 Activists and journalists of a Lebanese ship seized by the Israeli navy at the city of Naqura in southern Lebanon |
Lebanese activists of the Brotherhood Ship have returned to their country after being detained by the Israeli forces off the Gaza coast.
The nine Lebanese and a Palestinian resident of Lebanon crossed the Lebanese-Israeli border at the coastal town of Naqoura early Friday, with the help of the UN peacekeeping force, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The nine Lebanese and a Palestinian resident of Lebanon crossed the Lebanese-Israeli border at the coastal town of Naqoura early Friday, with the help of the UN peacekeeping force, the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
The 10 were among 18 people who were held for several hours after their ship was seized by the Israeli navy on Thursday.
The Brotherhood Ship carrying 60 tons of medicine, food, toys and books, was held by Israeli navy after the warships opened fire on it about 20 miles off the Gaza coast Thursday.
It had left the port city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon early on Tuesday and was to take the supplies to the Gaza Strip which is under a tight Israeli blockade for 19 months.
It had left the port city of Tripoli in northern Lebanon early on Tuesday and was to take the supplies to the Gaza Strip which is under a tight Israeli blockade for 19 months.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora roundly condemned the Israeli seizure of the ship, saying "I express my utmost condemnation for this blatant attack."
"Those who commit massacres against innocent civilians in Lebanon and Gaza will not stop themselves from assaulting, in front of the world, a ship carrying humanitarian supplies," he added.
Israel closed the border crossings to the coastal region since the democratically-elected government of Hamas took control of the Strip in June 2007.
It even kept the crossings closed during a 23-day war against the region and prevented humanitarian supplies and medicines from entering into the besieged territory which is in dire need of medical supplies.
The three-week all out war against the region claimed at least 1,330 Palestinian lives and left almost 6,000 wounded.
"Those who commit massacres against innocent civilians in Lebanon and Gaza will not stop themselves from assaulting, in front of the world, a ship carrying humanitarian supplies," he added.
Israel closed the border crossings to the coastal region since the democratically-elected government of Hamas took control of the Strip in June 2007.
It even kept the crossings closed during a 23-day war against the region and prevented humanitarian supplies and medicines from entering into the besieged territory which is in dire need of medical supplies.
The three-week all out war against the region claimed at least 1,330 Palestinian lives and left almost 6,000 wounded.
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