Israel vows to continue Gaza siege

Israel vows to continue its naval blockade of the Gaza Strip, after launching a bloody attack on an international aid convoy which had aimed to break the siege.

The Israeli security cabinet said in a statement on Tuesday that it was “a clear act of self defense” for Tel Aviv to maintain the restrictions at sea, Reuters reported.

The Israeli siege of the strip also includes cutting Gaza off from the land and aerial routes which reach the coastal sliver. It took effect in mid-June 2007, reinforcing the limitations Tel Aviv had already put in place.

In a Monday attack on the Freedom Flotilla relief mission, Israeli forces killed at least 20 people.

The Israeli ministers blamed the activists for the deaths and said the assault was “the Israeli army action against the violent provocation at sea.”

680 international campaigners were detained by the Israeli military. They are expected to be sent to the border with Jordan before being deported to their home countries.