Exclusive: Video From Gaza Flotilla as Israeli Navy Prepared to Intercept Boats

Exclusive: Video From Gaza Flotilla as Israeli Navy Prepared to Intercept Boats
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Watch the Democracy Now! exclusive report from the "Freedom Waves to Gaza" flotilla this morning, shortly before the Israeli Navy intercepted the two ships attempting to reach the Gaza coast.

Just when Democracy Now! went on the air today at 8 a.m. EDT, we lost contact with our correspondent Jihan Hafiz, who has been aboard the "Tahrir" since the flotilla quietly left Turkey this Wednesday. Latest reports are that they Canadian and Irish ships have been boarded and commandeered by the Israeli Navy when they were about 35 nautical miles away from their destination in Gaza. All the passengers and journalists are now in Israeli custody.

Prior to losing contact, we received two exclusive video reports from aboard the "Tahrir," the Canadian ship. Speaking to Hafiz last night, passenger Ehab Lotayef said, "We are approaching the 100-nautical-mile point away from Gaza, which is usually the point where Israel declares -- starts the blockade ... Will they try to come and board us? All these questions are now at the moment of truth. The major preparation we did is to prepare that we don't want anybody to act in any violent way or in any way that can even induce violence by the Israelis."

Click here to read the complete transcript.

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