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Pro-Palestinian Activists Plan Another Gaza Aid Flotilla


Pro-Palestinian activists who organized the aid flotilla stopped by a deadly Israeli commando raid while sailing toward to the Gaza Strip in May are planning another shipment of aid to the Palestinian territory.

Members of the Swedish group "Ship to Gaza" met in Stockholm Wednesday to discuss sending another flotilla of ships by the end of the year. No specific date was made public.

The group is challenging Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, imposed after Hamas militants took control of the territory in 2006.

A spokesman for the Swedish group said the new flotilla will include more boats and activists from more countries than took part in the last shipment.

A flotilla of six ships carrying supplies for Palestinians was stopped by Israeli soldiers on May 31 in an operation that killed nine Turkish activists. Israel claims it was acting in self-defense.

The incident sparked international outrage. Israel subsequently eased some of its restrictions on Gaza.

The United Nations has formed a four-member panel to look into the deadly raid. Israel has agreed to take part in the investigation, though it previously rejected calls for an international probe.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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