Lebanon greets Gaza Flotilla heroes

Four Lebanese nationals, detained by Israel during its deadly attack on a Gaza aid Flotilla, have been released at the border point in Naqoura.

Crowds of jubilant Lebanese from different political parties joined late on Wenesday to welcome the four, including two journalists, at the southern border crossing.

Lebanese protesters, among them both Muslim and Christian religious leaders, burnt the Israeli and the US flags during a protest earlier in the area.

“It is a shame that something like this happens. Especially that the ships all contained innocent people, all civilians, taking with them only medication, blood (products), and building materials,” Hezbollah MP Ali Fayyad told a Press TV correspondent.

“They did not carry any guns, they did not carry any weapons. It was all peaceful shipment to help the people of Gaza,” he stressed.

Okab Said, another MP from Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s March 14 alliance, said Israel is dealing as an entity above international law, accusing the United States for its “unlimited” support for Israel.

“We consider that the Americans completely share the Israelis’ responsibility towards those activists,” he stressed.

Andre Abu Khalil, who was abducted by Israeli forces during the Monday attack on the Gaza aid convoy, described the move as “piracy against the international community and Lebanon.”

“I believe such behavior will reveal the real nature of Israel and there is a stance of solidarity amongst the Arabs, which will have a great impact on Gaza and the ongoing conflict with Israel,” he said.

There were no serious injuries among the returning Lebanese, but one of them was taken to the hospital by ambulance after being wounded by a rebounding bullet.

One of the freed activists, however, said not every one on the convoy was so lucky.

“Ten Turkish members of the organizers were beaten at Ben-Gurion airport,” he said, adding he did not even learn the reason for that.

Out of the five Lebanese onboard the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, only one with a dual Lebanese-Irish nationality has yet to return to the country.