Gaza-bound ship told to by-pass Cyprus

Calcutta News.Net
Sunday 22nd August, 2010

Nicosia has told a group of activists heading for Gaza that they will not be able to dock for provisions or refuelling at the Cyprus port of Limassol.

The ship, carrying aid for Gaza from Lebanon, will now have to find another stop-off point, as the Cypriots have said they will not let the ship leave for Gaza if it pulls in to its harbour.

The ship, the Mariam, had been due to depart from the Libyan port of Tripoli.

Passengers on board have put the rejection down to the influence of the Israelis, who they have said "control huge areas of the Mediterranean."

While Cyprus was used as a launching point for activists to reach Gaza by sea from 2008 until mid-2009, the Israeli commando raid on a Turkish ship in May has made the country’s government more wary.

Nine pro-Palestinian Turks died when the Israeli commandos boarded aid vessels heading for Gaza.

Israel has constantly warned that it will not allow ships to reach Gaza, which is controlled by the militant Palestinian group, Hamas.

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