Gaza students leave on activists' ship

International activists say have helped 11 university students leave blockaded Strip by boat in defiance of Israel, add around 700 students accepted at foreign universities are still stuck in Gaza

Associated Press|Published: 12.13.08 , 14:12

International activists say they have helped 11 Gaza university students leave the blockaded territory by boat in defiance of Israel.

Ramzi Kysia of the Free Gaza movement said Saturday that the students sailed on the vessel Dignity and reached Cyprus on Friday. He says the students are enrolled at universities in Europe and Canada.

No Sail for You

Police seize boat ahead of Gaza sail

Ynet reporters

Arab Knesset members, left-wing activists planning to sail south from Jaffa in bid to 'break the blockade', transfer humanitarian equipment to Strip stopped by Israel Police; vessel transferred to Tel Aviv marina. 'This is a coward move; all we wanted was to deliver medicines,' says MK Tibi

Police seize boat ahead of Gaza sail

Israel and Egypt largely sealed Gaza after the Islamic militant group Hamas seized the coastal territory last year. Some university students have been allowed to cross through Israeli and Egyptian crossings. Activists say round 700 students accepted at foreign universities are still stuck in Gaza.

The activists say they shipped out five Gaza students in a previous trip.

A small boat carrying pro-Palestinian activists sailed into Gaza's port Tuesday in defiance of the Israeli blockade on the Strip.

It was the fourth boat of activists to reach Gaza from Cyprus. They said they want to highlight the damaging effects of Israel's blockade. Among the new arrivals Tuesday were British activists who advocate a boycott of Israel's universities.

Iran's Red Crescent announced on Wednesday that it is sending a relief ship to the Gaza Strip, in the face of an Israeli blockade.

"We are sending a consignment of 1,000 tons on a ship to Gaza the beginning of next week," Red Crescent secretary general Ahmad Moussavi was quoted as saying on the organization's website.

"There is the possibility of our ship being blocked just as the Libyan ship was blocked," he added referring to a vessel intercepted by Israel a month ago.