Jewish aid ship to set sail for Gaza

European and US Jewish activists say they plan to send an aid ship to the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the Israeli siege of the impoverished Palestinian territory.

The Jewish groups have joined in an effort to demonstrate that Israel’s blockade of Gaza is ineffectual in preserving Israeli security, said Kate Katzenstein-Leiterer, an official of German-based Jewish Voice organization.

It is a blunt instrument of collective punishment on the people of Gaza, she went on to say.

According to Katzenstein-Leiterer, the trip is being organized by UK-based Jews for Justice for Palestinians (JfJfP).

The ship is all set to begin its journey with pro-Palestinian activists already onboard, DPA reported. However, the port of departure remains a secret.

The boat enjoys a full list of safety equipment, including global systems of communication, enabling it to trigger pre-prepared safety bulletins from London at a moment’s notice, for both the crew’s safety and the success of the mission, according to JfJfP’s website.

On May 31, Israeli navy commandos attacked the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters, killing nine Turkish nationals and leaving at least 50 others injured.

The six-ship civilian convoy was carrying 700 activists and 10,000 tons of aid supplies toward the impoverished enclave that has been deprived of food, fuel and other basic necessities over the past four years under an all-out Israeli siege.

Despite a global uproar sparked by the bloody takeover of the ships, Israel has threatened to intercept any other aid ship that tries to break the Gaza blockade.