Shalev: Lebanon Ships Will Not Be Allowed To Enter Gaza

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Israel Gabriella Shalev warned on Thursday that two ships preparing to set sail from Lebanon to the Gaza Strip in order to bring aid to the Strip would not be allowed to reach their destination.

In a letter addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and current UN Security Council President Joy Ogwu, Shalev wrote: “The stated intention of these vessels is to violate the existing naval blockade of Gaza."

She added: “Israel reserves its right under international law to use all necessary means to prevent these ships from violating the aforementioned naval blockade. Furthermore, it cannot be ruled out that these vessels carry weapons or individuals with provocative and confrontational intentions.”

Israel recently eased the blockade of the Gaza Strip following international criticism which came after the IDF raid on the Gaza aid flotilla in May. Israeli soldiers who boarded one of the boats in a peaceful attempt to prevent its entrance into Israel's territorial waters killed nine Turkish citizens when attacked by passengers wielding knives and blunt weapons. The ship was found not to be carrying any aid.

Israel is currently allowing food and other aid into Gaza only via land crossings. The naval blockade continues to maintain the naval blockade. In her letter, Shalev noted the option of delivering aid to Gaza by land and added that sending ships to Gaza is meant “to incite a confrontation and raise tension in our region”.

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