HAMAS OFFICIAL DEMANDS OPENING OF GAZA SEAPORT

photo: Ma'an — **A senior Hamas official demanded that a seaport be fully opened in Gaza, warning of an “explosion” if Israel’s siege and the Egyptian closure of Rafah continues.** (Photo: Ma’an)

Gaza, 9 Rabiul Akhir 1436/30 January 2016 (MINA) – A senior Hamas official on Thursday demanded that a seaport be fully opened in Gaza, warning of an “explosion” if Israel’s siege and the Egyptian closure of Rafah continues.

Ismail Radwan said that Israel was responsible for the consequences of the eight-year blockade and called the siege on Gaza a “war crime,” Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Radwan called on the “free people of the world” to send ships to break the blockade, and urged the Arab League, the OIC, and Arab nations to uphold their responsibilities to Gaza.

A ministerial committee in Israeli-blockaded Gaza announced plans on Sunday to ready the enclave’s sole seaport to allow Palestinians to travel abroad.

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.

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.(T/P008/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)