( CNN ) -- Days after blocking a Gaza-bound flotilla , Greece 's government offered Sunday to ship aid to the Palestinian territory -- a move applauded by the U.N. chief but derided as insufficient by protest organizers and Palestinian authorities . Greece 's foreign ministry released a statement Sunday afternoon in which it proposed to `` undertake the task of transporting the humanitarian aid , with Greek vessels or other appropriate means , through existing channels . '' That same day , Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis talked by phone with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon . The U.N. chief `` thanked '' the Greek official and `` expressed support for the Greek initiative , '' according to a statement from the United Nations . `` In his view , it could help to reduce tensions in the region and ensure much-needed aid is delivered to those who need it in Gaza , '' the U.N. statement said of Ban 's views , adding the world body will `` work closely with Greece , Israel and Palestinian authorities on this matter . '' However , one Palestinian official , chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat , said that funneling food , cement and other goods via other means , such as Greek ships , missed the point , which he said is to `` immediately lift , not ease '' Israel 's maritime blockade of Gaza . He lauded those behind the flotilla as people `` who have dedicated their time , effort and passion for a just cause . '' `` The situation in Gaza is not about border crossings , '' Erakat said Sunday in a statement . `` It is about the illegally denied and internationally recognized rights of the Palestinian people to dignity , freedom and self-determination . '' A spokeswoman for The Audacity of Hope , a U.S. ship full of activists ( but no humanitarian aid ) that was barred last week by Greek authorities from sailing to Gaza , said the Greek offer `` does n't really address the issue for us , ( which is ) ending the naval blockade . '' `` It 's all very well and good that there are some channels ( for aid to Gaza ) , '' Leslie Cagan said . `` But that is not the same as lifting the siege of Gaza . '' The vessel 's captain , John Klusmire , remained in Greek custody on Sunday , one day after being asked to report to a police station . A spokesperson with the Greek Coast Guard , who was not named per custom , said Klusmire , an American , was arrested because he left the mainland without permission and put passengers in danger . He will appear before Greek prosecutors on Tuesday . Jane Hirschmann , one of the flotilla organizers , called the arrest `` intimidation '' aimed at likewise preventing the other nine boats in the flotilla from setting sail to Gaza . On Sunday , eight passengers from the U.S. ship began a hunger strike outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens , demanding their captain 's release and allowing the ship to set sail . The vessel -- which carried 36 American passengers , four crew members and several journalists , including CNN reporter Phil Black -- was intercepted last Friday by a Greek Coast Guard patrol vessel roughly 10 minutes after it had departed Perama . After an hours-long standoff , the ship eventually returned to Greece , where it is tied up at a Greek naval facility . The Audacity of Hope and the nine other ships are aiming to promote public awareness about Israel 's blockade of Gaza and , in part , to commemorate a May 2010 incident in which Israeli troops boarded Mavi Marmara , a Turkish ship filled with humanitarian aid and 700 activists from various countries . Nine people died in subsequent clashes with Israeli Navy commandos . Cagan said that while the American ship 's crew are frustrated they have n't been able to head to Gaza , there is some degree of satisfaction that their cause has drawn attention and provoked debate worldwide . `` People went to Athens and still would like to complete the mission , '' said Cagan , who is in the United States but is in close contact with her fellow activists in Greece . `` At the same time , the feeling is very good that important work is being done that is shedding more light on the situation , with the whole blockade . '' The Greek government has said it wo n't allow any of the boats in the flotilla to sail to Gaza because their mission is too dangerous . Flotilla members accuse the Greek government of buckling to pressure from Israel 's government . For their part , the Israelis have said they are mounting a diplomatic offensive to try to stop the flotilla from setting sail at all . On Tuesday , the Israeli government said flotilla participants had threatened to kill Israeli military personnel should their boats be boarded . They said that the participants were stockpiling sacks of sulfuric acid on boats to be used in the event of any attacks on Israeli commandos . Flotilla organizer Medea Benjamin dismissed the allegations Tuesday as ludicrous , saying : `` They see this nonviolent , ragtag group of ships as such a threat they 're using their entire propaganda apparatus , and their diplomatic and economic clout to try to stop 300 peace activists . It 's pathetic . '' The Middle East Quartet -- composed of officials from the United States , United Nations , European Union and Russia -- on Saturday issued a joint statement asking `` all governments concerned to use their influence to discourage additional flotillas , which risk the safety of their participants and carry the potential for escalation . '' The Quartet added in its statement that it `` strongly urges all those wishing to deliver goods to the people of Gaza to do so through established channels , so that their cargo can be inspected and transferred via established land crossings . '' Doing so , the group contends , is the best way to both help Palestinians and address Israel 's `` legitimate security concerns . '' On Sunday , Erakat said that while Palestinian leaders `` support international engagement in lifting the unjust and inhumane Israeli blockade , '' the Quartet 's statement and their opposition to the planned flotilla to Gaza skirt the broader challenges in the region . `` We invite them to focus on resolving the root cause of the conflict , which is the occupation , rather than seeking ways to manage its destructive symptoms . '' Erakat said of the Quartet . CNN 's Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
The Palestinian government offers to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza on its ships . Its authorities have barred eight ships full of activists from sailing to Gaza . Quartet chief Stavros Lambrinidis welcomes the offer , saying `` it could help reduce tensions '' But a Greek leader says this wo n't address what it calls an unfair blockade .