US warns Americans against joining Gaza flotilla

Several American Jews intend to board a US boat that will join in a flotilla of about 10 ships heading to Gaza.

WASHINGTON: The United States on Wednesday warned Americans against going ahead with plans to join a flotilla seeking to breach Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Several American Jews, an organizer said, intend to board a US boat that will join in a flotilla of about 10 ships heading later this month to Gaza to protest the longstanding Israeli blockade on the Palestinian territory.

The State Department warned "US citizens of the risks of traveling to Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and about threats to themselves and to US interests in those locations."

Updating an earlier warning from August last year, it warned in particular "against participation in any attempt to reach Gaza by sea."

On May 31, 2010, eight Turks and a US national of Turkish origin were shot dead in an Israeli raid on Gaza-bound aid ships.

State Department officials told AFP that the wording of the latest travel advice was aimed at dissuading Americans from joining the protest flotilla.

In fact, it urged Americans to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by the Hamas.

"This recommendation applies to all US citizens," it said.

It said that in the event of a problem, US consular staff would be "extremely limited" in providing assistance to Americans in Gaza because of a ban on travel to the territory by US citizen employees of the US government.

It reminded Americans that Israeli military forces "strictly" control movement between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

"The security environment within Gaza, including its border with Egypt and its seacoast, is dangerous and volatile," the warning said. "US citizens are advised against traveling to Gaza by any means, including via sea.

"Previous attempts to enter Gaza by sea have been stopped by Israeli naval vessels and resulted in the injury, death, arrest, and deportation of US citizens," it added.

"US citizens participating in any effort to reach Gaza by sea should understand that they may face arrest, prosecution, and deportation by the government of Israel."