GAZA: Peace activists leave Gaza aboard two boats, transporting several stranded Palestinians

Record ID: 349151

  • Title: GAZA: Peace activists leave Gaza aboard two boats, transporting several stranded Palestinians
  • Date: 29th August 2008
  • Summary: ISMAIL HANIYEH, HAMAS LEADER IN GAZA, AT NEWS CONFERENCE
  • Embargoed: 13th September 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0UO26XFGM24FS0SZE5A4X075
  • Story Text: Peace activists leave the Gaza Strip aboard two boats, carrying seven Palestinians who were rejected exit permits by Israel.
    Two boats carrying foreign peace activists who are defying an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip left the Hamas-ruled territory on Thursday (August 28) for Cyprus, carrying on board seven Palestinians.
    An Israeli official said the Israeli navy would not intercept the boats.
    Thousands of cheering Palestinians had welcomed the boats, carrying 44 peace activists from 17 nations, when they docked in the Gaza Strip on Saturday (August 23).
    A Hamas official said nine activists decided to stay in the territory in a show of solidarity with its 1.5 million inhabitants.
    The seven Palestinians who sailed with the activists to Cyprus included 16-year-old Sa'ad Mesleh, who lost a leg in an Israeli army attack on militants three years ago, as well as a mother and her four children hoping to reunite with her husband.
    Mesleh's father, Khaled, said he would seek to fit an artificial limb for his son in Cyprus.

    "We plan to take them with us. We do not know what we will expect at sea. We have had indications that Israel might stop us. But we know full well that the Palestinians that are coming with us have the right papers, have the right visas, and they should be allowed to travel. There is no reason why Israel is holding them hostage, holding them prisoners in Gaza, and denying them medical attention, denying them family reunification. We are prepared for a confrontation at sea. We know that right is on our side. Israel generally claims that all of its actions is based on security. We do not constitute any kind of security threat, and we will be checked fully when we arrive in Cyprus, and processed by the Cypriot government," Howayda Araf, an activist of "Free Gaza" and the International Solidarity Movement said.
    During a ceremony before the activist-run boats departed, the Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, presented the activists with Hamas sponsored Palestinian diplomatic passports.
    Saying it wanted to avoid a public confrontation, Israel allowed the activists to reach the Gaza Strip. They were the first foreigners to come to the territory by sea since Israel tightened travel restrictions after the Hamas takeover more than a year ago.
    As part of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that took effect in June, Israel has eased its blockade of the territory, allowing in more humanitarian goods and medical equipment.
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