Defiant activists vow to sail to Gaza
Source: Agencies |
July 4, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Organizers of a Gaza-bound flotilla said yesterday they have not abandoned their plans, despite a Greek government ruling that bars vessels from leaving Greek ports for the Palestinian territory.
The campaign to breach Israel's sea blockade of Gaza suffered a major setback when Greece announced its restrictions on Friday, and authorities arrested the captain of a boat carrying American activists that tried to leave Greece without permission.
However, organizers of the flotilla were trying to maintain momentum with planned protests in Athens in the face of increasing calls for them to scrap their campaign.
On Saturday, the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the US, UN, EU and Russia - urged governments to discourage Gaza-bound flotillas that could escalate tension in the region.
Activist Dimitris Plionis said there would be "some action" at the beginning of the week, but he did not specify what the pro-Palestinian activists were planning to do, presumably because Greek authorities might try to thwart their efforts.
"The ban is there and we have already said that we are still considering to sail," Plionis said. "This story is not finished."
Without elaborating, he noted that "ships are free to go to other locations" besides Gaza.
The campaign to breach Israel's sea blockade of Gaza suffered a major setback when Greece announced its restrictions on Friday, and authorities arrested the captain of a boat carrying American activists that tried to leave Greece without permission.
However, organizers of the flotilla were trying to maintain momentum with planned protests in Athens in the face of increasing calls for them to scrap their campaign.
On Saturday, the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the US, UN, EU and Russia - urged governments to discourage Gaza-bound flotillas that could escalate tension in the region.
Activist Dimitris Plionis said there would be "some action" at the beginning of the week, but he did not specify what the pro-Palestinian activists were planning to do, presumably because Greek authorities might try to thwart their efforts.
"The ban is there and we have already said that we are still considering to sail," Plionis said. "This story is not finished."
Without elaborating, he noted that "ships are free to go to other locations" besides Gaza.
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