Libyan aid ship docks in Egypt's El-Arish port

Libyan ship Al-Amal (Hope) arrives at El-Arish port, about 360 kilometers northeast of Cairo, capital of Egypt, on July 15, 2010. The Gaza-bound Libyan aid ship Al-Amal arrived at Egypt's el-Arish port on Thursday. On Tuesday, organizers of the Libyan-commissioned aid ship said Israeli naval forces have intercepted the ship, ordering it to head to Egypt. (Xinhua/Nasser Nouri)The Gaza-bound Libyan aid ship docked in Egypt's El-Arish port around midday Thursday after it was prevented from sailing directly to the Gaza Strip.

Workers are prepared to unload some 2,000 tons of food and medical aid materials on the vessel which reached the port Wednesday night.

"Egyptian authorities decided not to charge the Libyan ship any money for docking in El-Arish port," Director of El-Arish port Gamal Abdel Maqsoud told Xinhua, adding that "Egypt will afford the costs of unloading and transporting into Gaza."

Mohammed el-Kiki, undersecretary of north Sinai governorate, told Xinhua that the ship activists will be allowed to enter Gaza through Rafah crossing if they want. But one of the activists on the ship told Xinhua they refused to enter Gaza through land due to their failure to break Israeli blockade on the sea.

The medical aid materials will be transferred to Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing (40 km from El-Arish), while the food stuff will be transferred through Oujah crossing after coordinating with the Israeli authorities, Mohammed el-Kiki said.

Source: Xinhua

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