Thousands of Lebanese schoolchildren carried Lebanese and Palestinian flags during a protest that lasted for about 30 minutes in front of U.N. House in downtown Beirut, Lebanon against the blockade of the Palestinians in the Gaza strip . The demonstration was peaceful as they sang anti-Israeli songs before dispersing without any violence .
Israel tightened its blockade on the Gaza Strip last month in a move that has been widely criticized throughout the Arab world.
An Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip killed two Palestinians Tuesday, dealing a new blow to efforts to restore a fraying cease-fire.
In a related development a Libyan ship carrying 3,000 tons of aid to this impoverished seaside strip was turned back yesterday by the Israeli Navy, ending the first high-profile attempt by an Arab country to break the blockade of Gaza. Analysts said the incident showed that Arab and Muslim nations, while eager to end Gaza's isolation, will not risk a military confrontation with Israel.
The Al Marwa was approaching the Gaza coast when it was stopped by an Israeli Navy vessel. The navy vessel ordered the ship by radio to turn back and it complied, said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor.