As two ships flying Lebanese flags are about to head for Israel to become the next Gaza flotilla stars, Lebanese Foreign Minister Ali Ashami sent a letter to the United Nations declaring that Israel will be directly responsible if anything happens to the vessels. The senior official explains that the ships are in compliance with Lebanese law, and therefore, the permits to set sail were granted since there were no grounds to prevent issuing the departure permits required under Lebanese law.

Israeli officials have announced that subsequent flotillas seeking to break the Gaza embargo would be halted, adding ships genuinely interested in infusing humanitarian aid into Hamas-controlled Gaza may arrange to have the cargo inspected and once approved, sent into Gaza with Israel’s blessings.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)