IRAN: “We’ll send two ships to Gaza” Israel: “Serious provocation”
Posted on June 7, 2010 by cesa
TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent has this week decided to send two ships with humanitarian aid in Gaza and called on the availability of volunteers willing to embark and accompanying material. The state IRNA news agency reported. The decision, said the director of the organization, Abdolrauf Adibzadeh, was taken after a meeting with officials of the Iranian Foreign Ministry. “A ship will take donations from people and other rescue workers. The ships will be sent to Gaza by the end of this week.”
Red Crescent sources have indicated that volunteers willing to take part in the expedition can register on the website charitable entity. Meanwhile in recent days, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards have indicated their willingness to accompany new naval missions to Gaza in the event that it be ordered by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Also the issuer of Tehran announced the launch of new initiatives of solidarity pro-Gaza. In particular, in the coming days should start from the port of Beirut, a ship loaded with aid of 75 activists on board.
Israel for now minimizes the threat. Asked anxiety in Jerusalem, Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said that the Netanyahu government does not believe that Iran is really ready to send ships to the Gaza Strip but also considers serious, like a “provocation” The announcement was made today by the Red Crescent in Tehran.
Provocation that worries Europeans. According to the Italian Foreign Minister Frattini, who today met with British colleague William Hague, this is proof that Tehran “wants to take control” of Gaza. Frattini for Iran’s decision “was mainly against Hamas.” “For the first time the international community had a clear signal that Iran wants to take control of the Gaza Strip,” said the Minister.
Frattini Hague still have defined the situation of the Israeli blockade in Gaza “intolerable and unacceptable.” The head of Italian diplomacy should “find a solution as soon as possible, with the cooperation of the Quartet, to ensure the help of aid and security at the same time,” namely “that weapons and terrorists from entering Gaza.” Frattini reiterated the need for “honest clear and transparent investigation, with an international presence to accompany the sovereign State of Israel, to clarify what happened. A clear investigation, said Hague,” the presence of the international Quartet.
As for measures against Iran, Frattini said that Italy is ready to work on a package of EU sanctions that alongside what will be decided by the UN Security Council.”
Meanwhile remain strained relations between Israel and Turkey. The government has banned its soldiers to travel to Turkey, following tensions caused by the bloody raid on the ship Mavi Marmara. In an official note of the Operations Directorate of the army, states that “in response to provocation at sea is forbidden to travel to Turkey to all soldiers and officers in military service or reservists. The ban applies both for the soldiers who are serving and for those on leave. ” “It ’s very likely to occur violent threats against Israelis in Turkey,” said Colonel Amit Yusbar Directorate of Operations. Last week had already been sent a recommendation to all Israelis to avoid travel in Turkey and those living there to stay indoors and keep away from protests and public places.
Meanwhile, off the coast of Gaza, the Israelis killed four Palestinians, according to officials of the army, were part of a commando frogmen armed and ready to carry out an attack.
