A Greek vessel bearing several European politicians and doctors is today set to leave the Cypriot port of Larnaca with the aim of delivering medical supplies to injured Palestinians in Gaza.

The mission of the Arion is to deliver tons of basic supplies to civilians injured in Israeli air strikes. A similar attempt last month to deliver aid was thwarted and the group planning the mission, the Free Gaza Movement, claims to have received anonymous death threats.

Yesterday Alekos Alavanos, the parliamentary group leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) asked Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis to ensure the safety of the mission. Bakoyannis said the government could not intervene in the activities of nongovernmental organizations and added that shipments of humanitarian aid from the government were still waiting at border crossings.