Hamas: Israeli siege in Gaza will be broken soon (Extra)

May 29, 2010, 12:44 GMT

Gaza - The leader of the de facto government of the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniya, said Saturday that the Israeli siege imposed on the Strip would soon be broken, even if the Israeli army prevented the Freedom Flotilla from reaching Gaza.

The fleet, expected to consist of 5 boats, and carrying around 700 people from more than 40 countries, is scheduled to arrive at Gaza harbour on Sunday, according to organizers.

Haniya, leader of the radical Islamist Hamas movement told a news conference at the harbour that the fleet was carrying a clear message and that it would reach the entire world. The meaning of the flotilla was that 'the entire world opposes the siege.'

'If the Israeli occupation behaves like pirates we will win,' said Haniya, who called for international intervention 'to back the Flotilla and confront the Israeli piracy.'

Haniya, who described the arrival of the Freedom Flotilla as a 'historic moment to end the Israeli siege,' called on Palestinians to come to the harbour to welcome the fleet.

Israel has said that it would prevent the boats from docking.

Israel says it will stop the convoy, take the ships to the port of Ashdod, urge the passengers to return to their countries and send the aid to the Gaza Strip through commercial crossings.

'If Israel prevents the ships from arriving in the Gaza Strip, it will be a real international media scandal, and this will encourage more and more fleets to break the siege,' said Haniya.

Israel imposed a tight blockade on the Gaza Strip, including the sea, after Hamas seized control of the enclave by force in June 2007. However, it has allowed in humanitarian aid, fuels and medicine.

'We are at the last quarter of the siege, which will end very soon,' Haniya said, adding 'there are many voices who are calling for and end to the siege, including many in Israel itself.'