Michele Kambas & Janet McBride | Reuters
NICOSIA, Aug 23 – Activists seeking to challenge Israel’s sea blockade of Gaza are struggling with rough seas and disruptions to their communications, the group said on Saturday.
The 44 “Free Gaza” activists set out on Friday from Cyprus in two wooden boats. They expected to reach Gaza’s coastline, which is patrolled by the Israeli navy, on Saturday.
Among those seeking to highlight poor living conditions of Palestinians in Gaza, is the sister-in-law of Middle East peace envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair, and an 81 year old American nun.
Activists still in Cyprus said communications with the boat had all but broken down since Friday evening.
“The electronic systems which guarantee our safety have been jammed and scrambled,” said Ramzi Kyzia, a spokesman for the activists, quoting from a statement received from the boats.
“Both of our ships are flying Greek flags in international waters and we are victims of electronic piracy.”
Kyzia said the activists communicated the statement in the only satellite telephone connection they managed to make from around 1630 GMT on Friday. He said they were worried about communication in the event of an emergency.
The activists were experiencing rough seas and called on the Greek and international community to “meet their responsibilities and protect civilians on board,” Kyzia said.
“We are civilians from 17 nations on this project to break the siege of Gaza. We are not experienced sailors.”
Israel pulled its troops and settlers out of Gaza in 2005 but has tightened restrictions on the territory since the militant Islamic movement Hamas seized control there last year from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ security forces
Israel and Hamas agreed on a ceasefire in June. It calls on both sides to stop cross border violence and on Israel to ease its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The truce has largely held, although Gaza militants have fired rockets into Israel and the Jewish state has periodically closed its borders with the coastal enclave.
