The Libyan humanitarian aid ship heading to the Gaza Strip has reached Arish seaport in Egypt on Thursday, after being forced to enter Egyptian waters by the Israeli navy.
The Egyptian Red Crescent started unloading the ship’s 1517-ton cargo to send it by land to the Strip.
The ship waited for hours before the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation, a charity run by the son of Libyan President Moammar Gaddafi and sponsor of the aid ship, gave it permission to unload. The delay upset seaport authorities who also had to wait.
An Arish port official said a delegation of nine people will be allowed to bring the ship’s medical supplies over the Rafah boder crossing, while food supplies will pass through the el-Aouga border crossing.
For its part, the GICDF said the mission succeeded in helping besieged Palestinians in Gaza, as building materials will be allowed to enter the strip and Palestinians will be able to receive medical treatment.
It also said that Libya would spend US$50 million that it had promised the Palestinians at the Qatar summit to build 500 housing units in the Strip.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
