Hamas security forces have begun drills at Gaza's seaport in preparation for receiving the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, an aid mission composed of eight vessels that will attempt to break the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israel since 2007. An Israeli military source announced that Israel's navy was preparing to block the convoy's way. The Hamas drill saw scores of policemen and civil defense personnel conduct marine and land rehearsals. They also tested the boats that will receive the flotilla and offload its cargo. Another Israeli army source said that, if the aid mission declines to reverse course, the navy would drive it to another port and send its crew home. Yesterday, the Palestinian Red Crescent received three trucks from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) loaded with medicine and food, which successfully managed to pass through the Rafah border crossing. A security source revealed that Egypt had opened the Rafah crossing temporarily in order to allow the return of Palestinians who did not posses travel or residence visas. UAE ambassador to Egypt Moahmed Ibn Nukheira el-Zaheri noted that the Egyptian government had facilitated the entry of aid from his country. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
