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CYNTHIA MCKINNEY INTERCEPTED IN ISRAEL: Former congresswoman part of peace activist group trying to break Gaza blockade.

(July 2, 2009)

*Former U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney was among foreign peace activists on a ship that was intercepted Tuesday by the Israeli navy for trying to break a blockade of Gaza.

A statement said the Greek-registered freighter Arion ignored a radio message from the Israeli military saying it would not be allowed to enter Gaza waters and ordering it to turn back, reports the Associated Press.

The statement said naval personnel boarded the small vessel without any shots being fired. The military said those on board would be handed over to immigration authorities on arrival in the southern port of Ashdod, and humanitarian cargo would be trucked into the Gaza Strip after a security check. The ship arrived at Ashdod port after nightfall.

Also among the 20 passengers onboard under the Free Gaza Movement were Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Corrigan Maguire and other activists from Britain, Ireland, Bahrain and Jamaica.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said Israel was planning to free the crew and passengers. “Nobody wants to keep them here,” he said. “They will be released as soon as they are checked.”

The Free Gaza Movement has organized five boat trips to Gaza since August 2008, defying a blockade imposed by Israel when the militant group Hamas seized control of the territory from its Palestinian rivals in June 2007.

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