JERUSALEM, June 28 (UPI) -- Israel should expect at least eight more humanitarian ships to be headed for Gaza after the World Cup, Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar said.
Zahar said he also expected "more ships than you expected" to head for Gaza in August during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, Haaretz reported him as saying in an interview with the British newspaper The Independent.
"After the Mondial (World Cup) at least eight ships will come from the gulf," Zahar said during the interview.
The World Cup competition ends July 11.
Responding to reports that Iran could sponsor an aid ship, Zahar said during his interview, "Where is your morality if Iran is going to give food and drugs? What justifies preventing that? Give me the basis (for that) from your Bible."
Meanwhile, the Israeli committee appointed to investigate the circumstances of the military's boarding of the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara and five other boats carrying aid for Gazans last month called its first public meeting Monday, The Jerusalem Post reported. The committee includes legal and military experts and two international observers.
The committee is tasked to "examine the aspects ... relating to the actions taken by the state of Israel to prevent vessels from reaching the coast of the Gaza Strip on May 31." During a violent confrontation aboard the Mavi Marmara, nine Turkish passengers were killed and dozens wounded, and seven Israeli soldiers were injured.
The committee will look specifically at the security circumstances leading to the imposition of the Israeli blockade at sea on Gaza and how the blockade conformed to international law, the Post said. The committee will also investigate the legality of the actions Israeli military personnel took May 31 to prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza, as well as actions taken by the flotilla organizers.
