Aid flotilla bound for Gaza faces delays, loses ships and key members of delegation

Flotilla bound for Gaza delayed, loses key members

JERUSALEM — Ships carrying 10,000 tons of aid supplies for blockaded Gaza are being held up near Cyprus as organizers try to get more than two dozen high-profile activists on board.

The would-be passengers, including 17 European legislators and a Holocaust survivor, were expected to join the ships from Cyprus. Organizer Greta Berlin said Saturday the Cypriot government is not allowing smaller boats to carry the group to the flotilla waiting in international waters.

Organizers are appealing to the Turkish government to get the group out via a Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus port.

The number of ships has dwindled from eight to five. Berlin says the flotilla is to sail toward Gaza by Saturday afternoon in any event and approach the territory Sunday.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military says its aircraft fired missiles at a metal workshop and a militants’ tunnel in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Hamas security officials said Saturday that nine missiles were fired, but that no one was hurt.

The military says the tunnel targeted late Friday was dug with the intention of smuggling militants from Gaza into Israel. Metal workshops are part of Gaza’s small homegrown weapons industry, which makes crude rockets that are fired at Israeli border towns.

Hamas says the workshop targeted Friday was destroyed.

The airstrikes came a day after a rocket fired from Gaza hit near an Israeli town and armed men tried unsuccessfully to rush across the border with Israel.