No country (including Arab Countries) recognized the Hamas regime in Gaza, except for Iran, which doesn’t recognize the regime but is the only country supporting Hamas with arms and finance.
On 15/7/2008 Tony Blair, delegate of the Quartet, arrived at the borders of Gaza on the Israeli side of the Erez border crossing, while he intended to inaugurate the second phase of the Sewage Treatment Project in the northern part of Gaza Strip. However, he was forced to cancel his visit, because, so reported Israeli sources, of a plan to assassinate him and also due to the presence of large numbers of Hamas security personnel, belonging to the deposed government.
It was believed that the visit was canceled because of political reasons, especially because Hamas had taken advantage of such a visit before, by claiming its success in the security issues under its regime, especially in light of Calmness.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri on the same day (15/7/2008) accused Israel and others (mainly the PA) to undermine the visit, as a continuation of the war against Hamas. Prime Minister of the deposed government Ismail Haniya also stated on that day that the visit would have been as a result of the improvement of the security situation in the Gaza Strip under the Hamas regime. He described Gaza as an oasis of safety and security (before the cancellation of the visit) but, after the cancellation of the visit, he also claimed an Israeli plot against Hamas to prevent them taking advantage of the visit as a political achievement.
In their ME report No.24 on 11/9/2008 The International Crisis Group(ICG) wrote :
“Since Hamas’s June 2007 takeover of Gaza, the US, Israel, several Arab states and elements within the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah have been counting on a strategy of weakening Hamas by isolating Gaza. That approach lies in tatters. The Islamist movement has scored a series of significant tactical victories. Internally, it has improved security and marginalized political challengers. It has reshaped the bureaucracy and pushed out those still loyal to the Ramallah-based government. Externally, it concluded a ceasefire with Israel, which is shaky but still holding. Hamas is developing its ties with outside actors, most recently Jordan.”
In an unexpected event on 23 August 2008, two small boats, the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty, successfully landed in Gaza in the evening, breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip with 44 peace activists on board from 17 countries after spending 2 days at sea, coming from Cyprus. It was a complete surprise that the Israeli Government allowed the 2 boats to land at the Gaza shore after being threatened by Israel that they wouldn't be able to do so.
After 5 days in Gaza, 34 of the activists left Gaza, having with them a boy who lost his leg during military clashes to be treated in Cyprus, and a family who were stuck in Gaza (a mother and her children). One of the activists, being Israeli, got arrested when arriving at the Erez border crossing, while neither Israel nor Egypt accepted to give the rest of the 9 activists permission to return to their countries through their lands.
On 20/9/2008 Egypt permitted only Lorine Both (sister of Tony Blair’s wife) to leave when reopening the Rafah border crossing for students and humanitarian cases.
The Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, announced that the Free Gaza Movement had informed them that another boat, the SS Hope (Al-Amal), planned to depart from Larnaca, Cyprus on 24 September, but the organizers postponed its departure for unknown reasons.
The passengers in the boat included:
- Five physicians from four countries
- Human rights lawyers and monitors
- Mr. Jamal Zahalkeh – Palestinian member of the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset).
- Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, – General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
- Ms. Mairead Maguire – 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner from Belfast, Ireland.
On 1/12/2008, very early in the morning, Israeli Coast Guard ships prevented a Libyan ship "AlMarwa" loaded with about 2000 tons of foodstuffs and medical supplies to land at the Gaza sea port. The AlMarwa continued its way to Al-Arish, an Egyptian sea port, to unload its cargo, so it could be transported to Gaza by land.
On 7/12/2008 the Israeli Authorities stopped a sailing boat from Jaffa Israeli port, on a trip that was organized by Knesset members, as well as Israeli Arab politicians and human rights activists. The boat was loaded with 5 tons of humanitarian assistance to Gaza's people. The Israeli security services also confiscated the materials on the boat.
On 9/12/2008 a new small boat Al-Karama (Dignity) had arrived from Cyprus at Gaza sea port, with 12 pro-Palestinian activists on board, and a symbolic amount of medicines, breaching the Israeli blockade on Gaza strip. The boat returned back with 11 Palestinian students, who were to join universities abroad. The Free Gaza website wrote that Palestinians were also expecting 2 big ships loaded with foodstuffs as well as medicines for Gaza to sail from London.
PLC member Mr. Jamal Khoudary (Head of the popular committee against the siege), stated on www.freegaza.ps (on 3/12/2008) that the Islamic Parliaments Union intended to send a ship loaded with humanitarian support to sail from Larnaka on Cyprus on 18/12/2008, to be followed by a Jordanian ship to sail from Aqaba sea port on 20/12/2008. He also added that Kuwait and Yemen promised to send 2 ships on January 2009 to break through the closure of the besieged Gaza Strip.
