Israeli Gen. threatens to drown Erdogan

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129514§ionid=351020204



A retired senior commander in the Israeli army says that any move by Turkey and its premier to protect aid convoys to Gaza would be considered an act of war and Israel should sink such ships.

"If the Turkish prime minister joins such a flotilla," Dayan said "we should make clear beforehand this would be an act of war, and we would not try to take over the ship he was on, but would sink it," former deputy chief of staff, Maj. Gen. Uzi Dayan told Israel's army radio on Monday.

"We need to draw a clear line and say that whoever crosses it will not be boarded but sunk," al-Jazeerah news website quoted Dayan as saying.

The Lebanese newspaper Al-Mustaqbal reported on Saturday that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Recep Erdogan had told close associates about a plan to visit Gaza to "break the Israeli blockade."

The paper said Erdogan was considering traveling aboard a Turkish Navy vessel in support of aid convoys to Gaza.

The Turkish government had strongly condemned a May 31 attack by Israeli naval commandos on a Turkish-sponsored aid convoy heading for Gaza.

The onslaught on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters killed 20 activists accompanying the six-ship fleet and injured more than 50 others wounded, sparking shock and outrage around the globe.

In protest to the attack, Ankara recalled its ambassador to Israel and called for an international probe into the actions of the Israeli navy in the offensive. Turkey also demanded an apology by Tel Aviv, a measure Israel said it would not take.

The Turkish Prosecutor's Office in Istanbul has already launched an investigation in which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considered the main suspect and General Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are also suspects.

'Israel won't allow Iran ships to Gaza'

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129515§ionid=351020101



After Iran announced it would send ships loaded with humanitarian aid to Gaza, Israel said it would not allow any Iranian ships to enter the coastal sliver.

Iran's Red Crescent Director Abdolraoof Adibzadeh said Monday that two Iranian aid ships carrying "food and medical supplies" for the people of Gaza will set sail for the coastal sliver in the coming week.

"Iran is also preparing to dispatch a navy hospital ship for the people of Gaza, which will have onboard doctors, nurses and all the medical equipment required for emergency surgeries and procedures," Adibzadeh added.

Israel was quick to react to Iran's announcement with an Israeli diplomatic official saying that no Iranian ship will be allowed to Gaza, the Jerusalem Post reported.

"If we didn't let an Irish ship reach Gaza, we are certainly not going to let Iranian ships pass," the official said on Monday.

The official further pointed out that "any shipment from Iran to Gaza would be a major concern," claiming that Iran had a record of supplying Hamas and Hezbollah with weapons.

Iran's decision to dispatch relief supplies comes after Israel's military attacked the Freedom Flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea early on May 31.

The vessel was carrying thousands of tons of aid supplies and hundreds of humanitarian activists to the coastal strip.

The attack resulted in the death of 20 and the injury of more then 50 others.

A three-year Israeli blockade of Gaza has deprived the territories' 1.5 million residents of food, fuel, and other necessities.

Iranian aid ships to set sail for Gaza

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=129349§ionid=351020101



Two Iranian aid ships carrying humanitarian relief and medical supplies for the people of Gaza will set sail for the coastal sliver in the upcoming days.

Iran's Red Crescent announced Monday that the cargo will include food, medicine and appliances and it will be accompanied by a group of Iranian doctors and relief workers.

"The aid consists of food and medical supplies, which will be transported into Gaza via the Rafah border in Egypt before the week is through," the country's Red Crescent Director Abdolraoof Adibzadeh said.

The Rafah border crossing is the only escape route from Gaza that does not lead to Israel.

"Iran is also preparing to dispatch a navy hospital ship for the people of Gaza, which will have onboard doctors, nurses and all the medical equipment required for emergency surgeries and procedures," Adibzadeh further explained.

The decision comes in the wake of a deadly Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla carrying thousands of tons of aid supplies and hundreds of humanitarian activists to the coastal strip.

Israel's military attack into the Turkish aid vessel M.V. Mavi Marmara resulted in the death of nine activists -- including a Turkish teenager -- and the injury of more then 40 others.