Gaza says readying sea port for international travel A ministerial committee in Israeli-blockaded Gaza announced plans on Sunday to ready the enclaves sole seaport to allow Palestinians to travel abroad. The enclave, home to 1.8 million people, has been under an Israeli land and sea blockade since 2006. Its sole gateway to the world not controlled by Israel is the Rafah border with Egypt, which has been largely closed since late October. Alaa al-Batta, spokesman for the committee formed to lift the blockade, said preparations are under way to launch within two months a boat service for the sick and students studying overseas. The port in Gaza City is currently restricted to fishermen, whom Israel only allows to fish up to a maximum of six nautical miles from the shore. Israeli forces routinely fire on any vessel close to the outer limit. Opening a port was one of the main Palestinian demand to be tabled during negotiations with Israel to firm up a truce agreement which ended a 50-day war in July and August.
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 10:06:56 +0000
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