Cyprus blocks Gaza aid ship ‘Mariam’ from passing through its ports

BEIRUT, (PIC)– The organizers of the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid ship, Mariam, have discovered the possibility of changing its course towards Greece after Cypriot authorities announced they will not allow the ship to sail to Gaza from its ports.

The organizers said in a press statement on Saturday that contacts are being made with the Greek government while Cyprus insists on its decision to prohibit the ship’s passage.

Samar Hajj, an activist on board, told Reuters on Saturday: “I do not reel off … action is underway to find somewhere else (another port for sailing) … there are difficulties … we will not give up easily.”

“The trip was not cancelled … the Mariam voyage will be suspended because we are in a situation that requires suspending the journey,” said the ship’s spokeswoman Rima Farah.

She added that there is not enough time between now and 10:00 pm Sunday night (Greenwich time) – which is the scheduled time for the Mariam to set sail – to find another port to sail from.

Lebanese public works minister Gazi al-Aridi said yesterday that Mariam will not set sail to Cyprus after Cypriot authorities declined to welcome it.

Aridi noted that Mariam’s organizers requested permission to set sail to Cyprus and the ministry approved, but Cyprus authorities later rebuffed after increased complications.

Mariam, which carries women activists from Lebanon and the world over who will transport humanitarian aid, was set to sail Sunday from Tripoli, Lebanon to Cyprus, ahead of landing at its final destination in the besieged Gaza Strip, and will be followed by a second women-operated aid vessel from Tripoli called Naji al-Ali, which will be launched this Wednesday to Cyprus and then to Gaza.

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Gaddafi foundation: „Hope“ still heading toward Gaza

Gaddafi foundation: „Hope“ still heading toward Gaza

[ 11/07/2010 – 08:44 AM ]

GAZA, (PIC)– The Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation (GICDF), chaired by Saiful Islam the son of Libyan leader Muammer Al-Gaddafi has denied that the Libyan aid ship „Hope“ was diverting its destination to Egypt instead of Gaza. Yousef Siwan, the executive director of the foundation, said on Saturday night that the GICDF ship was still heading sailing toward Gaza as scheduled. He added that the vessel was on a purely humanitarian mission, „not provocative and not hostile“. Siwan urged the world community to help the ship reach its destination. Arab MK Ahmed Al-Tibi earlier quoted the foundation as saying that the ship would try and reach Gaza port to unload its shipment of relief material. Greek foreign ministry spokesman Grigoris Delavekouras had said that the Libyan ambassador to Athens had told him that the ship would dock at El-Arish port in northern Sinai. The ship departed a port 60 kilometers southeast of Athens at a late hour on Saturday. Israeli navy vessels attacked an international aid flotilla carrying humanitarian and medical equipment to Gaza at international waters on 31 May killing nine Turkish solidarity activists and wounding tens others.