Arms Ships Intercepted by Israeli Navy

The Victoria, intercepted today loaded with Iranian weapons bound for Gaza (Not food, not construction supplies, not school supplies. Weapons.) was not the first ship smuggling arms that has been intercepted by Israel.

From the Israel Project

Arms Ships Intercepted by Israeli Navy

15 March 2011: The Liberian-flagged Victoria is intercepted 200 miles west of Israel’s coast, sailing from Turkey with a listed destination as Alexandria, Egypt. The vessel is found to be carrying an assortment of weaponry most likely destined for Gaza-based terror groups.[1]

22 January 2011: An Iranian Alvand-class warship and an accompanying Kharg-class supply vessel pass through the Suez Canal on their way to naval exercises with Syria.[2]

24 March 2010: The U.S. Air Force conducts air-strikes against an arms-smuggling convoy carrying weapons destined for Gaza near the Egyptian city of Port Sudan. The weapons were to be funneled through Sudan and the Sinai and delivered through tunnels to Gaza recipients.[3]

4 November 2009: The German-owned, Cypriot-operated Francop is intercepted by the Israeli Navy off the coast of Cyprus. Found to be carrying over 300 tons of weapons, it had set out 10-days prior from Bandar Abbas in Iran.[4]

October 2009: The Hansa India, sailing from Iran under a Germany flag, was set to disembark in Egypt. German authorities warned that the vessel did not unload and instead sailed to Malta where it was seized. It was carrying bullets and industrial material for weapons production intended for Syria.[5]

4 January 2002: 50 tons of weapons destined for the Palestinian Authority aboard the Karine-A. The ship was purchased by the Palestinian Authority, loaded with weapons by Iran and Hezbollah, manned by Palestinian Authority personnel, with the aim of transferring the weapons it carried to the Palestinian Naval Police near the Gaza beaches.[6]

6 May 2001: Over $10 million worth of weaponry is discovered aboard the Santorini, with an investigation showing it was destined for Ahmad Jibril’s Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command. Departing from Libya, carefully sealed and waterproofed barrels of weapons and ammunition were to be unloaded off the Gaza coast at pre-arranged locations.[7]



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[1] IDF Spokesperson. Israel Navy Uncovers Weaponry on-board Cargo Vessel. Jerusalem: IDF Spokesperson, March 15, 2011.

[2] Shmulovich, Michal. "Iranian Ships Pass through Suez; First Time Since 1979." The Israel Project. February 22, 2011. http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=hsJPK0PIJpH&b=689705&ct=9135047 (accessed March 15, 2011).

[3] Sudan tribune Staff. "US staged deadly air strike against arm smugglers inside Sudan: Official." The Sudan Tribune. March 25, 2009. http://www.sudantribune.com/US-staged-deadly-air-strike,30633 (accessed 15 2011, 2011).

[4] Pfeffer, Anshel. "Israel seizes ship in Mediterranean carrying more than 3,000 rockets." Haaretz. May 11, 2009. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-seizes-ship-in-mediterranean-carrying-more-than-3-000-rockets-1.4742 (accessed March 15, 2011).

[5] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Israel’s interception of arms ships – background.” March 15, 2011. The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/terrorism- %20obstacle%20to%20peace/terrorism%20and%20islamic%20fundamentalism-/Israel_interception_arms_ships-Background.

[6] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "Seizing of the Palestinian weapons ship Karine A." The Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. January 4, 2002. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2002/Seizing%20of%20the%20Palestinian%20weapons%20ship%20Karine%20A%20- (accessed March 15, 2011).

[7] Primak, Noam. "Weapons Found on 'Karine-A' and 'Santorini'." War Online. July 20, 2002. http://www.waronline.org/en/analysis/pal_weapons.htm#santorini (accessed March 15, 2011).