Clinton Twp Woman Safe After Gaza Raid

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) - - DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) -- Several hundred people marshaled by a coalition of Arab-American leaders held a rally Tuesday evening to condemn Israel's raid on an aid flotilla sailing to the Gaza Strip.

The rally was held in Dearborn, widely considered the capital of Arab America with its large, concentrated community of people who trace their roots to the Middle East.

The Congress of Arab American Organizations, which represents dozens of Michigan-based community organizations, sponsored the rally. It followed the deaths of nine people Monday as Israel took over ships bound for Gaza with aid.

About 350 people were holding signs, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans including "Free Free Palestine."

One protester's sign said: "Obama! Yes we can stop the criminal siege on Gaza."

Imad Hamad, regional director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, told The Associated Press the rally was an effort to "set the record straight" and hold Israel accountable for its actions.

"It's about time we dared to say it -- the siege of Gaza must end," Hamad said. He said he was heartened to get messages of support from Christians and Jews since the attack.

Israel has strongly rejected criticism of its tactics and pledged to halt a new attempt by pro-Palestinian groups to sail more ships into Gaza. It claims some of the activists arrested during the raid carried weapons and large quantities of cash, raising questions about whether they were mercenaries.

Hamad said the Michigan groups plan a march at Detroit's federal building Wednesday afternoon and a memorial service Sunday in Dearborn for victims of the raid.

"This is a snapshot of the world response to the Israelis' continuous disregard ... to Palestinians," Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab American News and an organizer of Tuesday's rally, told reporters as the rally began.

"The U.S. has a responsibility here ... to stop the Israelis from continuing to disregard human rights," Siblani said.

The pro-Palestinian flotilla was carrying aid Israel bans from Gaza.

The raid provoked ferocious international condemnation of Israel, raised questions at home, and appeared likely to increase pressure to end its blockade that seeks to keep Iranian-backed Hamas from building its arsenal of weapons but has also deepened the poverty of the 1.5 million Palestinians in the strip.

Egypt said Tuesday it was freely opening its border with Gaza for the first time in more than a year to allow in humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, a Clinton Township woman and human rights activist was aboard one of the boats raided by Israeli commandos Monday.

34-year old Huwaida Arraf is a leader of the Free Gaza Movement.

Her family tells Fox 2 News that they have since learned Arraf is okay but at first feared the worst knowing she would take a bullet to protect others on the ship.

Fox 2's Bill Gallagher spoke with Arraf's sister about what happened.

Click on the video player to the left to watch his report.