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Hamas slams Israel's threats to intercept Gaza-bound aid flotilla

Xinhua, June 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

Islamic Hamas movement condemned on Monday Israel's threats to intercept a convoy of international activists planning to sail to the Gaza Strip to defy eight years of Israeli blockade.

Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in an emailed press statement that the Israeli threats to intercept the third Gaza-bound aid flotilla "is an attempt to scare the activists and prevent them from reaching Gaza."

"The expected activists' sea trip to Gaza is a humanitarian, noble and moral action, therefore the Israeli threats to intercept their trip is to prevent them from seeing the Israeli crimes against Gaza and its populations," said Barhoum.

Hamas spokesman called on the activists "not to surrender to the Israeli threats."

Israel has been imposing a blockade on the Gaza Strip since Hamas violent takeover of the coastal enclave in 2007. International activists in Europe send three convoys of ships to the enclave during the past seven years.

In 2010, Israel intercepted the second Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killed nine Turkish activists and prevented the ships from reaching the shores of the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday night, Israel public Radio reported that Israel won't let the third Gaza-bound aid flotilla from reaching Gaza shores.

The ships of the flotilla began to move from Greece and are expected to reach the Gaza Strip in the coming few days. Endit