Libyan Aid Ship Resumes Voyage to Egypt
VOA News
14 July 2010
The Libyan ship carrying aid for Gaza has resumed moving toward an Egyptian port as Israeli military vessels shadow the ship's movement.
The Moldovan-flagged Amalthea began moving Wednesday morning after engine problems caused it to stall in international waters during the night Tuesday. The ship's captain said the vessel is headed for the Egyptian port of Arish rather than its initial destination, Gaza.
Israel's military ships are tailing the Amalthea to ensure the ship does not attempt to break the Israeli three-year-old naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave.
Youssef Sawani, executive director of the Tripoli-based Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, said the ship had received an ultimatum from the Israelis earlier Tuesday to change course by midnight (21:00 GMT) for Arish or face a forceful takeover.
An Israeli spokesman denied an ultimatum had been given, but said the navy had warned the Moldovan-flagged vessel that it was heading into a closed military zone.
U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley urged Libya on Tuesday to avoid confrontation and allow the Israelis to inspect the vessel, said to be carrying 2,000 tons of aid supplies. The 14 activists on board the Amalthea are affiliated with the ship's sponsor, a charity run by Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gadhafi.
Six weeks ago, Israeli commandos intercepted another Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killing nine activists - eight Turks and one Turkish-American - and sparking international outrage. Israel says its forces acted in self-defense after passengers on the Turkish aid ship attacked them.
Since the fatal encounter in May, global pressure has forced Israel to ease its three-year old land blockade on Gaza to allow in goods that do not have a potential military use.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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