http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/hamas-official-wave-of-flotillas-to-sail-for-israel-after-world-cup-1.298752

 

 

Hamas official: Wave of flotillas to sail for Israel after World Cup

Israel should expect at least eight more Gaza-bound ships shortly after the tournament, Mahmoud A-Zahar told British daily The Independent.

By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel news Hamas Gaza flotilla

Israel should expect at least eight more Gaza-bound ships headed in its direction shortly after the World Cup tournament, senior Hamas official Mahmoud A-Zahar told British daily The Independent on Monday.

 

Mahmoud Zahar.

Photo by: AP

 

"After the Mondial [World Cup] at least eight ships will come from the Gulf," Zahar said.

The Hamas official also said that he expected "more ships than you expected" to set out for Gaza in August during the month of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting.

Zahar remarked on the possibility that Egypt could also stop the Gaza-bound flotillas and said that "they have the right in international law to go as the Israelis go. Egypt will never be able to stop such a campaign."

He also responded to reports that Iran could sponsor an aid ship and asked "Where is your morality if Iran is going to give food and drugs? What justifies preventing that? Give me the basis [for that] from your bible."

The Hamas leader also reiterated his criticism against what he called Israel's reneging on a prisoner swap deal for the release of the abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. "Up to this moment, the Israeli intention is not to have an agreement," Zahar said