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    July 19, 2011

Israeli Military Contacts Gaza-Bound Yacht

   VOA News
   An Israeli military naval ship sails off the port of Ashdod, Israel,
   July 19, 2011
   Photo: AP
   An Israeli military naval ship sails off the port of Ashdod, Israel,
   July 19, 2011

   The Israeli military says it has made contact with a French yacht
   carrying pro-Palestinian activists trying to breach Israel's naval
   blockade of the Gaza Strip.
   The military said it contacted the Dignity al-Karama on Tuesday and
   warned the vessel the leave the area.
   The yacht is the only vessel remaining from a flotilla that
   pro-Palestinian activists had hoped to launch from Greece last month.
   It left Greek waters Sunday with 16 people on board.
   The military said it notified the ship that any supplies on board could
   be transferred legally to Gaza through an Israeli port and existing
   land crossings.
   The activists say the naval blockade of Gaza is an illegal act of
   punishment against the more than one million Palestinian residents of
   the impoverished territory.
   Israeli officials have vowed to maintain the blockade to prevent arms
   from reaching Hamas militants who run Gaza. Israel also says it is
   meeting the humanitarian needs of Gazans by allowing daily deliveries
   of aid, fuel and consumer goods across its land border with the
   territory.

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