Activists' medical aid boat breaches Israel's blockade

Activists from Qatar and Lebanon have defied Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip by docking an aid boat in the territory. The ship delivered medical aid to the Hamas-controlled territory on Saturday, a day after leaving from Larnaca port in Cyprus. It is the first boat to reach Gaza's shores since the end of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Friday. Fifteen activists, including two from a Qatari charity, led by the US-based Free Gaza movement made the voyage. Israeli authorities did not prevent the ship reaching Gaza's port, according to the boat's spokesman. However, he said that prior support from the Qatari government helped the group reach their destination. The aid supplies contained specific medicine required for cancer brought by the Qatari government at the request of the Palestinian ministry of health in Gaza. Israeli naval ships patrol the enclave and earlier this month prevented a Libyan ship from delivering humanitarian supplies. Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip two years ago after Hamas won a parliamentary election. Shortages of basic foodstuffs, oil and medicines in Gaza have been increasing since then, with aid groups warning of a humanitarian crisis if the blockade is not eased.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) accused Israel of providing a selective and reduced health care to Palestinians, a Hamas representative in  Tehran warned that the siege of the Gaza Strip was “a shame” for humanity. On the other hand, Israel officials defended their case against WHO allegations