Navy allows boat of British activists supporting boycott of Israeli universities to sail into Strip despite earlier police seizure of Arab MKs' boat, which attempted to sail from Jaffa Sunday
A small boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists sailed into Gaza's port Tuesday in defiance of the Israeli blockade on the Strip.
It's the fourth boat of activists to reach Gaza from Cyprus. They say they want to highlight the damaging effects of Israel's blockade.
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Among the new arrivals Tuesday were British activists who advocate a boycott of Israel's universities.
Also on board was a Gazan man who left the territory years ago. His wife and children wept with joy as they embraced him. Relatives refused to say why he had left, or why he had been unable to come back.
On Sunday a similar sail to Gaza was prevented when police seized a boat set to leave the Jaffa Port with several Arab Knesset members on board. The boat was transferred to the Tel Aviv marina, Ynet learned Sunday morning.
Left-wing activists and several Arab MKs were planning to dock in the Strip a day before the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) in protest of the "Israeli blockade" and transfer humanitarian equipment, including medications, food and toys.
Police officials explained that they acted according to clause 24 in the "disengagement implementation law", which states that Israelis will not enter Gaza without a permit.
A Libyan boat carrying 3,000 tons of supplies from was also prevented from docking in Gaza recently. In response, Libya demanded the UN Security Council hold an emergency session on the issue.
Israeli Ambassador Gabriella Shalev launched a harshly-worded rebuke at the session, accusing Libya of abusing its member status for public relations purposes.
She said Libya was toeing the line with the extremists who deny the existence of the State of Israel, naming Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, al-Qaeda, Hizbullah, Iran and Sudan.
Israel has previously allowed activists' boats to reach the Strip, but recently authorities have denied access as what appears to be a pressure tactic on Hamas in response to the recent escalation in violence towards Israel.
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