27/05/2010 A group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators sailing toward Gaza with humanitarian supplies on Thursday have refused a request by the father of captured Israeli occupation soldier Gilad Shalit to deliver a package and letter to his son.
Activists rejected Noam Shalit's offer to mediate on their behalf with the Israeli government, which has vowed to block the flotilla's entry to Gaza, if they agreed to his request. A forum of seven senior ministers decided on Wednesday that Israel would attempt to turn back the 'Freedom Flotilla', on course to enter a 20-mile Israeli-imposed exclusion zone off Gaza this weekend.
Activists responded to the decision by vowing to continue their mission to disrupt Israel's efforts to limit supplies to the Hamas-controlled territory.
Eight ships, including four cargo vessels, were heading toward Gaza in defiance of a three-year Israeli closure on the sliver of desert territory, home to 1.5 million Palestinians. "We are planning on going. This is not going to stop us. The boats are already on their way," said Greta Berlin, a spokeswoman for the Free Gaza Movement.
At Wednesday's meeting, ministers decided that the ships would be directed to Ashdod by force if necessary. The activists would be arrested and deported. Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser offered a dissenting voice, suggesting that the ships should be allowed to dock in the Strip.
The flotilla is expected to approach Gaza by the weekend. A senior source in Tel Aviv said the forum of seven convened to discuss potential negative media fallout abroad if the navy intercepts the ships. The ministers met before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left on a trip to Europe and North America.
The Israeli occupation army expects that the ships will refuse to retreat and there will be a confrontation at sea with the navy.
As part of the military preparation, the Israeli navy carried out an exercise intercepting ships and arresting passengers.
Prior to making the announcement, Israeli occupation army launched a PR counterattack against the international flotilla. Head of Gaza's Coordination and Liaison Authority, Colonel Moshe Levi convened a press conference and claimed that there was no shortage in food and supplies in the Strip.
"The planned flotilla to Gaza is a provocative act that is unnecessary under the existing conditions in the Gaza Strip, where the humanitarian situation is good and stable," he said, claiming that Israel allows many products into the Strip, and only limits those that might serve the Hamas in advancing what he said “terror activities”.
The flotilla is thought to be carrying nearly 800 passengers, including 350 Turkish nationals. Most of the others are from European countries and the Muslim world.
Among the passengers are 35 parliamentarians and a number of Israeli Arabs, including the head of the Arab Higher Monitoring Committee, Mohammed Zeidan; the head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, Raed Salah; and Knesset member Hanin Zuabi (Balad ).
ECESG: Haaretz lies regarding Gilad Shalit
Added by PT Editor Pal Tel Admin
In response to an article published a few minutes ago on Haaretz, regarding handing a letter to Gilad Shalit. European Campaign to End Siege on Gaza (ECESG) expressed its deep shock as Haretz failed to maintain any kind of objectivity.According to Arafat Madi, spokesperson of ECESG, no one rejected the offer of Noam Shalit to send a letter to solider Gilad Shalit.
Madi told the Palestine Telegraph that ECESG is ready to carry the letter to captive Gilad Shalit. He also added that no one from the organizers were contacted to explore the possibilities of taking that letter.
“We are shocked of the claims published on Haaretz. The newspaper said that Gaza aid convoy refuses to deliver a letter to Gilad Shalit. This is mere Israeli propaganda. We are ready to send this massage or package. In return, we ask Israelis to allow Palestinian families to visit their 8.000 prisoners. We seek a committment from the Israeli goverment to allow Palestinians to send letters too” Said Madi
There are more than 8.000 Palestinians imprisoned Israel. Since the start of siege, Palestinian families in Gaza are deprived to visit their prisoners inside Israel. Even a number of prisoners died due to Israeli illegal medical treatment.
Uprooted Palestinian
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