gaza

    irishingaza.wordpress.com/.../mv-finch-in-berth-and-cargo-discharged/

    Jul 6, 2011 - Press Release by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad Published: July 6, 2011 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 6, 2011 ...
  3. PRESS RELEASE: MV Finch To Make Another Attempt To Enter Gaza

    www.perdana4peace.org/.../press-release-mv-finch-to-make-another-atte...

    May 24, 2011 - PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE We have been informed by the Spirit of Rachel Corrie (registered MV Finch) of its intention to lift ...

  4. PRESS RELEASE: MV FINCH to make Another Attempt to Enter Gaza

    PRESS RELEASE

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    We have been informed by the Spirit of Rachel Corrie (registered MV Finch) of its intention to lift anchor and to once again attempt to enter Palestinian territorial waters with the intention of delivering its cargo directly to Gaza.

    Despite our continuous communication with Egyptian authorities at the highest level and our efforts to negotiate the docking of our vessel at El Arish, we are deeply saddened by the lack of cooperation received. All those on board were extremely concerned by the delay (of 7 days) in processing matters at El Arish and decided to lift anchor and once again head for Palestinian territorial waters. The Spirit of Rachel Corrie is currently being forced by the Egyptian navy to leave its territorial waters; our vessel is currently directed towards international waters.

    Perdana Global Peace Foundation PGPF supports the unanimous decision of all those on the vessel and admires the courage and determination of all those on board.  Spirit of Rachel Corrie has been at sea for the past 12 days and will now again attempt to break the illegal Israeli siege of the Gaza Strip.

    The vessel left the Port of Piraeus, Greece on Wednesday, May 11 carrying 7.5 kilometers of UPVC (plastic) sewage pipes to help restore the devastated sewerage system in Gaza.

    On Monday 16 May, the boat had reached Palestinian territorial waters and was just 400 meters from land when it came under attack by the Israeli Navy. After coming under gunfire from the Israeli Navy, the boat was forced to divert to Egyptian waters; and later on the same day, anchored off El Arish Port where it remained for the last 7 days waiting for permission to dock.

    The humanitarian initiative is sponsored by Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) and participating in this mission includes anti-war activists and journalists, consisting of 7 Malaysians, 2 Irish, 2 Indians and 1 Canadian.


    Gaza harbor from above. Image Credit: Mohammed Omer
    ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
    TRANSMISSION BY MATTHIAS CHANG ON BOARD THE SHIP ‘THE SPIRIT OF RACHEL CORRIE’
    23/5/2011 – 24/5/11: From Matthias Chang,
    Mission Leader Onboard The Spirit of Rachel Corrie – Mission to Gaza
    1:00 pm KL (24/5/11) Egypt time 7:00 am (24/5/11)
    Our water supply is totally finished. We are now using sea water to clean ourselves, flush toilet, and wash dishes. We are only using half a bottle of mineral water for final cleansing of cooking utensils, after boiling it to get rid of the oil and dirt. Each member of the crew and passenger must get their own pail of sea water each time they use the toilet and to flush it. We are now rationing our drinking water supply which consists of limited bottles of mineral water. However, the spirit and morale of the team is high and we are resolute to face all eventualities and to defeat and overcome any schemes that may prevent the cargo from reaching Gaza.
    9:42 am KL (24/5/11) Egypt time 3:42 am (24/5/11):
    We are back at the port’s waiting area with a broken steering. The team’s spirit is high and resolute. We have surmounted many difficulties and sabotage and came through. The team, led by the team leader, have upheld their dignity and the justice of their cause by standing up to the futile attempt to humiliate them by unreasonable detention of their ship, crew, and passengers for 7 days. They even forced us to sail towards international waters – away from the shortest route to Gaza – and towards the Israeli naval ships waiting to capture and or shoot us down as we discovered later. By the Grace of God, we were saved from this insidious scheme and remain victorious.
    12:04am KL (24/5/11), Egypt 6:04pm (23/5/11):
    We are now 7 miles away from the El-Arish Port but still 5 miles short to get out of the 12 miles Egyptian territorial waters. The ship’s aqua pilot sailing system has broken down and our ship is spinning, going in circles, and turning round and round. We are therefore unable to get out of the Egyptian territorial waters.
    We have called for assistance from the Port, as under international law, if the ship has no steering system or a defective one, the Port has to bring a tug boat to take the ship back to the Port. Otherwise, it is very dangerous for the passengers.
    9:53pm KL (23/5/11), Egypt 3:53pm (23/5/11):
    The Egyptian Navy is forcing us out of their territorial waters and has asked us to go to international waters. One Egyptian patrol boat is coming very fast from behind with a gun pointing at us. They do not allow the ship to go to Gaza via Egyptian territorial waters. Everyone is calm and steady. We are okay.
    About PGPF
    The Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF), formerly Perdana Global Peace Organisation (PGPO),  is a first but resolute step in the arduous journey towards global peace, moves towards the single goal of putting an end to war. Its founder, YABhg Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, envisages “a serious, active and sustained struggle against war and for peace”. Sharing and supporting this agenda are world-prominent professionals, intellectuals, authors, statesmen – all passionate advocates of international peace. Together, they have signed the Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Criminalise War.

