Palestinian boat defies blockade

GAZA: A Palestinian boat set off early this week from Gaza City’s seaport to Cyprus in an attempt to defy Israel’s 11-year sea and ground blockade imposed on the Hamas-ruled territory.

The boat, carrying 10 people, including seven patients and three crew members, sailed through the Mediterranean, where Israel bans the Palestinians from sailing beyond 6 nautical miles.

This is the second sea journey organised by the Palestinian National Commission for the Great March of Return and Defying the Siege campaigns.

The commission said it was organised to challenge the blockade Israel has imposed on Gaza since 2007, when Hamas seized the enclave after routing Palestinian forces. On May 29, a Palestinian flotilla set off from Gaza in a similar attempt to challenge Israel’s blockade. – Xinhua/ African News Agency (ANA)