Free Gaza Boats to Set Sail from Cyprus to Gaza Thursday Midnight to Break the Israeli Siege

Free Gaza boats to set sail Thursday midnight

Date: 21 / 08 / 2008 Time: 16:56
Bethlehem – Ma'an –

The Free Gaza boat has been given safety clearance from Cyprus and plans to set sail to Gaza before midnight on Thursday.

Thomas Nelson, a 64-year-old lawyer from Oregon, who is affiliated with the Free Gaza movement, said the group expects the Israeli navy to intercept the boats and arrest those onboard. He added that the group indents to resist arrest without using violence.

Earlier press reports indicated that the Israeli Navy had the right to use force against the group, and that the army felt allowing a ship to reach Gaza would set a "dangerous precedent."

Spokespeople from the Free Gaza movement sent a statement saying that Israeli officials recognized the group as a humanitarian mission, but had also told them that they should not enter Gaza waters. According to the group, they were asked to give their medical supplies over to the Israeli army, who would deliver them on their behalf.

Spokesperson for the Israeli occupation government foreign ministry, Arye Mekel, refused to tell the group or its supporters what the Israeli Navy response would be if the Free Gaza ship does enter Gaza waters.

If Israel "kidnaps activists in international waters," Nelson said, members of the National Lawyers guild in the United States will "file legal action against Israel in an appropriate legal forum."

A statement released by supporters of the Free Gaza ship said that the boat plans to set sail Thursday night, and reach the Gaza port approximately 30 hours after departing Cyprus.

Israel will pay high public relations price if Free Gaza ships are halted

Date: 21 / 08 / 2008 Time: 13:43
Gaza – Ma'an –

If the Israeli occupation government stops the Free Gaza boats from docking in the Gaza City port it will pay a high public relations price.

These comments came after a warning was issued by Israeli officials warning the organizers of the Free Gaza ships against sailing into the regional waters of the Gaza Strip. The warning recommended that organizers hand over medical relief cargo and other aid material to representatives from the Israeli army, who will deliver them to the residents of Gaza.

Rami Abdu, Spokesperson for the Popular Committee Against the Siege in Gaza, responded to the Israeli statement on Wednesday explaining that since international media are covering every the meter of the journey of the ships from Cyprus to Gaza, any Israeli intervention will not go unnoticed.

The offer of the Israeli army to deliver the medical supplies to Gaza, said Abdu, "is aiming at turning around the main objective of those who are on the two ships."

"If Israel was serious [about giving adequate medical supplies to Gaza] it would allow the dozens of trucks loaded with aid that are waiting at the crossings of the Gaza Strip [to deliver their supplies]." He added that the organizers of the journey of the two ships are determined to reach Gaza in order to symbolically bake the siege and open the way for more supplies to come to Gaza by sea, and put the port back in the control of the Palestinians.

'Free Gaza' boats set sail from Cyprus to Gaza

Thursday August 21, 2008 10:58 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Despite Israeli objections and attempts to intervene, Cyprian authorities have given the go-ahead for two boats filled with humanitarian supplies and 60 international activists to set sail tomorrow for the Gaza Strip. The boats took off at midnight Thursday morning.

Peace activist and children on the deck of the 'Free gaza' boat

The 'Free Gaza' movement has been collecting money and supplies since last year to allow the unprecedented blockade-breaking trip to move forward. As the sixty activists gathered in Cyprus two weeks ago, the Israeli government issued statements indicating that the Israeli navy would shoot the boats if they tried to bring the humanitarian aid to Gaza.

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