• By Greg Goodsell
• 6/24/2010
• Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

'Mariam' will contain 50 women activists

An all-female ship called the "Mariam," named after the Virgin Mary, plans to set sail for Gaza on a humanitarian mission. The ship will carry four nuns from the U.S., cancer medication and other humanitarian aid.

Israel warns that the sea blockade will remain in force to prevent Hamas militants and supporters from smuggling weapons into Gaza.

In addition, the aid ship Julia plans to leave for Gaza from Lebanon within days, despite warnings from Israel that it will not let ships dock in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory.

The commissioner-general of the U.N. refugee agency, Filipo Grandi says the Gaza Strip crisis is more than just a humanitarian situation. He says that people in Gaza need to import and export goods in order to boost the economy and to give the citizenry there a "normal life." Grandi reiterated the U.N. position on the situation, which calls for Israel to lift the Gaza blockade.

In response to international outrage, Israel has relaxed its land blockade of Gaza. A deadly commando raid on a flotilla of ships carrying aid to Gaza three weeks ago brought worldwide condemnation. However -- Israel warns that the sea blockade will remain in force to prevent Hamas militants and supporters from smuggling weapons into Gaza.

Israel, the U.S. and some members of the international community consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

The parents of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit's, who is being held captive by the Palestinian militant group Hamas say they fear that Israel's easing of the blockade will make it harder to negotiate their son's release.

They say that the blockade is an important tool to pressure Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. Hundreds of trucks carrying food and other supplies that had previously been blocked began rolling into the territory this week.