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Israel Renews Call for Aid Flotilla to Unload Gaza Cargo in Ashdod
(Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs) The Minister of Defense has issued warrants prohibiting the entrance of the international flotilla to Gaza. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General Yossi Gal separately summoned Thursday the ambassadors of Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Sweden and Ireland - the countries from which the ships participating in the flotilla set sail. At all the meetings, Gal clarified Israel's official position, which declares the flotilla an absolute provocation: There is no shortage of humanitarian aid to Gaza, as food products, fuel and supplies are constantly transferred into Gaza by international organizations. Therefore, the flotilla organizers are invited to dock at Ashdod port, to unload their cargo and transfer it to Gaza, after a security check, either via the Israeli authorities or via the humanitarian organizations. Gal emphasized that Gaza is under the control of a terrorist organization, which does not prioritize the well-being of the citizens of Gaza. This organization, under the patronage of Iran, continues to arm itself with ammunition and rockets, and to perpetuate a situation of armed conflict with Israel, after years of targeting Israeli civilians. Israel has the inherent natural right, therefore, to prevent the unsupervised transfer of supplies to Gaza. Israel will not allow the flotilla to reach Gaza. Gal stressed that kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit has been languishing in Gaza for four years, while Hamas blatantly breaches his elementary rights, and does not even allow the Red Cross to visit him.