Indian ship to campaign against Gaza blockade

Jerusalem, Jul 26: Now Indian ship is set to join a new international campaign named 'The Audacity of Hope' to press for an end to the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The new campaign comes amid an increased international hue and cry to force the Jewish state to lift its siege of the coastal territory.

An email circulated by pro-Palestinian activists in the US said an American ship named after US President Barack Obama's autobiography, will join a flotilla of other vessels from Europe, Canada, India, South Africa in an additional attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade, the Ha'aretz daily reported.

It aims to raise $370,000 in Aug to obtain possession of a ship that could accommodate between 40 and 60 people, and for operational expenses, the email said.

The effort is supported by several prominent figures, including Prof Rashid Khalidi, a well-known critic of Israel.

Khalidi said he does not know what the ship will ultimately be named, but added the White House should not be embarrassed by the name 'The Audacity of Hope', and should instead call for Israel's naval blockade of the Hamas-controlled territory to be lifted, the report said.

OneIndia News