White House says Gaza-bound aid ship should deliver supplies in Israel to avoid confrontation

WH encourages Gaza-bound ship to dock in Israel

WASHINGTON — The White House is encouraging an Irish aid ship bound for the blockaded Gaza Strip to avoid a possible repeat confrontation with Israel and instead sail to the Israeli port of Ashdod to deliver its supplies.

The ship, the Rachel Corrie, expects to reach Gaza by late Saturday morning. But Israel has vowed to keep the ship from breaching its blockade of Gaza, which is controlled by the Islamic militant group Hamas.

National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer says the Rachel Corrie should sail to Ashdod in the interest of safety.

On Monday, Israeli troops intercepted a flotilla of aid ships that were attempting to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Eight Turks and an American were killed in the fighting.