Is Iran Being Serious About Breaking Israel's Gaza Blockade?

Jillian Bandes | June 07, 2010 8:41 AM

An aid to Iraninan President Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the following statement, as reported by The Guardian:

Iran's Revolutionary Guard naval forces are prepared to escort the peace and freedom convoys that carry humanitarian assistance for the defenceless and oppressed people of Gaza with all their strength.

That was a direct response to the Free Gaza Movement's declaration that they are planning another flotilla trip to Gaza, in direct violation of Israel's blockade on Gaza:

The Free Gaza Movement and our international partners intend to launch another flotilla at the first available opportunity. After that there will be yet another... and another... until this diabolical blockade collapses and steps towards peace are finally taken.

Free Gaza didn't address the longstanding Israeli offer to let any additional aid enter the area — ten tons of aid per week is already being shipped there — after the IDF was allowed for inspection. But that's irrelevant to Free Gaza, who makes no mention of Palestinian violence while extensively reporting on every alleged act of Israeli malintent.

I'd argue that Free Gaza and the other flotilla activists group can be dealt with in an appropriate manner without too much sweat from Israel. But Iran is another story. They've dabbled in nuclear weapons development, and already have pretty powerful ballistic stockpile. The Revolutionary Guard is one of the most powerful militaries in the Middle East, and there are no shortage of statements from Khamenei to use the Guard to take down the Jewish state. This development amps up the conflict to a new level.