Iran Sends Two New Aid Ship to Gaza, Urges Joint Convoys, Willing to Provide Military Escort

Iran expresses willingness to provide Gaza convoys with military escort

[ 07/06/2010 - 05:24 PM ]

TEHRAN, (PIC)--

The Spokesman for Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei said that the elite forces in the revolutionary guards are ready to provide military escort for the aid ships trying to break Israel's siege on the Gaza Strip.

"If the supreme leader of the revolution issued an order in this regard to the navy of the revolutionary guards, practical measures would be taken to escort the convoys to Gaza," Mehr news agency quoted spokesman Ali Shirazi as saying.

The spokesman stressed that Iran should encourage further international efforts to break the siege on Gaza.

In a related context, German lawmaker Inge Hoger demanded Israel to return the ships of Freedom Flotilla convoy which it seized to their owners and transport the cargoes to Gaza without delay.

In a march organized on Saturday in Berlin, Hoger, who participated in the convoy, condemned the Israeli attack on the ships as an act of piracy and a crime that violates international law and human rights rules.

She said that she witnessed along with other passengers on Mavi Marmara ship a real war, asserting that the Israeli troops did not only kill and wound a number of the passengers, but also they stole personal belongings as well.

Iran urges joint Gaza aid convoys

Press TV, Mon, 07 Jun 2010 12:45:34 GMT

Iran has called on the Middle East countries to send joint aid convoys to the Gaza Strip, as worldwide condemnation of an Israeli attack on the Freedom Flotilla continues.

"Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili proposed the sending of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza from the Persian Gulf, with the cooperation of regional countries," Fars News Agency reported.

He made the remarks in a meeting with Oman's visiting Parliament Speaker Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Isa'ee.

Israel drew worldwide condemnation by attacking a Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla last week, killing at least 20 people and injuring dozens of others.

Tel Aviv, which has remained defiant of international calls for an end to the three-year blockade it has imposed on Gaza, seized control of a second Gaza-bound aid ship, the Rachel Corrie, on Saturday.

Jalili's remarks come as Iran's Red Crescent announced Monday that two Iranian aid ships carrying humanitarian relief and medical supplies for the people of Gaza would set sail for the coastal sliver in the upcoming days.

He added that the world was now witnessing the creation of an international movement in support of Palestinians.

Al-Isa'ee, for his part, said Muslim countries should take a "firm stance" against Israel over its attack on the Freedom Flotilla.

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