CAIRO: International aid convoy “Fleet of Freedom” wants to dock at Al-Arish port and enter Gaza via the border crossings with Egypt despite Israeli threats to intercept the group before it reaches regional waters. The Fleet of Freedom is composed of nine ships: three from Turkey, two from the UK and one each from Greece, Ireland, Kuwait and Algeria. The fleet is carrying building supplies, medical equipment and medicine. There are also concerns that Egypt might not be so forthcoming regarding the fleet's arrival. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said on Orbit's satellite television show “Al-Qahera Al-Youm” that the fleet would be allowed to travel through Egypt if they adhered to its rules and regulations. He added that the members of the fleet should officially inform the state and adhere to any guidelines that would be set. Israel, meanwhile, considers the fleet a “provocative step.” Commander of the Gaza District Coordination Office, Colonel Moshe Levi, was quoted as saying in the Israeli press, “The Gaza Strip does not need humanitarian aid and contributions by the peoples of the world, because the blockade is not on food supplies and food.” Israel has indicated that it might stop the fleet before it reaches regional waters with a military operation. Israel had already bombed two areas in the Gaza Strip, including near the border at Rafah early on Wednesday, leaving 17 Palestinians injured. Speaking to Al Jazeera, North Sinai Governor Murad Mohamed Mowafi denied comments attributed to him welcoming the fleet to Al-Arish. The decision to allow the fleet in will be made by the government in Cairo, not his office, he added. Tagammu party member and activist in North Sinai Khalil Jabr Sawarkeh confirmed this, telling Daily News Egypt, “Our state authorities have myopia; in any case the political decisions concerning the border aren't made at the governor's office but in Cairo.” As for the fleet, Sawarkeh said, “There are nine ships but I doubt they would let all the aid in, especially as Israel will object to some of the material like cement, which it doesn't allow into Gaza. “They might not let in all the people traveling with the convoy also.” Egypt has already allowed about 600 tons of food aid from the United Arab Emirates into Al-Arish and they are expected to be transported into Gaza via Al-Oja border crossing Thursday by the Egyptian Red Crescent. Al-Oja crossing is controlled by Israel on the other side but coordination between Egypt and Israel has meant that the aid will go through. Gaza has been under a blockade for almost three years now, when Hamas wrestled control over the strip from Fatah after fighting broke out between the two factions.
