Ship set to leave Cyprus in humanitarian aid mission to Gaza

The ship belonging to the Open Arms aid group is seen docked as it prepares to ferry some 200 tonnes of rice and flour directly to Gaza (Marcos Andronicou/AP)

A ship bearing humanitarian aid was making preparations to leave Cyprus and head for Gaza, the European Commission president said as international donors launched a sea corridor to supply the besieged territory that is facing widespread hunger after five months of war.

The opening of the corridor, along with the recent inauguration of airdrops of aid, showed increasing frustration with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and a new international willingness to work around Israeli restrictions.