Region | Palestinian Territories
Libyan ship carrying aid for Gaza turned away by Israeli navy
A Libyan ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip was turned away by the Israeli navy, Palestinian officials said on Monday.
- Agencies
- Published: 10:40 December 1, 2008
Gaza: A Libyan ship carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip was turned away by the Israeli navy, Palestinian officials said on Monday.
The ship, Al Marwa, departed from Libya last Monday with 3,000 tonnes of food, medicine and other aid, but was forced to sail to a port in neighbouring Egypt instead, Palestinian and Libyan officials said.
Israel said there had been no physical confrontation between its naval vessels and the Libyan ship.
"They understood that the navy was there and decided to turn around," said Andy David, a Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman. "We have a very clear policy (on the blockade) which is constantly publicised."
The Israel blockade on Gaza has been stepped up in recent weeks.
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