Efforts to break the siege thwarted, Lebanese aid ship assaulted

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Gaza / PNN – As part of the maritime campaign of nonviolent resistance the Popular Committee against the Siege in Gaza was ready to greet a Lebanese boat carrying humanitarian supplies.

Instead of welcoming the ship, chairman of the committee and member of the Legislative Council, Jamal Al Khudari, called this afternoon for urgent international intervention to free the vessel and crew.

An Israeli aircraft flew overhead as a warship circled the Lebanese boat as it was en route to the Gaza port. Besides opening fire on the shores of the Strip the Israelis forced the aid shipment away from Gaza and into the Israeli port of Ashdod. The passengers are now being interrogated by Israeli forces.

Al Khudari said earlier that the lives of the crew were in danger after the Israelis destroyed the communication devices on board while the boat was still at sea.

“The voyage of the ship was nonviolent and legal,” said Al Khudari on Thursday. “It comes as part of our civil resistance.”

The Lebanese ship had been inspected in Cyprus with documentation proving that medical and relief aid are on board for the besieged Palestinian people.

Al Khudari sadi, “The occupation is trying to prevent the ship in order to deliver a message to the others that the gateway to Gaza is closed, that this method of breaking the siege is closed. This movement was strong in working to give freedom of movement to the Palestinian people.”

The independent Legislative Council member added that the Israeli practices and arbitrary measures confirm there is no intention to lift the blockade.

Al Khudari noted that the nonviolent resistance has struggled for over a year to lift the siege and will not stop now.

Five voyages have arrived in Gaza since August with just as many forced back.