Libyan aid ship carrying Gaza aid heads for Egyptian port, averting maritime showdown
By Ashraf Sweilam, APWednesday, July 14, 2010
Libyan ship carrying aid for Gaza heads for Egypt
EL-ARISH, Egypt — An Egyptian official says the Libyan ship carrying aid for Gaza has established contact and asked permission to dock at the Egyptian port of el-Arish.
Port authority director Gamal Abdel Maqsoud says the Moldovan-flagged Almathea radioed port officials Wednesday evening requesting to dock in el-Arish. Maqsoud said the ship is 15 miles off the Egyptian coast.
Israeli military officials said earlier Wednesday the Almathea’s captain informed Israel he was heading for the Egyptian port, but the ship was out of reach for hours.
Israeli naval vessels have been shadowing the Almathea for hours to prevent it from continuing toward the ship’s original destination — the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Israel insisted it would not allow the ship to reach Gaza.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
EL-ARISH, Egypt (AP) — An Egyptian official says the Libyan ship carrying aid for Gaza has established contact and asked permission to dock at the Egyptian port of el-Arish.
Port authority director Gamal Abdel Maqsoud says the Moldovan-flagged Almathea radioed port officials Wednesday evening requesting to dock in el-Arish. Maqsoud said the ship is 15 miles off the Egyptian coast.
Israeli military officials said earlier Wednesday the Almathea’s captain informed Israel he was heading for the Egyptian port, but the ship was out of reach for hours.
Israeli naval vessels have been shadowing the Almathea for hours to prevent it from continuing toward the ship’s original destination — the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
Israel insisted it would not allow the ship to reach Gaza.
