Region | Palestinian Territories
Libyan aid ship's failure exposes Arab limitations
Hamas officials, a crowd of porters, a fleet of flatbed trucks and a flag-waving scout troupe assembled at Gaza City's port on Monday to welcome a unique arrival: a Libyan freighter flouting an Israeli blockade to bring 3,000 tonnes of aid to this impoverished seaside strip.
- AP
- Published: 23:25 December 2, 2008
Gaza City: Hamas officials, a crowd of porters, a fleet of flatbed trucks and a flag-waving scout troupe assembled at Gaza City's port on Monday to welcome a unique arrival: a Libyan freighter flouting an Israeli blockade to bring 3,000 tonnes of aid to this impoverished seaside strip.
But the ship never arrived.
It was turned back by the Israeli navy, ending the first high-profile attempt to break the blockade of Gaza.
Analysts said the incident showed that Arab and Muslim nations, while eager to end Gaza's isolation, won't risk military confrontation with Israel over it.
Israel views control of access to Gaza as a vital security interest, concerned that shipments could include weapons, not just food and medicine.
Won't fight
Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza after the violently anti-Israel Hamas seized power last year, tightening the closure in recent weeks when Gaza fighters resumed firing rockets at Israel.
"The Arab world is not very happy about the siege Israel has imposed on Gaza, and they are trying to break it," said analyst Moshe Maoz of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "They can only blame and denounce Israel, but they won't fight."
Gaza's borders have been largely sealed by Israel and Egypt since Hamas took control by force in June 2007. Occasional passage as been allowed for medical patients, Muslim pilgrims, humanitarian supplies and a trickle of commercial goods.
Israel's closure has led to shortages of cooking gas and other essentials as well as frequent power outages.
The Libyan attempt to reach Gaza came amid increasing discussion in Arab and Muslim countries about providing aid to Gaza in spite of the blockade.
Last week, Arab foreign ministers said in a joint statement in Cairo that their governments would send food and medicine to Gaza, though they did not specify how.
Since Egypt has also retained tight control over its border with Gaza, outsiders are increasingly considering the one remaining way into the territory: the sea.
Since this summer, international activists have organised three trips from Cyprus to Gaza on smaller boats. Israel did not stop these, allowing the vessels to deliver some medicine and other supplies.
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