The British government has revealed that it made representations to Greece, where nine boats were due to leave in the second international Gaza Freedom Flotilla, about its opposition to attempts to breach the 5-year illegal Israeli siege by sea.
“Officials from our embassy in Athens have discussed the matter of the Gaza flotilla with the Greek authorities and have relayed to them the United Kingdom’s position on this,” Minister for Europe David Lidington said.
“Our travel advice for Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories gives clear guidance against any attempt to enter Gaza by sea,” Lidington said.
“We continue to advise against participating in flotillas or overland convoys to Gaza because of the risks involved,” he said in a written parliamentary reply published Thursday.
Pro-Palestinian groups have accused European countries, including Greece and Turkey where two boats were sabotaged, of colluding with Israel to stop the second flotilla, a year ago it killed nine humanitarian activists aboard the first flotilla in international waters.
Last week, the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) also condemned European countries for preventing hundreds of pro-Palestinian supporters from flying to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv to protest against Israel’s illegal restrictions against travel to the occupied territories.
