Israel Fearful Of An All-Women Aid Flotilla

One day after Israel threatened to attack a new Gaza-bound aid ship with only women activists on board, the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah highlights Israel's fear, saying its military ability is "deteriorating."

"Israeli threats against women activists and journalists who are organizing new flotillas serve as proof of the immense fear the Zionists are living in," Israeli dailyYnet news reported Hezbollah's Executive Council Chief Hashem Safieddine as saying on Saturday.

The comment comes after earlier on Friday, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev called for a halt to the Gaza-bound aid ship scheduled to set sail from Lebanon, warning that Tel Aviv would use "all necessary means" to stop the vessel.

Israel "is terrified by a boat carrying women who want to deliver aid to Gaza. How will this Israel be able to face the rockets and the resistance bloc in the next confrontation?" the Hezbollah official asked.

"This is the Zionist entity in its current state and its deteriorating ability," he went on to say.

A group of 50 female Lebanese and foreign activists have announced a plan to send an aid ship loaded with medical supplies to Gaza, which has been under siege since 2007.

The organizers are yet to announce a departure date for the ship, named "Mariam" in honor of the Virgin Mary.

The pro-Palestinian campaigners planned the mission after Israeli commandos on May 31 stormed the Gaza Freedom Flotilla aid convoy, killing at least 9 civilian activists and injuring dozens of others. Several activists are still unaccounted for.

Israel claims that the new all-women Gaza-bound aid flotilla is linked to the Lebanese resistance movement of Hezbollah. However, Hezbollah has denied having ties with the new convoy, saying it would not join the humanitarian mission as it did not want to give Israel an excuse to attack the Gaza campaigners.

"Hezbollah confirms that it decided from the very beginning to stay away from this humanitarian act in terms of organization, logistic support and participation so as not to give the Israeli enemy any pretext to attack the participants," the group said in a statement.

AGB/CS/HRF

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