RAMALLAH, August 21 (JMCC) - On Saturday, it was still unclear if a Lebanese aid ship bound for Gaza would be allowed to leave its Cyprus port.

Israel’s diplomatic efforts are paving the way for a confrontation. In late May, nine pro-Palestinian activists were killed when Israeli commandos boarded a Turkish vessel headed to break an Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.

Israel told the United Nations on Friday that it reserves the right to use force to stop the all-female Lebanese aid flotilla from reaching Gaza.

Israel’s UN Ambassador Gabriela Shalev stated that the intention of the ship named the Mariam is to violate the existing naval blockade of Gaza. She also expressed concern that another vessel, the Naji al-Ali, also intends to sail from the Lebanese port of Tripoli for Gaza.

Israel reserves its right under international law to use all necessary means to prevent these ships from violating the aforementioned naval blockade,” Shalev warned.

She said such confrontational actions by the organizers as well as those that offer their consent, is deeply troubling and requires the attention of the international community.

SUNDAY DEPARTURE

The Mariam, a Bolivian-flagged cargo ship originally named Junia Star, plans to leave from northern Lebanon for Cyprus on Sunday at 10:00 pm (1900 GMT) on the first leg of a planned voyage to Gaza, organizer Samar al-Hajj said Thursday.

On Saturday, however, organizer Yasser Kashlack told JMCC.org that they were still waiting for the go-ahead from Cypriot authorities. “We are still waiting for Cypriot authorization. We had it before -- I don’t know why they took it away,” he said.

The Naji al-Ali, says Kashlack, is scheduled to leave two days later.

‘NOT POLITICAL’

A ticket on the Mariam has become hot property. The organizers say they have been inundated with international requests, including two from Serbia. Frank Lamb from the Sabra Shatilla Foundation is coordinating applications from the United States. So far there have been 413 American requests, said Lamb.

Approximately 10 to 12 of the applicants will be able to go. It is rumored that one is a member of the United States Congress. Well-known singer May Hariri can no longer attend, says Kashlack.

The organizers of the Mariam insist their mission is purely humanitarian.  

“We have a goal: our goal is to arrive to Gaza.  It is the responsibility of the government to deal with the politics.  We are not political,” said Samar.