Gaza aid ship held up by Egypt

From PressTV:

An Iranian aid ship bound for Gaza has not yet received permission to dock at the Egyptian port of Al-Areesh, 50km off the coastal strip.

Ahmad Navvab, a provincial Red Crescent director, said Wednesday that although Egyptian authorities issued permits for the aid's dispatch via the Al-Areesh port, they have so far prevented the ship to drop anchor.

"Their pretext is that the port is at full capacity and lacks necessary space for another ship," said Navvab, adding that Egyptian authorities issued permits only after coming under international pressure.

Navvab said the vessel, holding an estimated 2,000 tons of medical and food supplies for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, is currently anchored some 15 miles off the coast of Gaza.

This comes after the Israeli military intercepted an Iranian ship on January 14, even though it left the Egyptian port of Said with the paperwork required to dock.

Egypt, the only state which shares border with the Gaza Strip, has been coordinating all activity with Israel regarding the Iranian vessel.