The Spirit of Humanity, a vessel of the US-based Free Gaza Movement, set sail again from Cyprus for the besieged Gaza Strip on Wednesday morning, carrying desperately needed doctors, aid workers and medical supplies.
The Greek-flagged vessel had to return to the southeastern Cypriot port of Larnana after suffering mechanical problems on Monday night, six hours after it left the Mediterranean island.
A total of 21 people, including journalists and members of parliament from European countries, are taking part in the resumed mission, Mary Hughes, a member of the Free Gaza Movement, told Xinhua.
There were 36 people on board for the aborted mission two days ago. Some of the participants had left due to the delay.
The Free Gaza Movement expressed its gratitude to the people of Cyprus, who helped them quickly repair the boat.
Israeli authorities had warned that they would turn the boat back "by all means," according to Cypriot port officials.
But Huwaida Arraf, spokeswoman for the Free Gaza Movement, said they would not be deterred by the threats.
Between August and December 2008, the Free Gaza Movement successfully challenged the Israeli blockade five times, bringing humanitarian supplies Gaza.
But on Dec. 30, after Israel launched attacks on Gaza, another chartered boat, Dignity, according to the movement, was rammed "deliberately, repeatedly and without warning" by an Israeli gunboat, and forced to find haven in a neighboring port in Lebanon.
This time, the organizers had sent an official notification to Israel's foreign affairs and military authorities, declaring that the Spirit of Humanity will be sailing from Cypriot waters into international waters, then directly into the territorial waters of Gaza without entering or nearing Israeli territorial waters.
"Any attack by Israel on the boat will be considered a deliberate attack on unarmed civilians engaged in a humanitarian action," the organizers said on Wednesday.
Medical supplies on board the Spirit of Humanity include essential parts for ventilators, which will allow the only burn center in Gaza, at Shifa Hospital, to double its capacity. The ship is also carrying medicines and basic supplies requested by other hospitals in Gaza.
If successful, the boat will arrive at Gaza port in 24 hours.
(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2009)