Aid groups planning second Gaza flotilla

A coalition of pro-Palestinian groups is planning to send a second aid flotilla to Gaza, dismissing Israel's promise to ease its blockade as not bold enough and defying Israeli warnings against any new sea-based activist operation.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jun 2010, 23:35 BST

Rory Byrne, a spokesman for the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza, said his group and others in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition have six ships and many activists who want to go to Gaza for an operation he hopes will be larger than the one that ended in bloodshed last month.

The coalition includes a Turkish Islamic aid group, the Foundation for Human Rights and Freedom and Humanitarian Relief (IHH), which Israel has outlawed and accuses of ties with Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The IHH sponsored the lead boat in a six-ship, Gaza-bound aid flotilla that Israeli commandos raided on May 31, killing nine people and sparking an international outcry.

The IHH said yesterday it has not been directly involved in the planning of the second flotilla, though the coalition said the IHH is free to join in.

Mr Byrne said the six ships should be ready to set sail within the next few weeks, but gave no departure date or itinerary.

The Israeli commando raid heightened demands that Israel end the blockade of Gaza, imposed when Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007. Hamas calls for Israel's destruction.

Israel announced plans yesterday to ease the land blockade, but is maintaining its naval blockade intended to keep weapons shipments out of the hands of Hamas.

Related topics:IsraelGazaHamas