    “The Palestinian struggle is nothing more than a struggle for justice, to which they, as much as everyone else, have a right.” Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, President of PGPF.

    Previous updates:
    Press Release:
  5. MV Finch: Three Malaysians On Gaza Aid Mission Arrive Home ...

    https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/.../mv-finch-three-malaysians-o...

    Jun 1, 2011 - KUALA LUMPUR, June 1 (Bernama) — Three of the six Malaysians who were onboard the MV Finch to send humanitarian aid to Gaza, arrived ...
  6. MV Finch still waiting to come to shore | Free Malaysia Today

    www.freemalaysiatoday.com/.../mv-finch-still-waiti...

    Free Malaysia Today
    May 18, 2011 - ... been two days since Malaysian humanitarian aid ship MV Finchanchored ... siege of the Gaza coast in an effort to deliver aid to Palestinians.
  7. Tag Archive for "MV Finch" - PERDANA MAGAZINE ONLINE

    www.perdana.org.my/emagazine/tag/mv-finch/

    Jun 6, 2011 - SEPANG, June 4 (Bernama) — Israel should actually support the mission to send humanitarian aid of 7.5km PVC pipes to Gaza as it will benefit ...

    More images for mv finch gaza


  8. Kapal Kemanusiaan untuk Gaza (MV Finch) Diserang - YouTube

    www.youtube.com/watch?v...

    YouTube
    Mar 14, 2012 - Uploaded by Radzi Muhd
    Humanitarian Ship, MV Finch (The Spirit of Rachel Corrie) attack by Israeli Navy.
  9. Egypt may help MV Finch ( Spirit of Rachel Corrie ) dock | Occupied ...

    occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/.../egypt-may-help-mv-finch-spirit-of-...

    May 24, 2011 - Occupied Palestine | فلسطين Blogging 4 Human Rights & Liberation ofPalestine! ... Egypt may help MV Finch ( Spirit of Rachel Corrie ) dock.
  10. Journalists Recall Experience When Israeli Fired At MV Finch ...

    occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/.../journalists-recall-experience-when-i...

    Jun 1, 2011 - SEPANG, June 1 (Bernama) — Two journalists who were on board the Malaysian aid ship, MV Finch, on the humanitarian mission to Palestine ...
  11. PRESS RELEASE: MV FINCH To Make Another Attempt To Enter ...

    freedomflotillanews.wordpress.com/.../press-release-mv-finch-to-make-a...

    PRESS RELEASE: MV FINCH To Make Another Attempt To Enter Gaza. May 23, 2011 Leave a comment. Published: May 24, 2011. PRESS RELEASE: MV ...

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