You should really Google before making such statements - Edit 1
Before modification by SilverWarder at 07/06/2010 08:52:32 PM
i honestly can't think of a single instance where weapons came in from the water
Apparently that's because you didn't look. A five minute Google search gave me the following history. I don't know if it's exhaustive or not. It seems mostly to list the 'big ticket' items.
The most recent one is only six months ago and was carrying 320 tons of armaments. That sufficient for you?
Historically, ships bound for Gaza have carried tons of weapons among their cargo, including:
· “Francop” (2009)
In November 2009 the Israeli Navy intercepted the “Francop,” a ship containing 320 tons of arms sent from Iran and destined for Hezbollah in Lebanon.[5 Weaponry and ammunition were disguised as civilian cargo in the hundreds of containers the ship was transporting.
· “Abu Hasan” (2003)
On May 21, 2003 Israeli naval commandos intercepted a fishing boat, the Abu Hasan, sailing from Lebanon to Egypt carrying a Hezbollah explosives expert bound for Gaza. Also seized were CD discs with instructions on how to assemble bomb belts for suicide bombers, a radio-activation system for remote-control bombs and 25 detonators for Kassam rockets.
· “Karin A” (2002)
In January 2002 a ship carrying weapons intended for the Palestinian Authority was captured in the Red Sea by Israel's Navy and Air Force. The boat's cargo included 50 tons of advanced weaponry including Katyusha rockets, rifles, mortar shells, mines and a variety of anti-tank missiles. Senior figures in the Palestinian Authority were involved in the smuggling.
Ashkelon and other coastal cities would have been threatened by these Katyusha rockets if they reached Gaza.
· “Santorini” (2001)
On May 7, 2001 Israeli naval forces intercepted a Lebanese ship destined for Gaza, which contained anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank missile-launchers, RPG rockets, mortar shells, mines, rifles and guns. The shipment, some of which originated in Iran, had been loaded in Lebanon by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The Santorini and another boat, the Calypso-2, made three successful smuggling operations of which the first was in November 2000.