A boat carrying Lebanese and Qatari activists and supplies for Palestinian residents in Gaza sailed into the coastal strip's small port on Saturday, in defiance of an Israeli blockade. It was the fifth such boat trip organized by activists from the Free Gaza Group since the summer.
The 66-foot yacht, SS Dignity, left Cyprus on Friday and brought a ton of medicine, baby food and 20 satellite tracking devices to be installed on Palestinian fishing boats.
Activists opposed to Israel's blockade, including two from a Qatari charity, made the journey from Cyprus and were welcomed by Palestinian residents from Gaza.
An Israeli peace activist, Neta Golan, one of two Israelis on board the vessel, said she made the journey to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and the people of Gaza.
Neta Golan, Israeli peace activist and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement said:
"I'm here in solidarity with the Palestinian people and with the people of Gaza. I came, also to visit my friends, and also in the hope that my coming here and then my subsequent arrest when I leave here will give me a voice, will make people hear what I have to say about the war crimes that are taking place, the crimes against humanity that are taking place in Gaza."
Israeli officials had earlier warned that the Dignity would be blocked on its voyage in October but in the end navy ships did not interfere.
Israel and Egypt closed Gaza's borders after the violent takeover of the territory by Hamas in June 2007.
Ebru News/Agency
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Activists Defy Israeli Blocakade to Gaza
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Dec
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