"Free Gaza" vessels activists join protests against Gaza blockade

8/28/2008 12:50:37 AM   Source:Xinhuanet    Author:    [Font Size:Bigger Middle Smaller]
44 international pro-Palestinian activists, who arrived in Gaza on Saturday on two boats sailed from Cyprus joined on Wednesday, protests in Gaza against the Israeli blockade.

Israel has been imposing a tight blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip after the movement took control of the enclave by force and ousted President Mahmoud Abbas security forces in mid June last year.

The pro-Palestinian activists joined on Wednesday a protest organized by representatives of 13 local agricultural associations in front of the United Nations headquarters in Gaza City calling on Israel to lift the siege.

Israeli restrictions on Gaza commercial crossings were eased on June 19, following a truce, which was brokered by Egypt between Israel and Gaza militant groups led by Hamas movement.

However, the crossings were shut down on Tuesday morning until a further notice after unknown Palestinian militants breached the truce and launched two homemade rockets from Gaza at Israel. No damages or injuries were reported.

The international activists traveled all-over the besieged Gaza Strip, visited hospitals, and were briefed on the difficulties of traveling due to the closure imposed on all Gaza Strip crossings.

Head of "Free Gaza" organization Paul Laroudi, one of the activists that were on the two "free Gaza" boats told reporters that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is becoming a problem for the whole world and not only the Palestinians.

"Israel must end its occupation, and should end the siege and the destruction against the Palestinians," said Laroudi. "We call on the United States to stop its biased stance towards Israel, and be fair with the Palestinians."

Comments


Words:
Nikename:
Relative News
Back to Homepage,