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Libyan aid ship turned away by Israel from Gaza
(AKI) - Israeli warships on Monday turned away a Libyan ship carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza residents on Monday, forcing it to dock instead at the Egyptian port of Al-Arish. Israeli naval authorities stopped the Libyan vessel Al-Marwa, and ordered it to turn back, said Israel's Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor, quoted by Israeli daily Haaretz.The Libyan ship was the first aid vessel sent by an Arab government to Gaza and was carrying 3,000 tonnes of food supplies, as well as Palestinian and international peace activists. Libya immediately condemned Israel for preventing the boat from reaching Gaza. According to Libya's official news agency Jana, quoted by Israeli TV Infolive, Libya claimed that a submarine, a fighter jet and two vessels were sent to force the boat to turn around. Israel claims the blockade, imposed after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip, is to counter indiscriminate rocket attacks on Israeli cities by Palestinian militants. Posted by: Fred 2008-12-02 |
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