|
World news Australia Aid ships set sail for Gaza Five ships carrying hundreds of activists set off on the last leg of a mission to deliver tonnes of aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip early on Sunday, a legal adviser to the Free Gaza Movement said. "Five ships left Cypriot waters this morning at around 5am," Audrey Bomse said, adding that the fleet would arrive in Gaza territorial waters some time after 4pm (2300 AEST). Bomse said two vessels which had been due to set sail with the so-called "Freedom Flotilla" had remained in port after sustaining damaged over the weekend, in a move which the convoy's organisers claimed was "sabotage." "Now we are thinking of sending a second wave of boats including these two and the Rachel Corrie, which is still en route" from Ireland, she said. The second convoy would probably set off around Tuesday, Bomse said. The flotilla of cargo and passenger ships, which is carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid for Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip, had been due to reach Gaza on Saturday. But its departure was delayed because of technical problems affecting two of the vessels. Israel has slammed as "illegal" the convoy's attempt to break its blockade on Gaza, and has naval forces at the ready to intercept the ships and detain the pro-Palestinian activists on board, who number more than 700.
|