French ship 'Dignity' departs for Gaza from Egypt

Activists aboard vessel expect to arrive at Strip by noon after leaving at 6 a.m. from Port Said; Navy preparing to stop yacht.

By YAAKOV KATZ, JPOST.COM STAFF
French flotilla boat leaving Crete 311 (R) (photo credit: Reuters)
French flotilla boat leaving Crete 311 (R)
(photo credit: Reuters)
Activists aboard the French ship Dignity - Al-Karama reported that they have set sail in the direction of the Gaza Strip shortly after 6 a.m. on Tuesday after anchoring at Egypt's Port Said.
The vessel is expected to reach Gaza by noon, Israeli-Swedish passenger Dror Feiler said, unless it is stopped by the Israel Navy.
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A defense official on Monday said that the navy is preparing to stop the ship before it reaches the Strip.
The Dignity is carrying 17 pro-Palestinian activists. It was part of the Free Gaza Movement’s flotilla that was canceled earlier this month after Greece refused to allow the ships to leave its ports for the Gaza Strip.
On Sunday, the ship left Greek waters after declaring Alexandria as its destination. According to Free Gaza, its passengers include Jacqueline Le Corre, a member of the French Communist Party, Jean-Claude Lefort, a former French Member of the European Parliament, and Haaretz correspondent Amira Hass.
While the organizers did not explicitly declare that the ship would sail to Gaza, they said that it was part of the “first wave that will be followed by others.”
“It is a message to the Israeli government, to the international community and to the besieged people of Gaza: The Free Gaza Movement and the coalition of Freedom Flotilla II are not giving up until the inhumane and illegitimate blockade of Gaza is lifted,” the movement said in a press release.
Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said that Israel would stop the vessel.
“If this boat is on its way to Gaza, which is a breach of international maritime law...we will intercept it,” he said. “But I assure you that we will try our best to make all those on board very comfortable.”