Israel to cut off Freedom Flotilla

Israel is planning to thwart an attempt by the Freedom Flotilla seeking to break the siege of the Gaza Strip and to deliver humanitarian aid to Gazans.

Israelis will dispatch two boats to coastal areas around Gaza on Saturday in order to prevent a convoy of three freighters and five passenger ships with some 600 peace activists from attempting to break the siege of Gaza, the Palestinian news agency Ma’an (MNA) reported.

“The [Israeli] fleet will go to confuse those who are coming to confuse Israel,” the report added, citing Israeli sources on Thursday.

The Israelis have decided to receive the humanitarian convoy with anti-Palestinian slogans and banners.

Meanwhile, Israel’s navy is also reportedly set to declare a no-go military zone to stop the fleet from dropping anchor.

All the boats are due to cast anchor at Gaza city’s docks on 27 May, a Palestinian official said earlier.

The Freedom Flotilla convoy carries 5,000 tons of construction material, medical equipment, and school supplies, as well as around 600 people from 40 countries.

The siege of Gaza has deprived 1.5 million Palestinians of fuel, food, and other basic necessities.