Libyan aid ship moving again, heading to Egypt
Thursday, 15 July 2010
JERUSALEM, July 14 (AP): A Libyan charity's aid ship, flanked by Israeli missile boats, was sailing in the direction of an Egyptian port Wednesday, apparently deciding not to defy Israel's naval blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Egypt's state news agency MENA cited an unidentified security official as saying that Egyptian authorities and the Red Crescent medical service were 'making preparations' to receive the Moldovan-flagged Almathea.
An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the ship's course, confirmed that the vessel was headed in the direction of the Egyptian port of el-Arish.
With the vessel's organizers insisting the ship would go to Hamas-ruled Gaza and Israel insisting it would not, the potential for a showdown on the high seas had loomed large. Framing the faceoff was a deadly Israeli naval raid of another blockade-busting ship in May.
An Al-Jazeera reporter on board the Almathea reported that two Israeli missile boats were hewing close to its left side to prevent it from veering to nearby Gaza. The Egyptian port of el-Arish was on the ship's right.
Conflicting messages Tuesday created confusion over whether the Amalthea intended to try to run the blockade or not.
Israeli military officials said the ship's captain informed Israel he was heading for the Egyptian port. Egypt had promised to transfer the ship's supplies to Gaza if the vessel docked there.
However, a spokesman for the Libyan mission insisted the ship still intended to try to reach the Palestinian territory - but wouldn't violently resist any efforts to stop them.
The ship reported late Tuesday that engine trouble had stalled it, but it resumed its journey midmorning Wednesday.
The Gaza blockade and the challenges to it have caused Israel serious diplomatic damage, putting it on the defensive against demands for inquiries and criticism for its role in Gaza's plight.
Israel says the commandos who took part in the May 31 raid were defending themselves against violent pro-Palestinian activists. Activists have said they acted in self-defense after Israeli troops landed on their ship.
Meanwhile, Xinhua from Cairo adds: Egypt approved a request by Gaza- bound Libyan aid ship Al-Amal to dock in its Arish port instead after failing to reach Gaza port due to Israeli interception, a security source said Wednesday.
The ship's engine broke down Wednesday morning 130 miles (about 209 km) from al-Arish port which is ready to receive it later on the day, the source said.
The ship with 21 persons on board is carrying 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, to the Gazans.
Egypt's state news agency MENA cited an unidentified security official as saying that Egyptian authorities and the Red Crescent medical service were 'making preparations' to receive the Moldovan-flagged Almathea.
An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the ship's course, confirmed that the vessel was headed in the direction of the Egyptian port of el-Arish.
With the vessel's organizers insisting the ship would go to Hamas-ruled Gaza and Israel insisting it would not, the potential for a showdown on the high seas had loomed large. Framing the faceoff was a deadly Israeli naval raid of another blockade-busting ship in May.
An Al-Jazeera reporter on board the Almathea reported that two Israeli missile boats were hewing close to its left side to prevent it from veering to nearby Gaza. The Egyptian port of el-Arish was on the ship's right.
Conflicting messages Tuesday created confusion over whether the Amalthea intended to try to run the blockade or not.
Israeli military officials said the ship's captain informed Israel he was heading for the Egyptian port. Egypt had promised to transfer the ship's supplies to Gaza if the vessel docked there.
However, a spokesman for the Libyan mission insisted the ship still intended to try to reach the Palestinian territory - but wouldn't violently resist any efforts to stop them.
The ship reported late Tuesday that engine trouble had stalled it, but it resumed its journey midmorning Wednesday.
The Gaza blockade and the challenges to it have caused Israel serious diplomatic damage, putting it on the defensive against demands for inquiries and criticism for its role in Gaza's plight.
Israel says the commandos who took part in the May 31 raid were defending themselves against violent pro-Palestinian activists. Activists have said they acted in self-defense after Israeli troops landed on their ship.
Meanwhile, Xinhua from Cairo adds: Egypt approved a request by Gaza- bound Libyan aid ship Al-Amal to dock in its Arish port instead after failing to reach Gaza port due to Israeli interception, a security source said Wednesday.
The ship's engine broke down Wednesday morning 130 miles (about 209 km) from al-Arish port which is ready to receive it later on the day, the source said.
The ship with 21 persons on board is carrying 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid, including food and medical supplies, to the Gazans.