Peace Activists Boats Arrive in Gaza

Source: Alalam.ir, 23-08-2008

GAZA--Two boats carrying 44 pro-Palestinian activists from Cyprus arrived in the Gaza Strip on Saturday despite ‘Israel's' strict blockade of the territory.

The boats set sail on Friday carrying activists from 16 countries who hoped to draw attention to the blockade of Gaza which has been controlled by Hamas movement since June 2007.

‘Israel' had initially warned the activists to stay away from Gaza's coastal waters but later allowed them to pass, hours after the crew said their communications systems had been jammed as they sailed through stormy waters.

"They wanted provocation at sea but they won't get it. We know who the passengers are and what they are bringing with them and so we have no problem letting them through," Foreign Ministry spokesman Aviv Shiron said.

Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, an ‘Israeli' spokeswoman for the so-called Free Gaza Movement which organized the event, said the boats' communications systems had been attacked by "electronic piracy" earlier in the day.

"We are not experienced sailors. As a result, there is concern about the health and safety of the people on board (should) an emergency develop," the crew said in a message, according to Godfrey-Goldstein.

The two converted fishing boats set sail under Greek flags from Cyprus on Friday morning carrying the activists determined to break an ‘Israeli' embargo against Gaza Strip.

Since Hamas took control of the territory, ‘Israel' has sealed the territory off from all but vital humanitarian aid in a bid to put pressure on Palestinian fighters.

The boats, Liberty and Free Gaza, left Larnaca port on Cyprus's south coast on a 370-kilometre (230-mile) voyage, carrying 200 hearing aids for Gaza children and 5,000 balloons.

The activists initially expected to be stopped by the Zionist regime, which maintains a tight naval blockade on Gaza and had warned the boats not to enter its waters.

Around 20 Gaza fishing boats flying Palestinian flags had earlier left Gaza City's main port in a bid to meet the two blockade runners, but were turned back when ‘Israeli' gunships in the distance fired warning shots.

Back at the port hundreds of people had gathered to await the boats' arrival, waving flags as a local band performed.

The activists hail from 16 countries plus Israel and are aged between 22 and 81, organizers said. Among them are students, lawyers, doctors, journalists and an online poker player.

Mostly American and British, they include Lauren Booth, sister-in-law of former British premier Tony Blair who is now an international Middle East peace envoy.

Many of the activists said they had received death threats before they set sail.