Aid ship heads to Gaza in defiance of Israeli blockade

Beirut: A cargo ship carrying activists and supplies has set sail from Lebanon en route to Gaza on Tuesday, an organiser said.

The Togo-flagged ship Tali is carrying about 60 tons of medicine, food, toys, books and stationery, as well as eight activists and journalists.

The ship set sail from Tripoli in northern Lebanon. It will stop in Larnaca, Cyprus, before continuing to Gaza.

Organisers said they hope to arrive in Gaza by midweek despite an Israeli blockade of the territory.