VOA标准英语2009年-Israel Intercepts Arab Boat Trying to Break Gaz

（单词翻译）

In a continuation of recent tensions, Israeli gunboats intercepted¹ a Lebanese ship trying to break the blockade on Gaza.

Speaking by cell phone from the boat, a reporter for the Arab TV station Al Jazeera said Israeli troops stormed on board and threatened the crew. She said some passengers were beaten.
　
Israeli navy vessels² escort a Lebanese boat (top) carrying aid supplies for the Gaza Strip near the port of the coastal³ Israeli city of Ashdod, 05 Feb 2009

The ship set sail from the Lebanese port of Tripoli carrying activists⁴ and 60 tons of humanitarian⁵ supplies. Passengers included a Syrian-born Catholic priest, a Muslim cleric, a lawyer and several Arab journalists.

Israeli Defense⁶ Minister Ehud Barak said the boat was first diverted to the Egyptian port of El Arish.

Barak said the boat turned around and tried to "sneak⁷" into Gaza. He said the navy intercepted the boat and towed it to the Israeli port of Ashdod.

Israel says its crippling naval⁸ blockade on Gaza is aimed at preventing weapons smuggling⁹ to the ruling Islamic militant¹⁰ group Hamas.

In recent months, Israel has allowed several boats with pro-Palestinian activists to sail into Gaza in defiance¹¹ of the blockade, saying it wanted to avoid negative publicity¹². But Israel has tightened¹³ the blockade since its 22-day offensive in Gaza ended two weeks ago.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said the boat had nothing to do with weapons smuggling.

Siniora said the same Israel that "commits massacres¹⁴ against innocent civilians¹⁵ in Lebanon and Gaza" is not ashamed to assault a ship carrying humanitarian supplies.