"We tried not to play into their hands and be drawn into a provocation when they arrived, and will try to continue this policy when they leave," official says.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFBlockade protesters haniyeh 224.88(photo credit: AP)
Israel is likely to allow protesters who defied the blockade of Gaza by sailing into the Palestinian territory to leave unhindered, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.
Two ships bearing international protesters sailed from Cyprus on Saturday to draw attention to the blockade. Israel initially hinted it would block the ships but decided not to interfere. That approach is likely to be repeated when they leave, Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said.
"We tried not to play into their hands and be drawn into a provocation when they arrived, and will try to continue this policy when they leave," Palmor said.
In Gaza on Sunday, the protesters met with Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. On Monday, the group escorted Palestinian fishermen beyond the sailing limit enforced by the Israeli navy off Gaza's coast. Israeli navy ships trailed them but did not communicate with them or interfere, according to Huwaida Arraf, one of the protesters.
Arraf said one of the ships would depart for Cyprus on Wednesday, while the other would remain in Gaza for the time being. The protesters intend to return regularly from Cyprus to Gaza, she said, "establishing a ferry service, if you will."
An Israeli protester, Jeff Halper, said the boat leaving Wednesday would carry about 10 Gaza students who have been unable to reach their studies abroad because of the blockade.
Palmor declined to say whether Israel would allow the Gazans to leave, and said Israel would weigh its response to future trips "on a case by case basis."
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