Free Republic

According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, the Madleen was redirected to the Israeli port of Ashdod, and the passengers would be returned to their countries of origin. The ministry released a video showing the activists wearing life vests and receiving food and water. In a statement posted online, it described the ship as a "selfie yacht" and said the aid would be transferred to Gaza through established procedures. The civilian vessel, named Madleen and operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), was stopped in international waters. The Israeli military stated that the interception was part of enforcement measures related to its...

An Iranian warship has embarked on a mission in oceanic waters, Iran’s state media reported, in the wake of a warning by Houthi rebels that they could renew their attacks on vessels transiting the region. The aircraft carrier Shahid Mahdavi, operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has reached southern hemisphere waters, the semi-official Fars news agency reported, without specifying its exact location

Richard Gere on Friday boarded a Spanish humanitarian ship that has been stuck in the Mediterranean Sea for more than a week because no European government will welcome the 121 migrants who are aboard. In a bid to draw attention to the standoff, Gere boarded the Open Arms some 27 nautical miles off Lampedusa, Italy’s southernmost island. The vessel, which faces a fine of up to 1 million euros if it enters Italian waters, has been idle for eight days. The “Pretty Woman” actor helped bring food and supplies to the boat and asked for support for the ship, whose...

ITALY’S Salvini calls NGO illegal alien ‘rescue’ boat a “pirate ship” and denies it permission to land Italy’s Interior Minister/Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has called a Netherlands-registered German NGO boat a “pirate ship,” stating the 43 rescued African (mainly) Muslim illegal alien migrant wannabes aboard should instead be taken to The Netherlands or to Germany. They will never be allowed to dock in Italy. Newsweek NGO Sea-Watch is challenging Italy’s refusal to allow its Sea-Watch 3 boat entry to its territorial waters or to dock at the port in Lampedusa, an Italian island in the Mediterranean around 160 miles...