Hamas accuses Israel of 'piracy' over Gaza aid ships

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GAZA CITY, May 27 (AFP): Hamas Thursday said Israel's threat to intercept a flotilla of activist aid boats bound for the Islamist group's Gaza enclave amounted to "Zionist piracy."
"The occupation's threat to prevent the Freedom Flotilla from arriving in the besieged Gaza Strip is Zionist piracy and a violation of international law," senior Hamas leader Ismail Radwan said in a statement.
"This boasting indicates the terrorist Zionist mentality," he added, referring to Israel's vows to intercept the ships, deport the activists and transport the aid supplies to Gaza through its own land crossings.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists hope to arrive in Gaza over the weekend aboard nine ships loaded with 10,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid and building materials in a bid to highlight Israel's closure of Gaza's borders.
Israel has said the flotilla amounts to a media stunt and that Gaza's humanitarian needs are being met.
Israel and Egypt have sealed Gaza off from all but basic humanitarian aid since Hamas-which is sworn to the destruction of the Jewish state and blacklisted as a terrorist group by the West-seized power in June 2007.
"The occupation is concerned about these ships ... because they grant legitimacy to engagement with the Palestinian government and confirm that the attempts to isolate Hamas have failed," Radwan said.