12 European countries to join Gaza-bound Flotilla II: organization

 The European Campaign to end Gaza siege said on Friday that 12 European countries will participate in the Gaza-bound Flotilla II that will sail to the Gaza Strip the end of June.

Rami Abdo, member of the campaign, said in a press statement to reporters that ships from five European countries, namely France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Switzerland, announced they want to join in the flotilla in addition to seven other European countries "to defy the Israeli blockade."

"The humanitarian ships will leave the harbors of France, Germany and Italy, in addition to other European seaports soon," said Abdo, without giving a specific date on when the ships will start sailing to the Gaza Strip.

However, he said the ships will carry members of European parliaments and hundreds of activists and members of the international solidarity movements who call for ending around four years of Israeli blockade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier stated that Israel will keep the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, mainly on the shores of the coastal enclave, hinting that his army will block the ships from reaching Gaza.

On May 31 last year, the Israeli naval commando forces stopped the first Gaza-bound flotilla which carried 700 people, and nine Turkish activists were killed and the ships were seized.

Following the attack on the flotilla which outraged the international community, Israel eased the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.

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