(Thumbnail Image: Al Jazeera)

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Just six weeks after a deadly flotilla raid, Israeli defense forces face another aid ship headed for the Israeli Gaza blockade.

Israeli officials warned the ship not to dock in Gaza, and reroute to a port in Egypt instead. But latest reports indicate that the ship, carrying 15 activists, is still destined for Gaza.

We’re analyzing coverage from Press TV, BBC, Al Jazeera and the American Thinker.

Press TV reports Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has made his stance clear in a radio announcement.

"I say very clearly, no ship will arrive in Gaza. We will not permit our sovereignty to be harmed.”


A Libyan charity is organizing the trip.  Youssef Sawani, the director of the charity, told BBC he still plans for the ship to stay on course.

“We are conducting a very humanitarian mission.  Its sole aim is to deliver humanitarian goods, foods, stuff and medication to the people of Gaza.  Who, no one can dispute are under urgent need because they have been under boycott, siege, you name it.  They went through it because of the Israeli’s actions."

A volunteer on the ship told Al Jazeera that the Israeli government has nothing to worry about.  He says they come in peace.

“We’ll try to explain to the others that we are just helping the people to give them.  We have nothing in the ship. We have nothing in the ship except oil, tomatoes, flour — that’s all we have.  We don’t have weapons, we don’t have guns and we don’t even have small knives or something.”  

But a blogger for American Thinker says the motives extend beyond just humanitarianism.  

“The ship full of activists is registered under the Gaddafi International Charity and Development Foundation so it is obviously a ploy of some kind beyond simply provoking a reaction from the Israelis… Perhaps he just wants a little attention from the international press.”

So what do you think?  Is this just a humanitarian mission?  Or is there a political message behind the voyage?

WRITER: Steven Hsieh
PRODUCER: Newsy Staff