Israel's navy attacks Lebanese aid ship bound for Gaza

Date: 05 / 02 / 2009  Time:  09:53
Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Two Israeli terrorist pirate warships assaulted then intercepted a Lebanese ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza late on Wednesday and redirected the vessel to Ashdod Thursday morning, according to journalists on board the vessel.

Israeli pirate terrorist troops attacked the Lebanese ship as it entered Gaza waters, firing on the ship and crew and blocking passage into the coastal area.

The ship was reportedly directed by Israeli authorities to divert its course and land in Egypt’s Al-Arish port 40kms south of Gaza, but circled in territorial waters and made a second attempt to enter the besieged area.

When the ship attempted its second entry it was boarded by Israeli naval officers who beat pointed weapons at crew members and passengers.

"They are pointing guns against us. They are kicking us and beating us. They are threatening our lives," said Salam Khoder, an Al-Jazeera correspondent on board.

According to an Israeli military spokesperson, Israeli sailors boarded the ship after it said it would divert course to Egypt, then turned toward Gaza. The Israeli navy has denied firing shots.

"The boat crew will be taken for questioning by the Israeli police, and any humanitarian goods found on the boat will be transferred to the Gaza Strip," the military said.

Co-organizer of the voyage Dr Hani Suleiman assured that the boat had been inspected by Cypriot customs authorities and was cleared for sail. The boat, named the Brotherhood, contained 50 tons of medical and humanitarian aid.

On board the vessel were nine people, including the former Greek-Catholic archbishop of Jerusalem, Monsignor Hilarion Capucci, a notable named Dahoud Mustafa along with journalists Ogarit Dandash and Salam Khader, Muhammad Aleiq and Mazen Majed, and an Irish activist with the Free Gaza movement.

The ship is the tenth such mission where aid groups or government-sponsored vessels attempted to break the Israeli imposed siege on Gaza. The first three missions, organized by the Free Gaza Movement, were successful, though all attempts after the 8 November docking were blocked by Israel naval vessels, diplomatic actions or Israeli police.


***Updated 14:13 Bethlehem time

EU, UN: Israeli border closure hampering Gaza aid effort

Date: 05 / 02 / 2009  Time:  12:37
Gaza – Ma’an –

High-ranking UN and EU officers will meet on Friday to reiterate calls for Israel to fully open Gaza’s border crossings to allow the passage of humanitarian aid.

According to UNRWA, the UN’s relief agency for Palestinian refugees, “Currently, the number of trucks allowed by Israel to enter Gaza daily to deliver much-needed relief supplies remains insufficient and only a limited array of items are being permitted to enter through the crossings.”

“This is hampering efforts to restore basic social services in Gaza and repair critical infrastructure,” the agency said.

Filippo Grandi, UNRWA’s Deputy Commissioner General and Christian Berger, the European Commission Representative in Jerusalem, are also meeting to sign a 66 million Euro donation from the EU to UNRWA.

On Thursday morning, Israel opened the Kerem Shalom border crossing to allow 121 trucks through, according to Raed Fattouh, a Palestinian border official in Gaza.

Fattouh told Ma’an that a total of 121 trucks were allowed through, including 81 of humanitarian aid, 30 for the private sector, and 10 trucks for the Ministry of Agriculture and the fertilized eggs and fruit.

Israel has also promised to allow EU-supplied industrial fuel for the Gaza power plant, as well as cooking gas, through the Nahal Oz terminal, Fattouh said, although Gaza officials are still waiting for the terminal to open.

Fattuh noted that the Karni crossing was closed for technical reasons not disclosed by the Israeli side