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News, Reports

Update from Zaytouna-Oliva, Day 2

women-on-boat-28-9-16Our course remains the conscience of humanity.

As reported yesterday, the Zaytouna-Oliva has departed Messina with its course set for Gaza. Difficult weather conditions last night caused damage to her rigging. All on board are ok and she continues her course under engine power. Presently, we are considering our options for repair. We want everyone to know that the safety and well-being of all those on board remain our priorities.

https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/news/update-from-zaytouna-oliva-day-2 

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News

Zaytouna-Oliva departs for Gaza; Amal-Hope II to follow soon

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Photo from dockside this morning, credit: Freedom Flotilla Italy

Zaytouna-Oliva departs for Gaza

Amal-Hope II to follow soon

For Immediate Release 
September 27, 2016 

Contacts people: Lucia Intruglio / Wendy Goldsmith
Phone: +39 368 746 8528 /  +39 328 718 5648

Email: lucia.intruglio@gmail.com / wendy goldsmith 

Messina, Italy:  This morning at 9:50 am, women representing 13 countries spanning five continents began their journey on Zaytouna-Oliva to the shores of Gaza, which has been under blockade since 2007. On board are a Nobel Peace Laureate, three parliamentarians, a decorated US diplomat, journalists, an Olympic athlete, and a physician. A list of the women with their background can be found here. 

Continue reading Zaytouna-Oliva departs for Gaza; Amal-Hope II to follow soon →

Delegates

Interview with Gail Miller, activist on the flotilla

Gail Miller, an activist on the flotilla from Barcelona to Gaza these days, in an interview to Israel Social TV on the reasons for her support in the flotilla. The flotilla, which began with a happening event to raise awareness to the siege on Gaza is a feminine initiative and is composed entirely of women from various countries around the world who have chosen to raise awareness of the issue through the flotilla.

Watch the interview here

News

Zaytouna-Oliva leaves Ajaccio, Corsica for Messina, Italy – its final European port before sailing to break the illegal blockade of Gaza

For Immediate Release 
20 September 2016

Ajaccio, Corsica, France: The Women’s Boat to Gaza (Zaytouna-Oliva) left the port of Ajaccio at 09:30 this morning. It is due to arrive later this week in Messina, Sicily, Italy, where it will dock for the last time, prior to sailing to challenge the illegal blockade of Gaza. 

One of the participants aboard, Lisa Gay Hamilton said: “It is an honour to be here and join this extraordinary group of women. This issue is bigger than me, than any of us. As a mother, as a daughter, as a sister, I cannot help thinking of Palestinian women in Gaza, who live in an open-air prison because of the occupation. It is so painful to think of them, we have to take action to end the blockade of Gaza.” A full list of the participants on this leg is available at: https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/participants

Lucia Intruglio, spokesperson and one of the local organisers in Messina said: “We are very pleased to host the women on Zaytouna-Oliva before they embark on this historic voyage.”  During their stay in Messina, all of the women will participate in non-violence training, whilst finalizing supplies and equipment for the boat.  

A previous Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, the Marianne av Göteborg from Sweden, departed from Sicily last year. It however was raided in international waters by the Israeli Occupation Forces. When asked whether the Zaytouna-Oliva will reach its destination, Intruglio replied: “Our destination remains the conscience of humanity. It is up to every one of us to help them succeed in this.”

The Women’s Boat to Gaza is an initiative of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition composed of civil society organizations and campaigns from more than a dozen countries. 

In Canada please contact:

Sandra Ruch: miriamswell@hotmail.com    +1-416-716-4010

Irene Macinnes: iremac@shaw.ca   +1-778-870-2448

 

Donate: 

You can support the Women's Boat to Gaza by donating online:  https://canadaboatgaza.org/donate/

Those who can benefit from a U.S. tax receipt can contribute online at

https://womensboatgaza-nonviolenceinternational.nationbuilder.com/contribute

 

Other ways to get involved:

Follow us at www.canadaboatgaza.org and freedomflotilla.org

www.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition/ and www.facebook.com/CanadaBoatGaza/

