GAZA: Israel bars aid boat again
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They tried to break the blockade imposed on Gaza to deliver much-needed medical supplies.
But the 21 activists and medical professionals were forced to abandon their mission on Thursday after their boat was intercepted by an Israeli naval vessel.
It was their second failed attempt since the start of the Israeli offensive on Gaza that has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians.
The U.S.-based Free Gaza Movement, which organized the humanitarian journey, said the group received threats from the Israeli army as the boat approached Gaza from the shores of southern Lebanon.
Huwaida Arraf, a member of the organization, told news agencies:
They got very close and they threatened that if we continued they would open fire on us.... They surrounded us with about four warships making it very difficult to navigate. They said they would use all means to keep us out of Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces said the navy ships warned the boat to turn back because it was entering a war zone subject to a naval blockade. The ship turned back without incident, the military added.
The Greek-flagged boat, Spirit of Humanity, sailed from the Cypriot port of Larnaca on Wednesday.
It was carrying pro-Palestinian activists, European politicians and doctors as well as tons of basic medical supplies such as bandages, IV bags, antibiotics and other medicines for Gaza hospitals.
On Dec. 30, the movement had to abandon a mission to supply Gaza with aid when the Israeli navy allegedly rammed its boat. The Israeli army denied attacking the boat.
In a similar incident, Israel forced an Iranian vessel carrying humanitarian aid for Palestinians to turn back on Wednesday.
-- Raed Rafei in Beirut