Gaza Strip to build big boat to break Israeli naval blockade ‎

Besides the suffocating Israeli blockade Israeli naval forces maintain a three nautical mile fishing limit off the coast of Gaza. Fishermen exceeding that limit often get shot at, killed or arrested by Israeli forces.

Palestinian boat builders in the Gaza Strip are preparing themselves to build a special boat to break the Israeli blockade.

Boat builders plan to build a big boat dubbed the Gaza Ark with the help of Canadian pro-Palestine activists.

The Gaza's Ark project aims to build a boat using existing resources in the tiny coastal enclave to carry Palestinian goods to the outside world by defying the Israeli naval blockade.

During a press conference last week former Canadian Member of Parliament Jim Manley announced that the Gaza Ark will sail next year carrying Palestinian exports to international customers.

Manley was speaking to journalist as he was about to board a flight to Italy to join the Estelle ship, which is carrying humanitarian goods to the Gaza Strip, in another challenge to the Israeli blockade.

Israeli forces killed several Turkish activists from the Freedom Flotilla in late May 2010 as they were trying to break the Gaza blockade.

But Israeli acts did not stop pro-Palestine activists from organizing more activities to break the blockade both internationally and in the Gaza Strip.

The Estelle, which is slated to include at least 17 activists from around the world, is also carrying an anchor for the Gaza's Ark.

Boat builders say that Gaza’s Ark will help revitalize the dwindling industry and help ensure the transmission of this disappearing profession to the younger generations.