Published today 12:10 9 July 2010
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=298041

Jerusalem - Ma'an/Agencies - A charity headed by the son of Libyan leader
Moamar Gaddafi is sending an aid boat from Greece to Gaza to break Israel's
blockaded of the coastal enclave, organizers told Agence France-Presse on
Friday.

The cargo ship Hope will depart from Lavrio, 60 kilometers southeast of
Athens, the Libyan embassy reportedly said. "This is a humanitarian mission
expected to sail later on Friday," an embassy official told AFP.

The Tripoli-based Gaddafi International Charity and Development Association,
chaired by Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, the second son of the Libyan leader, said
it was sending a cargo ship "loaded with about 2,000 tons of humanitarian
aid in the form of foodstuff and medications," according to the news wire.

The ship will also carry "a number of supporters who are keen on expressing
solidarity with the Palestinian people in the plight amidst the siege
imposed on Gaza," the organization added in a statement.

The report follows news that an Iranian aid ship bound for Gaza was canceled
after was organizers termed "Israeli threats."

Several countries have vowed to send flotillas to the coastal enclave,
following an Israeli raid of a Gaza-bound fleet of boats carrying
humanitirian aid left nine Turkish nationals dead on 31 May.

Turkey has threatened to severe ties with Israel if its government fails to
apologize for the incident and allow an international, independent
commission to investigate the attack. Israel is currently conducting an
internal probe, which Ankara says will not suffice.