NICOSIA, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- The fate of a humanitarian aid shipment from Cyprus to Gaza was in question on Wednesday after local media reported the vessel had failed to dock as scheduled and its cargo remained off the Israeli coast.
The Cyprus Mail, citing satellite data, said the Panamanian-flagged Henke was anchored near the Israeli port city of Ashdod on Wednesday morning. The ship, carrying about 1,200 tons of supplies, had not entered the port as expected.
The vessel's arrival was initially planned for last week, with revised estimates pointing to Sunday or Monday. There has been no confirmation that the aid has been unloaded.
The shipment is part of the Amalthea project, a maritime aid corridor launched in 2023 from Cyprus to Gaza. The route was suspended in April 2024 after an Israeli airstrike killed several aid workers but resumed recently.
Cypriot officials have denied any deliberate delays, with the foreign ministry saying there was "no problem" with the transfer, said the newspaper. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring aid reaches civilians in Gaza despite logistical and operational hurdles.
Cyprus set up the Amalthea project to open a sea route for humanitarian relief to the enclave, complementing limited land crossings. ■
