/ Coalition statements, Featured, News, Press releases / By alex
Press Statement; for immediate release, 20240819
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition mourns the tens of thousands of Palestinian people that Israel has killed in Gaza since last October. As horrific as the reported numbers are, they are gross underestimations as they only record people who have been identified and do not count the tens of thousands who remain under rubble. (See our video on this under-counting)
We condemn the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Israel as part of its genocidal starvation and bombing policy. But Israel is not alone. Other countries are actively supporting Israel’s crimes.
Our boat Handala left Norway on 1 May and has stopped at more than 25 ports throughout Europe during the last three and a half months. Handala, its crew and participants have generated support for Palestine across Europe and elsewhere as they supported local solidarity groups and joined with them in local educational events and protests.
Handala is now in Malta preparing for the last leg towards Gaza. She is a 1960s converted fishing vessel. We have had technical problems in the past that have affected our port schedule. As we plan to sail towards Gaza, we need to prepare Handala for the long journey to the other end of the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, due to a serious mechanical problem, we have decided to take some more time to get Handala ready for that voyage.
The Freedom Flotilla’s objectives are to break the blockade and to raise awareness of the crimes committed against Palestinians in Gaza. These objectives remain unchanged and we will return when we have news of our next departure.
In the meantime, we ask you to join us in supporting efforts to end the genocide in Gaza. We call on everyone to support the #NoHarbourforGenocide campaign which is working to stop the fuel ships coming from the US to provide aviation fuel to airplanes which kill Palestinians. We also ask you to demand the US and other countries immediately cease supplying military aid and arms to Israel as members of our Freedom Flotilla steering committee and participants are doing in Chicago at the US Democratic National Convention this week
It is time to break the siege. But it is also way past time to end the genocide.