Israel fires warning to aid ship as it continues towards Gaza

Israel has vowed to prevent a Libyan aid ship from running the Gaza blockade after it set sail from Greece, despite diplomatic efforts to divert it to Egypt. The captain of the vessel, a Cuban national, confirmed to the media that he planned to head for Gaza.

Reuters

Israel said that allowing boats to reach the Hamas-run Gaza Strip without being checked would have serious consequences for its security.

"Israel will not let the boat reach Gaza," minister without portfolio Yossi Peled told Israel's public radio a day after the 92-metre freighter set sail from the Greek port of Lavrio, south of Athens.

There was confusion over the ship's destination on Sunday, with Greece making assurances that it was headed for the Egyptian port of El-Arish.

Israel's Defence Minister Ehud Barak said the attempt to reach Gaza, which has been subjected to an Israeli naval blockade for the last four years, was an "unnecessary provocation."

"The goods can be transferred to the Gaza Strip through Ashdod port after being checked," a statement from his office said late on Saturday.