Israel deports Gaza flotilla activists, including Tunisian ex-president

Several hundred Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem Wednesday evening, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to act against a recent surge in deadly attacks carried out by Palestinians. The Israelis are offering reconstruction of Gaza in exchange of truce from Hamas in Gaza.

Clint Le Bruyns, an academic at South Africa’s University of KwaZulu-Natal, who had been aboard a standby vessel, said pro-Gaza activists would continue raising awareness about the blockade and Israel’s ongoing oppression of Palestinians.

Israel’s domestic security agency has revealed that it has arrested 40 members of an alleged Hamas terror cell in the surroundings of the West Bank city of Nablus and foiled a planned attack against Israel.

“It appears that Hamas wants to resume operations in Samaria”, said defence minister Moshe Ya’alon, referring to the biblical term for the West Bank.

While Abbas formally reconciled with Hamas past year to form a unity government, distrust remains.

“At the same time, within Gaza, ISIS (Islamic State) has been flouting Hamas”.

“Preventing entry by sea was done in accordance with worldwide law and even received backing from a committee of the United Nations Secretary General”, he said. He was echoing allegations by senior Israeli security officials who have accused the Egyptians and Hamas’ rivals in the Fatah-dominated PA of blocking any serious rebuilding projects in Gaza for political reasons.

A Kiwi journalist has arrived home safely after being detained by Israeli military on an activist ship seeking to break a blockade of Gaza. There was no information on how the Hamas suspects might plead in court.

Gaza has been struggling to rebuild after the devastating war last summer between Hamas and Israel.

Ironically, this year’s Ramadan began with conciliatory gestures by Israel, including allowing larger numbers of Palestinians to enter Israel from the West Bank and larger numbers to pray on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Spanning six slab of the barrier between Israel and the West Bank, the flag was positioned between graffiti portraits of Yasir Arafat and other leaders.