Family detained by Jordanian navy
A JEWISH STUDENT has spoken of her terror after she and her family were held at gunpoint by the Jordanian navy off the coast of Israel while sailing on holiday.
Ellie Novack said she was told to “shut up and spare your tears” during the traumatic experience on Sunday, which lasted more than an hour.
Ms Novack, a fashion student, wrote on Facebook: “Without any warning we regretfully got too close to the Jordanian water and were held hostage by a group of 10 Jordanian soldiers.
“After being attached to their boat for over an hour, pleading, begging and trying to stay strong, holding back our tears, for reasons unknown they drove us back to Israeli waters, where we were saved by the IDF.”
An Israeli Defence Forces spokeswoman confirmed the family had rented a boat and sailed along the coast of Eilat.
She explained: “Following a failure to adhere to the sailing laws of the area, the family left the maritime territory of Israel and entered into that of Jordan. Shortly after, they were arrested by Jordanian security forces.
“In response, the IDF’s naval forces in the Red Sea immediately contacted Jordanian forces and within a half hour, the family was safely escorted by a navy vessel back to Israel.”
Ms Novack, from Mill Hill in northwest London, said the incident had left her feeling “so blessed and lucky to be alive. I still can’t get my head around the fact we are safe and sound back on Israeli land. “If you are ever in Eilat and rent a boat or any form of water sports,
stay close to the shore.”