Hamas denounces Greece for barring freedom flotilla II

Hamas movement has strongly condemned the Greek government after its coastguard intercepted a US vessel which tried to sail to Gaza to break Israel's blockade of the coastal strip. In a statement issued by its political leadership in Damascus, the group described the action as "inhumane" and said Greece had played into Israeli hands. "This is inhumane action, is contrary to international regulations and norms," said the statement by Hamas. " Barring this aid from reaching the Gaza Strip is done as a result of pressure imposed by the Zionist occupiers," referring to Israel. Hamas also called on the EU parliament and human rights organizations "to put pressure on the Greek government" to allow a planned flotilla of aid boats to set sail from Greece to Gaza. The Israeli-imposed blockade of Gaza "is unjust... and a mark of disgrace on the forehead of humanity," it said. Earlier Friday, Greek coastguard officials intercepted the Audacity of Hope as it tried to set sail for Gaza in defiance of a Greek ban, to challenge Israel's naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave, an activist on board said. The boat, which carries 3,000 letters of support for Palestinians, left behind nine other ships which had planned to join the 2011 Freedom Flotilla II which hopes to leave for Gaza on Sunday. As the news spread that the US boat had been stopped, activists slammed what they called an "out-sourcing of Israeli foreign policy." Activists have also blamed Israel for the sabotage of two of their boats and for a campaign of harassment and dirty tricks against activists.