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Last update - 21:56 23/08/2008
Haniyeh: Arrival of blockade-busting boats spells end of Gaza siege
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and The Associated Press
Tags: activists, free gaza, israel 

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Saturday welcomed two boats that sailed from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip in efforts to break the Israeli-imposed blockade on the Palestinian territory, saying that the arrival of the boats signaled the end of the siege.

The 70-foot (21-meter) Free Gaza and 60-foot (18-meter) Liberty left the southern port of Larnaca about 10 a.m. Friday for the estimated 30-hour trip. The activists planned to deliver 200 hearing aids to a Palestinian charity for children and hand out 5,000 balloons.

The 46 activists from 14 countries belonging to the U.S.-based group Free Gaza include an 81-year-old Catholic nun and the sister-in-law of Mideast envoy and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
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The arrival of the boats is another "nail in the coffin of the blockade," Haniyeh said in an interview with the Qatari-based television network Al Jazeera.

He urged the head of the Arab League Amr Moussa to come to Gaza and called on Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing, which the Egyptians closed in 2007 when Hamas violently seized control over the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also lauded the activists, who docked at Gaza City's tiny port Saturday evening, receiving a warm welcome from thousands of jubilant Palestinians after a two-day journey marred by communications troubles and rough seas.

"We were all dizzy, nauseous. We were all tired. But in the last hour it was like we were recharged," said Ayash Daraj, a journalist with al-Jazeera who sailed with the activists.

Since setting sail from Cyprus early Friday, the Free Gaza mission had been in question. Israel initially hinted it would prevent the vessels from reaching Gaza, and on Saturday, the group accused Israel of jamming its communications equipment.

But late Saturday, Israel said it would permit the boats to dock in Gaza after determining the activists did not pose a security threat. Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said Israel wanted to avoid the media provocation that the activists were seeking. He said he had no knowledge of attempts to harm the boats' communications.

He went on to say that the authorities in Greece and Cyprus inspected the vessels and their passengers before they set sail from the port of Larnaca in Cyprus Friday morning, and assured Israel that they carried no weapons.

Israel decided to permit the Free Gaza boats to sail into the Strip as a one-time measure and announced that similar missions in the future would be examined individually. It was further announced that the boats would be inspected upon their return to ensure they were not carrying wanted militants or weapons.

Israel has led an international boycott of the Gaza Strip since the militant Muslim group Hamas seized power of the territory in June 2007. Israel closed its trade crossings with the coastal territory, while neighboring Egypt sealed its passenger crossing, confining Gaza's 1.4 million residents.

Israel has allowed little more than basic humanitarian supplies into Gaza, causing widespread shortages of fuel, electricity and basic goods. Only some people are allowed to leave Gaza for medical care, jobs abroad and the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Under a June truce deal which halted a deadly cycle of bruising Palestinian rocket attacks and deadly Israel airstrikes, Israel has pledged to ease the blockade, but Palestinians say the flow of goods into Gaza remains insufficient and there has been little improvement in the quality of life. Israel has periodically closed the cargo crossings in response to sporadic Palestinian rocket fire that violated the truce.

Earlier Saturday, the Free Gaza activist group accused Israel of sabotaging the mission, saying that Israel had jammed the boats' electronic communication systems.

"I can't think of any other reason or any other party with an interest," said Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, the group's spokeswoman in Israel. She accused Israel of jeopardizing the activists' safety, and appealed for international assistance.

Israel has denied interfering in the boats' communications.

In a statement, the activists said their communications systems had been jammed and scrambled and said they were victims of electronic piracy.

"We are not experienced sailors. As a results, there is concern about the health and safety of the people on board," the statement said.

"We are following the development and if they are looking for a provocation, we will know how to avoid it," Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Merkel said Saturday.

Another spokesman for the ministry, Aviv Shiron, said Friday that all options were being considered when asked whether Israel intended to use force to turn the boats away.

In Gaza City, meanwhile, a small boat zoomed off the coast waving a Palestinian flag as a crowd of activists and journalists gathered in the tiny fishing port hoping to glimpse the vessels.

"I brought the kids so if they [the activists] arrive, I can tell them welcome - and thank you for not forgetting us," said Jamila Hassan, a 42-year-old Gaza resident who brought along her 14-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter to the port.

Hamas policemen controlled traffic in and out of the Gaza City port in anticipation of the boats' arrival. Youths leaped off high rocks into deep water nearby. Two large tents were set up for people to watch the scene.

"Nobody thinks that these boats will break the siege in a practical way, but this is a moral message - what is happening [in Gaza] is illegal and inhumane, and must be halted," said Raji Sourani, a prominent human rights activist.

On Friday, organizer Paul Larudee said the group expected Israeli authorities to intercept the boats and arrest those on board. He said it was highly unlikely the Israeli navy would fire on them.

The boats departed after last-minute engine repairs to the Liberty, passenger safety drills and a final inspection of the vessels' hulls by Cyprus Marine Police divers. Group members sang a peace song in Arabic and formed the peace sign with their fingers before boarding the boats.

