BICOM

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday criticised the organisers planning to challenge Israel’s sea blockade of the Gaza Strip, saying their efforts are neither “necessary or useful” in helping the Palestinian people of Gaza. 

Clinton’s comments came a day after the US State Department warned US citizens against participating in the upcoming flotilla. Clinton added that the flotilla was unhelpful and will only increase tensions in the region. “We think that it’s not helpful for there to be flotillas that try to provoke action by entering into Israeli waters and creating a situation in which the Israelis have the right to defend themselves,” Clinton said. She also mentioned that Israel this week approved new shipments of housing construction materials to enter Gaza to build schools and houses.

Meanwhile, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor, Speaking to reporters shortly after presenting his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Thursday, also stressed that a future flotilla was unnecessary, and was meant only to “promote anagenda of provocation… There is nothing humanitarian about it, and it has nothing to do with Palestinian welfare,” he said. Prosor also indicated there was nothing hindering the transfer of food and goods into the Gaza Strip, reiterating Earlier calls by both Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.