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Gaza Aid Ship Leaves Greek Port

   VOA News 10 July 2010
   Workers  load supplies on to a cargo ship at the Lavrio port, about 60
   kilometers southeast of Athens,Greece, 9 Jul 2010

Photo: AP

   Workers  load supplies on to a cargo ship at the Lavrio port, about 60
   kilometers southeast of Athens,Greece, 9 Jul 2010. The Moldova-flagged
   cargo   ship   Amalthea   commissioned   by  a  Libyan  state  charity
   organization  made preparations Friday to set sail to Gaza from Greece
   loaded with aid.

   An  aid  ship bringing food and medical supplies to the Gaza Strip has
   set sail from Greece, though its final destination is unclear.
   The  Moldovan-flagged  ship  was  originally  set to break the Israeli
   embargo  of  the Hamas-ruled territory, but may instead be diverted to
   Egypt.
   Israeli  and  Greek  officials said Saturday the ship will sail to the
   Egyptian  port  of  El-Arish  after  an  agreement with officials from
   Moldova.
   The  aid  voyage is sponsored by a charity headed by the son of Libyan
   leader Moammar Gadhafi.  The vessel is said to be carrying 2,000 tons
   of food and medical supplies.
   Israel  sparked  international  outrage  in  May,  when  its commandos
   intercepted a flotilla of aid ships in the Mediterranean Sea that were
   trying to break the Israeli blockade of Hamas-ruled Gaza.
   Nine  pro-Palestinian activists were killed in the raid.  Israel said
   its forces acted in self-defense.
   Israel  says  its land and sea blockade of Gaza is intended to prevent
   Hamas  militants  and their supporters from smuggling weapons into the
   territory.
   Israel  also  appealed  to  the  United  Nations  Friday,  urging  the
   international   community   to   use   its   influence   to  stop  the
   Moldovan-flagged ship from sailing to Gaza.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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