Related articles:
  • Cyprus lets activists sail to Gaza, despite Israeli siege
  • Israel may use force to halt boat trying to break Gaza siege
  • Israel fears European ship may sail to Gaza to 'break siege'
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      1.   Two boats filled with what? 12:07  |  ATLAS 23/08/08
      2.   oh, they bring 5.000 balloons as "humanitarian aid"!! 12:11  |  scallywag 23/08/08
      3.   remember the USS LIBERTY! 12:35  |  samos 23/08/08
      4.   If any Americans are harmed in Palestinian waters 12:54  |  Guy From NYC 23/08/08
      5.   I say let them into Gaza 13:08  |  Gal from Israel 23/08/08
      6.   Go for it Guy from NYC!!!! 13:09  |  Zelkha 23/08/08
      7.   Inspect the Boats and let them in 13:31  |  Slibovitz 23/08/08
      8.   Let them go to Poti, Georgia 13:37  |  Zelkha 23/08/08
      9.   I`m sure that they will receive wonderful hospitaly there 13:44  |  x-ray 23/08/08
      10.   Gaza illegal and inhumane 13:46  |  x-ray 23/08/08
      11.   Will they do the same to Egypt? 14:16  |  Lynn 23/08/08
      12.   the whole mission is a misuse of the peace sign... 14:29  |  saul a. readner 23/08/08
      13.   To # 3 Remember the SS PATRIA too 14:46  |  AH 23/08/08
      14.   #4 What "Palestinian waters?" 14:54  |  DesMnsDave 23/08/08
      15.   A new episode for " Lost". 14:59  |  Stephen 23/08/08
      16.   "We are not experienced sailors" 15:08  |  Lynn 23/08/08
      17.   My prediction? 15:09  |  MaryRose 23/08/08
      18.   #4 Guy from NYC...that cluster bomb thing went well 15:15  |  Lynn 23/08/08
      19.   The little sh_ts are clearly lying 15:27  |  Guy from DC 23/08/08
      20.   #18 Lynn, Guy 15:34  |  Boycott 23/08/08
      21.   meanwhile i begin to understand... 15:35  |  scallywag 23/08/08
      22.   they aren`t experienced sailors but blame israel... 15:39  |  saul a. readner 23/08/08
      23.   do we let them in but not let them out or capture boat drop of 16:06  |  ralph 23/08/08
      24.   Hamas jammed the system 16:11  |  Great White North 23/08/08
      25.   Israel is responsible for the bad weather 16:14  |  peace activist 23/08/08
      26.   MOSAD made the sea go rough 16:15  |  Mefisto 23/08/08
      27.   Invasion of a tiny country, Israel 16:17  |  Great White North 23/08/08
      28.   LET THEM IN!! 16:17  |  Tzfonit 23/08/08
      29.   Typical ploy to gain sympathy! 16:19  |  John Allen 23/08/08
      30.   To #13 The SS Patria? Zionist bombing innocent Jewish? 16:24  |  France 23/08/08
      31.   Prudent Decision 16:31  |  Mark Lincoln 23/08/08
      32.   #18 Lynn 16:34  |  John Allen 23/08/08
      33.   Egypt 16:46  |  Victoria 23/08/08
      34.   Next Boat Please...You Over There, Get in Line... 17:02  |  Reader 23/08/08
      35.   they admit that they are not experienced sailors... 17:02  |  saul a. readner 23/08/08
      36.   Mark Lincoln: Why Astonishing? 17:03  |  Tzfonit 23/08/08
      37.   Excellent call Israel letting these weirdos in 17:04  |  Realist 23/08/08
      38.   Mark Lincoln: Why Astonishing? 17:04  |  Tzfonit 23/08/08
      39.   An Other Proof of Kadima Policies of Surrender , of Capitulation 17:05  |  Joseph.E 23/08/08
      40.   We Are All Palestinian Refugees... 17:08  |  Reader 23/08/08
      41.   What we need now 17:09  |  Tzfonit 23/08/08
      42.   Israel screws up again 17:15  |  David Teich 23/08/08
      43.   #17 MaryRose 17:24  |  Sarah 23/08/08
      44.   Guy from NYC - # 4 (2nd try) 17:26  |  ChanahS 23/08/08
      45.   # 24 john 17:27  |  Axel 23/08/08
      46.   SHALOM AND COMMON SENSE 17:27  |  JOHN ISH ISHMAEL 23/08/08
      47.   Enough with the drama 17:29  |  A mother 23/08/08
      48.   # 30 victoria 17:30  |  Axel 23/08/08
      49.   #4 Guy From New York 17:31  |  Douglas Fireman 23/08/08
      50.   #38 Tsfonit 17:33  |  Sarah 23/08/08
      51.   Joseph E Kindly explain 17:37  |  Tzfonit 23/08/08
      52.   I hope Hamas gives them a nice tour... 17:39  |  Ralph 23/08/08
      53.   Will the Gazan Port Authority Inspect These Boats? 17:44  |  Reader 23/08/08
      54.   #34 Balloons? I thought they were bringing condoms! 17:45  |  DesMnsDave 23/08/08
      55.   What a farce, although Haaretz is finally showing some humor 17:48  |  Cheers 23/08/08
      56.   Smart Move 17:49  |  Zelkha 23/08/08
      57.   #37 Dear Reader ... 17:49  |  DesMnsDave 23/08/08
      58.   The Dogs of Hate 17:49  |  Isaiah 23/08/08
      59.   NOT JUST "PRUDENT" Mark Lincoln: 17:51  |  Brant 23/08/08
      60.   #38 It takes two to resolve issues 17:51  |  DesMnsDave 23/08/08
      61.   THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING......THE OLYMPICS 17:57  |  David P 23/08/08
      62.   Didn`t they make a movie about this? 17:59  |  Colin Wright 23/08/08
      63.   Next time 18:01  |  Danite 23/08/08
      64.   Reader - so what are you doing in Edmonton? 18:04  |  ChanahS 23/08/08
      65.   Finally a wise decision; calling on the Dutch government... 18:08  |  Ben Alofs 23/08/08
      66.   tzfonit no. 38 18:16  |  saul a. readner 23/08/08
      67.   Once again....... 18:19  |  Jessica 23/08/08
      68.   reader no. 37