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Ma'an News, Oct 28, 2008
This article was originally published by Ma'an News and is republished with permission.
Despite Israeli threats of no-passage, the second Free Gaza boat set sail from Cyprus on Tuesday with Palestinian Legislative Council member Mustafa Al-Barghouthi aboard, along with several members of the European Parliament and a team of international medical doctors. The SS Dignity, the successor to the first two Free Gaza ships, sent Israeli authorities notice on Monday that they would be entering Gaza carrying no weapons and having been cleared by Cypriot customs officials. The letter assured that the intention of the mission, like the first, was purely humanitarian. The group said it expected to make an uneventful landing in Gaza on Wednesday. On Tuesday morning, the Jerusalem Post quoted unnamed Israeli officials, who stated that Israel has "no plans to tolerate a repeat performance" by the Gaza ships. In a press statement released Tuesday afternoon, the Free Gaza movement said, "Israel has not bothered to inform us of a legitimate reason for preventing us from delivering medical supplies, doctors, lawyers, and prominent human rights advocates to the Gaza Strip. Indeed, Israel has not bothered to communicate with us at all." The movement reiterated its determination to enter Gaza a second time, and indicated that there would be several more ships in the future. From on board the ship, Barghouthi said "The aim of this voyage is to assure the people of Gaza that West Bank Palestinians are united with them - it holds a message of solidarity." He added that all Palestinians could show their support for unity by urging all political parties to take the national conciliation talks in Cairo next month seriously. Read more about the Second Free Gaza Movement Boat: International boat visitors tour suffering areas of the Gaza Strip Second humanitarian boat docks in Gaza City
Home > News & Analysis > From the Media > Second Free Gaza boat departs Cyprus despite Israeli threats |
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