The delegation planned to send a small aid boat to Gaza from Israel's port at Jaffa. Israeli police arrested three people bringing aid to the boat and warned the Israeli boat owner that he would be breaking the law if he went to Gaza.
Last week, the Israeli Navy turned away a Libyan ship carrying 3,000 tons of aid - which would have been biggest outside supply shipment to reach Gaza.
Other groups and nations are still making plans to challenge Israeli policies.
On Tuesday, the Free Gaza Movement plans to send its fourth boat from Cyprus to Gaza. The group had planned to transport the Qatar delegation on its 66-foot yacht, but now expects to carry a smaller aid cargo, along with a delegation of humanitarian workers, human rights activists and academics.
(In other words, Israel just prevented millions of dollars in cancer medicine from reaching those Palestinians in Gaza who need it.)
Israeli officials said they let Free Gaza boats in because the boats pose no security threat and they did not want to create an unnecessary international incident.
(Embarassing, more accurately.)
Israeli officials say they will allow supplies to enter Gaza if and when Hamas once again prevents Palestinian militants from firing rockets and mortars into southern Israel.
(However, if you follow the siege's timeline, you will see that Israel's policy, imposed as a belligerent response to Hamas' electoral victory, actually PROVOKED the rockets, just as its own Defense Staff warned would be the result of such a policy, which its own Attorney General referred to as a War Crime.)
The sea route gained attention last month when Israel began blocking all but essential humanitarian aid from going into Gaza. The restrictions are part of Israel's attempt to undermine Hamas, the hardline Islamist group that seized military control of Gaza in June 2007 by routing Palestinian Authority forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.
(This is a misrepresentation of what actually happened. After the Blockade failed to produce 'Regime Change', Israel and the US orchestrated an armed Coup, using elements of Fatah loyal to strongman, Mohammed Dahlan, as proxies. This plot was coordinated under Elliot Abrams - of Iran-Contra fame - and authorized directly by Condoleeza Rice. 1.)
Israel also barred international diplomats and journalists from entering Gaza, an unofficial policy currently being challenged in Israel's highest court by the Foreign Press Association, of which McClatchy Newspapers is a part. Israel lifted the ban for one day last week and then reimposed it.
Since early November, little aid has reached Gaza, which is facing shortages of everything from fuel to milk.
Following on the success of the Free Gaza boats, groups from Turkey and Jordan are also reportedly planning to send ships with aid to Gaza.
1. "-I Like This Violence'
Censoring the U.S. role in Gaza's civil war
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3184
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