NGOs take lead in Gaza struggle

An increasing number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) plan to send more aid ships to the besieged Gaza Strip. These groups, from Arab, Muslim and European countries, are being encouraged by the international condemnation of the Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla last week. At the same time they are fed up with the inability of Arab states to force the end of the blockade, imposed by Israel in defiance of international law and despite the repeated calls by the United Nations Security Council to lift the siege.

The move by the NGOs to send more aid ships to Gaza should be encouraged and supported by all nations. And the major powers can at least provide protection to those ships since they are unable to pressure their Israeli ally into lifting the crippling blockade.

The more ships the better. This is what should happen today.

Following last week's global outrage over the Mediterranean massacre, Israel will surely hesitate to raid new ships or kill the passengers.

The more ships the better. Every able group should send aid ships until the blockade becomes useless. The UN and the Arab League have failed to end the Israeli siege. It seems it is now up to the NGOs to shoulder the responsibility of keeping Gazans alive.