Jerusalem (CNN) -- A humanitarian convoy that includes passengers who survived a previous fatal flotilla incident arrived in Egypt near the border of Gaza, the organization said Thursday.
The Viva Palestina convoy has been hailed by organizers as the largest convoy to break the Gaza embargo. It arrived in Al-Arish, Egypt on Wednesday, the group said.
The Viva Palestina convoy has been joined by ships from Morocco, Algeria, Jordan and Persian Gulf nations. Two of the ships are slated to pass through the point at which Israeli troops boarded the Mavi Marmara aid convoy in May.
Israeli troops used force on the activists in that incident, leaving eight Turks and one U.S.-Turkish dual citizen dead. Israel says its troops were attacked by those on board, but passengers on the boat insisted they were fired on without provocation.
Among those on board the Viva Palestina convoy are 40 of the passengers who were on the Mavi Marmara. Viva Palestina organizers plan a commemoration service at that location and will lay flowers on the water.
The aid will not go to Gaza by sea.The aid that arrives by sea at the Egyptian port will be transferred into the Palestinian territory by land through the Rafah crossing.
CNN