On 15/7/2008 Tony Blair, delegate of the Quartet, arrived at the borders of Gaza on the Israeli side of the Erez border crossing, while he intended to inaugurate the second phase of the Sewage Treatment Project in the northern part of Gaza Strip. However, he was forced to cancel his visit, because, so reported Israeli sources, of a plan to assassinate him and also due to the presence of large numbers of Hamas security personnel, belonging to the deposed government.
It was believed that the visit was canceled because of political reasons, especially because Hamas had taken advantage of such a visit before, by claiming its success in the security issues under its regime, especially in light of Calmness.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri on the same day (15/7/2008) accused Israel and others (mainly the PA) to undermine the visit, as a continuation of the war against Hamas. Prime Minister of the deposed government Ismail Haniya also stated on that day that the visit would have been as a result of the improvement of the security situation in the Gaza Strip under the Hamas regime. He described Gaza as an oasis of safety and security (before the cancellation of the visit) but, after the cancellation of the visit, he also claimed an Israeli plot against Hamas to prevent them taking advantage of the visit as a political achievement.
In their ME report No.24 on 11/9/2008 The International Crisis Group(ICG) wrote :
“Since Hamas’s June 2007 takeover of Gaza, the US, Israel, several Arab states and elements within the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah have been counting on a strategy of weakening Hamas by isolating Gaza. That approach lies in tatters. The Islamist movement has scored a series of significant tactical victories. Internally, it has improved security and marginalized political challengers. It has reshaped the bureaucracy and pushed out those still loyal to the Ramallah-based government. Externally, it concluded a ceasefire with Israel, which is shaky but still holding. Hamas is developing its ties with outside actors, most recently Jordan.”
In an unexpected event on 23 August 2008, two small boats, the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty, successfully landed in Gaza in the evening, breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip with 44 peace activists on board from 17 countries after spending 2 days at sea, coming from Cyprus. It was a complete surprise that the Israeli Government allowed the 2 boats to land at the Gaza shore after being threatened by Israel that they wouldn't be able to do so.
After 5 days in Gaza, 34 of the activists left Gaza, having with them a boy who lost his leg during military clashes to be treated in Cyprus, and a family who were stuck in Gaza (a mother and her children). One of the activists, being Israeli, got arrested when arriving at the Erez border crossing, while neither Israel nor Egypt accepted to give the rest of the 9 activists permission to return to their countries through their lands.
On 20/9/2008 Egypt permitted only Lorine Both (sister of Tony Blair’s wife) to leave when reopening the Rafah border crossing for students and humanitarian cases.
The Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza, announced that the Free Gaza Movement had informed them that another boat, the SS Hope (Al-Amal), planned to depart from Larnaca, Cyprus on 24 September, but the organizers postponed its departure for unknown reasons.
The passengers in the boat included:
- Five physicians from four countries
- Human rights lawyers and monitors
- Mr. Jamal Zahalkeh – Palestinian member of the Israeli Parliament (the Knesset).
- Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, – General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, and member of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
- Ms. Mairead Maguire – 1976 Nobel Peace Prize winner from Belfast, Ireland.
On 1/12/2008, very early in the morning, Israeli Coast Guard ships prevented a Libyan ship "AlMarwa" loaded with about 2000 tons of foodstuffs and medical supplies to land at the Gaza sea port. The AlMarwa continued its way to Al-Arish, an Egyptian sea port, to unload its cargo, so it could be transported to Gaza by land.
On 7/12/2008 the Israeli Authorities stopped a sailing boat from Jaffa Israeli port, on a trip that was organized by Knesset members, as well as Israeli Arab politicians and human rights activists. The boat was loaded with 5 tons of humanitarian assistance to Gaza's people. The Israeli security services also confiscated the materials on the boat.
On 9/12/2008 a new small boat Al-Karama (Dignity) had arrived from Cyprus at Gaza sea port, with 12 pro-Palestinian activists on board, and a symbolic amount of medicines, breaching the Israeli blockade on Gaza strip. The boat returned back with 11 Palestinian students, who were to join universities abroad. The Free Gaza website wrote that Palestinians were also expecting 2 big ships loaded with foodstuffs as well as medicines for Gaza to sail from London.
PLC member Mr. Jamal Khoudary (Head of the popular committee against the siege), stated on www.freegaza.ps (on 3/12/2008) that the Islamic Parliaments Union intended to send a ship loaded with humanitarian support to sail from Larnaka on Cyprus on 18/12/2008, to be followed by a Jordanian ship to sail from Aqaba sea port on 20/12/2008. He also added that Kuwait and Yemen promised to send 2 ships on January 2009 to break through the closure of the besieged Gaza Strip.
