Armed Greece Coast Guards, on Friday, intercepted two ships of “Freedom Flotilla II” when they set sail to Gaza carrying a number of Solidarity activist ,and humanitarian relief, and forced them back to Greek shores.

Rami Abdo, member of the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza (ECESG) said that the American ship, carrying more than 40 international activists was intercepted by Greek Coast Guard (GCG) after sailing from one of the Greek seaports.

He added that the GCG called the American ship to go back to Greek port, but the participants refused and chanted “chanted “freedom for Palestine…freedom for Gaza” , but the GCG immediately blocked its movement.

The GCG also took control of the Canadian ship “ Tahrir” and confiscated its documents, and blocked the way of a Greek cargo ship.

Greece has officially declared a ban on allowing any of the flotilla’s ships from going to Gaza from its ports to defy Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, ECESG, one of the biggest participant in flotilla, said that the solidarity activists are determined to go forward and achieve their goal to reach Gaza and deliver the humanitarian relief to Gaza needy people, in spite of the Israeli escalating threats

ECESG, from its headquarters in Brussels, also expressed its dismay for Greek authorities “submission” to Israeli blackmail and Israeli threats , and abetment in Israel’s siege of the Strip, that entered its fifth consecutive year.

The head ECESG , Arafat Madi , in a press statement said “ We are determined in the coalition of Freedom Flotilla to break the oppressive blockade of Gaza” noting that “ the international solidarity movement and support to the besieged Palestinians are increasing ,while such event is increasingly unveiling the ugly face of the occupation” to world community.

He added “ One of the important objectives of Freedom Flotilla was to highlight the issue of continued and oppressive Israeli siege to international media outlets, and raise the awareness of world community on the extent of Israeli violations of international and humanitarian laws”.

It’s worth mentioning to say that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed thanks and appreciation to those countries that pressured to ban “Freedom Flotilla II” , especially Greek government, the US Administration, and UN secretary general Ban Ki- moon.

In 31st of May 2010 Israeli navy troops attacked Freedom Flotilla 1, in international waters off Gaza Strip, killed ten Turkish peaceful activists, and injured tens of others .

AB.