Aid ship heads to Gaza from Lebanon

An aid ship bound for "Israeli"-blockaded Gaza and loaded with medical supplies, food, clothing and toys left the port city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon early on Tuesday.

On board the "Brotherhood Ship" were eight people, including the former Greek-Catholic archbishop of 'Jerusalem' (al-Quds), Monsignor Hilarion Capucci, who left 'Jerusalem' in the 1970s after serving time in an "Israeli" jail for being a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

"We have decided to go ahead with this mission in solidarity with the people of Gaza, so they don't feel cut off from the world," organizer Hani Suleiman told AFP, before the boat left Tripoli at around Monday midnight.

"There is no reason whatsoever for "Israel" to prevent us from reaching Gaza... We have no rockets, no weapons, just aid for the people of Gaza," he added.

The Togolese-registered Tali was headed first to Cyprus, where authorities would search the vessel to ensure transparency, before continuing on to the Gaza Strip.