El-Khoudary: “External Pressures Forced Mariam Ship To Delay Its Sail To Gaza”

Saturday August 21, 2010 22:10 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Independent Palestinian Legislator and head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege, Jamal El-Khoudary, stated Saturday that enormous external pressures on the Lebanese solidarity ship “Mariam” have forced the ship to delay its trip to Gaza.

Maryam solidarity ship (photo from freegaza)

The ship was supposed to sail to Gaza on Sunday, in an attempt to deliver medical and humanitarian supplies. Its organizers obtained al legal documents and permits to sail, despite Israeli threats that the Israeli navy and private security planned to attack the ship.

El-Khoudary said that he phoned Yasser Qoshloq, head of the Free Palestine Movement, who told him that the movement is seeking alternative means, and that the ship was delayed, but not cancelled.

El-Khoudary added that the ship is carrying female activists from different parts of the world, including American nuns. The ship’s cargo includes dialysis machines, medicine and medical equipment for treating cancer patients, with a special emphasis on women and children.

The independent legislator said that Arab and international movements must insist on challenging and lifting the illegal siege imposed by Israel on Gaza for the last three and a half years.

He further stated that the Israeli threats and intimidation aim at stopping all acts of solidarity, and that the ships are peaceful and only carry humanitarian supplies to the besieged people of the Gaza Strip.

international | gaza siege | news report saed at imemc dot org