Twitter @GazaFFlotilla  @CanadaBoatGaza 

Canadian Boat to Gaza:  www.canadaboatgaza.org email: canadaboatgaza@gmail.com

Bateau Canadien pour GAZA:  www.canadaboatgaza.org courriel: canadaboatgaza@gmail.com

News

Zaytouna is half way to Ajaccio. Searching for a replacement of Amal

September 17, 2016

For Immediate Release 

Barcelona, Spain: As Zaytouna-Oliva makes its way towards Ajaccio, France; the Women’s Boat to Gaza* (WBG) releases its passenger list, which includes women from nine countries across five continents. The list (found here) includes parliamentarian Malin Björk, a Swedish member of the EU parliament; Spanish actress Rosana Pastor Muñoz; and Yudit Ilany of Israel who serves as advisor to Knesset member Haneen Zoabi.

Meanwhile, sister ship Amal-Hope remains in Barcelona following her return to that port because of mechanical problems (we had such problems in previous missions). Based on a professional assessment, she will not be in a condition to follow Zaytouna.  Organizers are actively pursuing a new ship and will be launching a campaign to defray this additional cost. Zaytouna-Oliva is estimated to arrive in Ajaccio on Monday, September 19. The passenger list, which will change with each leg will be updated and shared throughout the journey. 

With regard to the Amal-Hope, Jaldia Abubakra, a passenger from Spain/Palestine, said, “we are sorry to leave her behind. But we carry Amal-Hope in our hearts.” 

For more information:

Ellen Huttu Hansson: +46 722 883 213 ellen.huttu.hansson@gmail.com
Other media contacts: https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/media-room

* The Women’s Boat to Gaza is an initiative of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition composed of civil society organizations and campaigns from more than a dozen countries. For more information, visit www.womensboattogaza.org.

In Canada please contact:
Sandra Ruch: miriamswell@hotmail.com    +1-416-716-4010
Irene Macinnes: iremac@shaw.ca   +1-778-870-2448

Donate: 
You can support the Women's Boat to Gaza by donating online:  https://canadaboatgaza.org/donate/

Those who can benefit from a U.S. tax receipt can contribute online at
https://womensboatgaza-nonviolenceinternational.nationbuilder.com/contribute

Other ways to get involved:
Follow us at www.canadaboatgaza.org and freedomflotilla.org
www.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition/ and www.facebook.com/CanadaBoatGaza/
Twitter @GazaFFlotilla  @CanadaBoatGaza 

Canadian Boat to Gaza:  www.canadaboatgaza.org email: canadaboatgaza@gmail.com

Bateau Canadien pour GAZA:  www.canadaboatgaza.org courriel: canadaboatgaza@gmail.com

Reports

GAZA: TWO YEARS SINCE THE 2014 HOSTILITIES – A report from The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

AUGUST 2016

KEY FACTS

  • Of the approximately 100,000 Palestinians who had their homes destroyed or severely damaged during the 2014 hostilities, 65,000 remain displaced; over half of them may not receive any cash assistance during the second half of 2016, due to lack of funding.
  • Some 900 people, a third of them children, sustained some form of permanent disability during the hostilities and about 100 underwent amputation of limbs.
  • Over 160,000 children are estimated to be in need of continuous psychosocial support.
  • Since the ceasefire, 17 civilians have been killed, and 100 have been injured by explosive remnants of war (ERW), including 46 children. Some 3,300 items of ERW have been safely removed and 87 hazardous sites are yet to be cleared.
  • All 78 hospitals and clinics damaged during the conflict were repaired, reconstruction of three totally destroyed clinics is ongoing, and rebuilding of one hospital destroyed is yet to start.
  • Of the seven totally destroyed schools, reconstruction of one is complete and work on the other six is ongoing; all the 252 damaged schools have been repaired.
  • Repair of about two-thirds of the damage to the water and sanitation infrastructure and equipment is complete or underway, with the remaining third lacking funding; most households receive piped water only for a few hours every 2-4 days.
  • Only half of the open-field crop areas, 18% of tree orchards, and 16% of greenhouses damaged or destroyed during the hostilities, have been restored, undermining farmers’ livelihoods and food production.
  • Only 27% of the funding requested in the Humanitarian Response Plan 2016 for Gaza-specific projects has so far been received. 

Read and download the entire report here