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Protesters delay Israeli flight over siege

Demonstrators in Greece have delayed an Israeli flight bound for the occupied Palestinian territories for two hours seeking to protest the siege of the Gaza Strip.

Members of the labor union of Greece gathered at Athens International Airport on Wednesday to condemn the “oppressive policies” adopted by Israel in dealing with the impoverished people of Gaza.

The pro-Palestinian campaigners blocked five El-Al airline check-in counters, which led to a two-hour delay of the Israeli flight.

The protesters said their action was taken in “solidarity with the Palestinian people and their efforts to establish a Palestinian state,” union spokesman Giorgos Pontikos told the Associated Press.

Pontikos added that police were present at the scene of the protest but did not intervene.

The flight eventually departed for Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv two hours later with 99 passengers on board, Athens airport officials said.

The protest took place as a Libyan aid ship carrying aid to Gaza was forced to sail to an Egyptian port to avoid confrontation with the Israeli military.

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