Melbourne Man's Bid To Run Israeli Blockade

The Age

Friday August 1, 2008

Andra Jackson

A MELBOURNE man is set to directly challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza on the high seas.

Two ships organised by Michael Shaik will attempt to take medical supplies to the Palestinian territory.

Israel has barred outside supplies entering Gaza through its borders or by land or sea unless the sender is a charity that it recognises.

On board the ships will be about 60 peace activists including two Australians and an 83-year-old German-born Holocaust survivor, Hedy Epstein.

The ships are currently in Cyprus and are due to sail for Gaza harbour on Tuesday.

The last time an attempt was made to challenge the blockade by sea, Israel had threatened to blow the boat out of the water, Mr Shaik said yesterday.

That was in 1988 when Palestinian refugees, forced out in 1948, chartered a Greek vessel in a bid to return.

Mr Shaik said his ships would stay within Gaza's territorial waters, but the Israeli navy had been known to fire on fishing boats within those waters.

Secrecy surrounds the identity of the ships. Organisers yesterday refused to allow photographs, fearing this would allow the Israeli secret service Mossad to identify them. -- ANDRA JACKSON

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home