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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Aid ships launch mission despite Israel threats |
| 2010-05-31 |
| [Al Arabiya Latest] A six-ship convoy carrying 10,000 tons of aid for Palestinians set sail for Gaza on Sunday in defiance of an Israeli blockade on the impoverished territory and warnings that it would be intercepted. The ships, led by a Turkish vessel carrying 600 people, left a muster point in international waters off Cyprus early on Sunday. There was no estimated time for arrival in Gaza, which lies some 230 miles southeast of Cyprus. "The flotilla is together and is on the move," said Greta Berlin, spokeswoman for the Free Gaza Movement, one of the organizers. Israel has already said it will prevent the convoy from reaching Hamas-ruled Gaza. Israeli naval commandos have held drills to practice boarding and searching the ships. Activists face arrest and deportation, and their cargo will be confiscated for possible transfer by Israel to Gaza, Israeli military officials said. Berlin said Israel risked a public relations disaster if it tried to intercept the activists. "The only scenario which makes any sense is for them to stop being the bully of the Middle East and let us go through," she said. In Gaza City, dozens of Palestinian fishing boats were preparing to set sail to meet the flotilla, which is carrying hundreds of civilians and a handful of European MPs as well as dozens of Muslim activists. Audrey Bomse, another member of the Free Gaza Movement, said two vessels which had been due to join the so-called "Freedom Flotilla" had not been able to set sail after sustaining damage over the weekend, in a move which the convoy's organizers claimed was "sabotage." "Now we are thinking of sending a second wave of boats including these two and the Rachel Corrie, which is still en route" from Ireland, she said, adding that the second convoy would probably set off around Tuesday. "We're going to see how the others get on -- either they will reach Gaza or Israel will stop them and there will be a confrontation," Bomse said. The flotilla of cargo and passenger ships, which is carrying 10,000 tons of aid for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, had been due to reach Gaza on Saturday. But its departure was delayed because of technical problems affecting two of the vessels. Pro-Palestinian activists have landed in Gaza five times, with another three unsuccessful attempts since their first such voyage in August 2008. The latest is their biggest operation. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Both Israel & Egypt have offered to accept the cargo and deliver it to the Palestinians themselves. So "Free Gaza" doesn't really want to aid the people--they want the political confrontation. |
| Posted by: American Delight 2010-05-31 01:56 |
| #1 "Now we are thinking of sending a second wave of boats including these two and the Rachel Corrie, which is still en route" from Ireland, she said, adding that the second convoy would probably set off around Tuesday. Send out the INS Dozer to intercept it. |
| Posted by: gorb 2010-05-31 01:15 |