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U.S. warns citizens against involving in Gaza-bound flotilla

28 June 2011 02:37 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The U.S. government on Monday warned American citizens against involving in efforts to break Israel’s naval blockade by the Gaza-bound flotilla, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The U.S. warnings to U.S. citizens apply to all U.S. citizens, " said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland. "We are concerned about any of our citizens involved in a situation that could be provocative, that could be dangerous."

She said the U.S. believed that effective channels to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip existed, "both through Israel and through Egypt."

"The channels are being used, and the people of Gaza are being aided," she added.

A total of 15 ships and some 1,500 pro-Palestinian activists plan to set sail from European ports later this month, and are expected to approach the Gaza coast in the first week of July. A group of 36 Americans have expressed their intention to join the flotilla in its effort to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The move comes one year after a tragic incident that happened on May 31, 2010, when Israeli forces launched a raid on a Gaza- bound aid ship, killing 8 Turks and one U.S. citizen of Turkish origin on board.