JERUSALEM, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- The Israeli Red Cross transported 1,100 units of blood to Gaza Friday after it was removed from an intercepted Lebanese cargo ship, officials said.
The Lebanese ship was taken over by the Israeli Navy after it tried to break the Gaza sea blockade, The Jerusalem Post reported.
No weaponry was discovered aboard the ship and naval commandos reported encountering only light resistance. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Sanior strongly condemned the Israeli action and said he holds Israel responsible for the safety of both the ship and its passengers.
The ship's 18 crewmembers, two of them Indian nationals and one a Briton, were deported from Israel.
A spokesman for Magen David Adom, the Israeli Red Cross, told Ynetnews he could not say whether there was a blood shortage in Gaza following the 23-day Israeli offensive.
"MDA was not contacted on the matter," said Ayelet Shenhar. "As far as I know Jordan sent blood to Gaza and there was no need for the Israeli Blood Bank to do the same."
