Egyptian officials are preparing for the arrival of a Libyan aid ship, which was confronted by the Israeli Navy while en route to the Gaza Strip, after its request to dock at Al-Arish port was approved.

The al-Amal (Hope), carrying 21 persons on board and 2,000 tonnes of food and medicine, expected to arrive later Wednesday, a security source said.
Egyptian authorities and Red Crescent volunteers are preparing for the ship’s arrival, the source said. The aid ship diverted its course and headed to the nearby Egyptian port following the Tuesday’s standoff with Israeli warships.
Youssef Sawani, the executive director of Al-Qadhafi International Charity and Development Foundation, said the vessel is moving slowly because it had a technical problem.
The ship is about 40 to 50 kilometres away from the Gaza coast, he said, adding Israeli warships were tracking it and jamming its communication system.
The aid vessel, which left Greece on Saturday, was Tuesday surrounded by eight Israeli warships while en route to the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli navy Tuesday reiterated its rejection to the Libyan ship’s access to the Gaza Strip and threatened to arrest all those onboard if the ship insisted to move towards Gaza.
Israel drew global criticism for its deadly raid aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in which nine Turkish activists were killed on 31^st May.