Greece confines Gaza flotilla and frees U.S. captain

Reuters reports:

The captain of a U.S. ship arrested for trying to sail to Gaza as part of a flotilla aiming to deliver aid to Palestinians despite a Greek ban was freed on Tuesday, but three other activists were still in custody.

Just over a year after nine people were killed when Israeli marines stormed a pro-Palestinian flotilla, authorities last week banned ships destined for Gaza from leaving Greek ports to stop the latest flotilla “for their safety.”

American John Klusmire, 60, captain of the “Audacity for Hope” ferrying mostly U.S. activists, was charged with breaching the Greek ban and putting lives at risk after being intercepted last week at sea by armed Greek coastguards.

“He is released, there is no charge against him. He is free to go,” Adam Shapiro, one of the organisers of the Free Gaza Movement told Reuters by telephone from the port of Piraeus. “Our destination remains the freedom of the Palestinian people.”

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Facebooktwittermail