’Israel’ to Block Gaza Flotilla

Local Editor

A flotilla with Pro-Palestinian activists on board is on its way to the Gaza strip. According to Zionist Channel 2 news Sunday night, the "Israeli" military is preparing to block it if need be.

The convoy, consisting of several small vessels, was expected to sail from Greece to Gaza in the coming days, carrying humanitarian supplies for the Hamas-controlled enclave.

Moreover, activists say the vessels are carrying humanitarian supplies and cargo of solar panels and medical supplies for Gaza residents, who are still recovering from last summer's conflict, and expect to reach the Strip by the end of the month, unless they are intercepted.

The Marianne of Gothenburg, a Scandinavian fishing boat, was to meet up with at least two other boats that make up the flotilla and attempts to breach the blockade and reach Gaza.

Meanwhile, there was a twist in the events when an "Israeli"-Arab Knesset member, MK Basel Ghattas of the Joint [Arab] List, caused uproar in parliament Sunday when he announced intentions to join the flotilla.

Ghattas sent a letter to Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and War Minister Moshe Ya'alon telling them of his plan.

Moreover, he urged "Israeli" leaders to let the boats reach the Palestinian coastal enclave - or face international backlash.

"There is no reason to prevent us from reaching Gaza and delivering the assistance that we are bringing with us," Ghattas wrote in the letter to Netanyahu and Ya'alon.

"I call on you to instruct the "Israel" security forces to stay away from the flotilla and to let it continue on its way."

In addition, Ghattas told Hebrew media from Greece that he will press ahead with his plans to join this latest convoy adding that ther are no weapons on board of the flotilla.

In a related notion, Hanin Zoabi, the Joint [Arab] List parliamentarian defended Ghattas for his decision saying that "any normal person" would try break the blockade, and that, if not for circumstances, she too would have joined her fellow MK in the flotilla.

"I think that any normal person would participate in the struggle against the blockade, against the jailing of two million people," Zoabi said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team