Ha'aretz (Israel) / Reuters : "Report: Israel releases former U.S. congresswoman McKinney"

Last update - 09:16 07/07/2009

Report: Israel releases former U.S. congresswoman McKinney

By Reuters

Tags: Israel news, Gaza, Free Gaza 

Israel has allowed a former U.S. congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, to return home days after detaining her and other activists on board a ship carrying relief supplies for Gaza, a pro-Palestinian group said on Monday.

Israeli authorities intercepted the vessel, which had 21 activists on board, on June 30 and said it would not be permitted to enter Gaza's coastal waters because of security risks in the area and an existing naval blockade.

McKinney has been released, a statement by the American Muslims for Palestine said.

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The statement said another American, John Judge, was still being detained. But later on Monday, a spokeswoman for the group, Kristin Szremski, corrected this to say that Judge was not being held.

"McKinney and the others were taking much needed food and medical supplies to the 1.5 million residents of Gaza, where Israel's two-year blockade has resulted in a complete economic breakdown that has forced more than 70 percent of the population into abject poverty," said the statement from the group based in Palos Hills, Illinois.

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