Israel Warns U.N. it Will Not Allow Aid Ships from Lebanon to Gaza

Israel has warned the United Nations that it will not allow two aid ships sailing from a Lebanese port to break Israel's blockade of Gaza.
Israel said it "reserve its right, under international law, to use all necessary means to prevent these ships from violating the naval blockade imposed on Gaza."
The Israeli warning came in letters sent to U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council by Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev.

A deadly Israeli commando raid on a Turkish ship trying to bring aid to Gaza on May 31 killed nine Turkish activists and focused international attention on Israel's blockade of Gaza, imposed after the Islamist militant and anti-Israel Hamas violently overran the Palestinian territory in June 2007.

Shalev called on the Lebanese government "to demonstrate responsibility" and prevent the two ships, Junia and Julia, from departing.

Israel and Lebanon remain "in a state of hostility," Shalev said, and "such action will prevent any escalation."

She said it can't be ruled out that the Junia and Julia are carrying weapons "or individuals with provocative and confrontational intentions."

The killing of the eight Turks and one Turkish-American on May 31 put Israel under growing pressure to open Gaza's borders.

Under the old blockade rules, only basic food and medicine were allowed into Gaza. In a first step after the flotilla raid, Israel decided to let in most consumer goods but said Gazans would continue to be banned from travel and exporting goods for the time being.

Later Friday, the U.N. said that groups seeking to deliver aid to Gaza should send it by land.

"There are established routes for supplies to enter by land. That is the way aid should be delivered to the people of Gaza," United Nations spokesman Martin Nesirky told a press briefing.

"Our stated preference has been and remains that aid should be delivered by established routes, particularly at a sensitive time in indirect proximity (peace) talks between Palestinians and Israelis," he added.

AFP