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Gaza (Palestinian Territories) – A Palestinian boat sailed Tuesday from Gaza's fishing harbor to a port in Cyprus to denounce the strict Israeli blockade that has stifled the enclave for more than a decade , noted an AFP journalist.
The Gaza Strip, a territory wedged between Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean and controlled by Hamas, is under an Israeli-imposed land, sea and air blockade.
The Jewish state and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008 and since 2014 have seen a tense ceasefire.
On Tuesday, hundreds of Gazans came to greet the departure of the boat carrying nine pbadengers, including four Palestinians wounded by Israeli soldiers and students.
These pbadengers " with specific needs are prevented from traveling, receiving care and finishing their studies ," said Raed Abu Dayr, coordinator of the committee of a movement dubbed " Great march back ".
They " leave to badert their right to travel " and " we are determined to break the blockade ," he added, adding that they would recommence if ever the attempt was stopped.
A fleet had already sailed at the end of May, then had to turn around, one of the boats having been boarded by the Israeli army before getting out of the limit of nine nautical miles (about 16 km) by Israel.
" I am leaving to be treated abroad ," said one of the pbadengers, Mahmoud Abu Ataya, 25, recently wounded in eastern Gaza.
" I tried to get out of the waypoints, but I was driven back to Rafah (to Egypt), same thing to Erez " Israel, he explained, said the treatment needed for his leg injury was unavailable in the enclave.
Since March 30, Gazans have been demonstrating along the fence that separates the enclave from Israel in order to denounce the Israeli blockade and to demand the return of Palestinian refugees who fled or fled their lands in 1948 during the creation of the State of Israel.
At least 139 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army and more than 4,000 were shot and wounded. Israel justified its response by claiming that it was necessary to defend its borders and stop infiltrations.
On Monday, Israel announced the closure of the only crossing point between Israel and the Gaza Strip, a response to kites and incendiary balloons launched from the enclave that burned hundreds of thousands of people. hectares in Israeli territory.
The closure of the crossing point will exacerbate the already very precarious humanitarian situation in Gaza, where more than 80 percent of the population is dependent on aid, according to the World Bank.
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