Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath
Photo: Reuters
Fatah to join Gaza-bound flotilla in May
Senior Fatah official tells A-Shams radio group plans to take part in international flotilla, but fails to mention number of participants
Fatah announced Thursday it plans to take part in the international Gaza-bound flotilla scheduled to set sail in May.
Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath told A-Shams Radio a Fatah delegation plans to participate in the flotilla.
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Shaath neglected to mention how many Fatah officials plan to take part in the event or who they were. However he did say there will be members of the Fatah Politburo.
Fatah was not part of the May 2010 flotilla. "We didn't participate in the previous flotilla, but we supported it and the attack on Israel that followed," said Shaath.
He added that due to last May's events Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas decided "to give all of the participants Palestinian citizenship."
The Fatah official refused to say whether he plans to join in on the action. "I'm a son of Gaza and I'd be honored to take part in the flotilla, but it hasn't been decided yet," he noted.
Shaath explained Fatah did not coordinate their participation since the flotilla concerns Gaza in general and is not an issue exclusive to Hamas.
Earlier this month, Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) leader Bulent Yildirim promised the Mavi Marmara, the ship most recognized with the previous Gaza flotilla, will return in May.
"What happened during the previous flotilla will not affect us or the next flotilla," said Yildirim, adding that many artists, journalists and politicians plan to join the May voyage. Organizers expect over 15 ships to take part in the event.
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