Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Two Jordanian lawmakers are on board the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla III which is carrying dozens of international activists trying to break Israel's blockade and turn world attention to the plight of Palestinians in the Israeli-blockaded coastal enclave.

The flotilla, which also carried humanitarian aid and medical equipment for Gaza hospitals, set sail from the Greek island of Crete on Thursday night and was expected to arrive early tomorrow. But Israel has vowed to block the vessels from reaching the Gaza coast.

Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh telephoned MPs Yahya Saud and Zakariyah al Sheikh who are aboard one of the ships and wished them success in their humanitarian mission. He urged the international community to assume their responsibility towards the Palestinian cause, particularly the besieged Gaza Strip and exert pressure on Israel to abide by international resolutions and lift the blockade.

The head of the Jordanian legislature also urged world nations to provide the necessary protection for the Freedom Flotilla since all activists one board carried no arms and were on a purely humanitarian mission. Also on board one of the vessels heading to Gaza, the Swedish "Marianne av Goteborg", are an Arab member of the Israeli Knesset, former Tunisian president Moncef Marzouki, alongside 70 other activists, including European parliamentarians, academics, writers, journalists and crew members.