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.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) announces our plan to sail again to challenge Israel’s unlawful and deadly siege of Gaza. In the coming weeks, a flotilla will put to sea carrying thousands of tonnes of urgently needed humanitarian aid that will be delivered directly to Palestinians in Gaza.
After 17 years of a brutal blockade and 4 months of genocidal assault, including weaponizing basic necessities, Palestinians in Gaza are facing an unprecedented and catastrophic humanitarian crisis. On 26 January 2024 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered provisional measures to protect the Palestinians in Gaza from the plausible risk of genocide. Amongst six strongly worded measures, the ICJ ordered Israel to “take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance to address the adverse conditions of life faced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.” This decision followed UN Security Council resolutions in November and December 2023 which called for urgent steps to immediately allow “safe, unhindered, and expanded” humanitarian access to Gaza.
Israel’s blatant noncompliance with these orders, and the failure of other governments to pressure the occupying power to comply, motivate us as civil society organisations to take action.
“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that Palestinians in Gaza receive humanitarian aid”, says Ismail Moola of Palestine Solidarity Alliance, South Africa. “We expect that the Security Council will enforce the ICJ ruling, but due to the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza we need to act immediately”.
Plans for our Save Gaza Campaign are ongoing, and the FFC calls on the government of Egypt to facilitate the delivery of life-sustaining aid through Rafah into Gaza. FFC’s mission, For the Children of Gaza, led by our boat Handala, will again set sail from Northern Europe to Gaza May 2024.
The FFC gathered in Istanbul to plan these campaigns with representatives from the following organisations: Canadian Boat to Gaza (Canada), US Boat to Gaza (USA), Kia Ora Gaza (Aotearoa, New Zealand), Free Gaza Australia (Australia), Ship to Gaza (Norway), MyCARE (Malaysia), Ship to Gaza (Sweden), Palestine Solidarity Alliance (South Africa), IHH (Türkiye), Rumbo a Gaza (Spanish State), Mavi Marmara Association (Türkiye) and the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza.
“Where our governments fail, we sail” says Karen DeVito of Canadian Boat to Gaza. “We are charting a course to the conscience of humanity, in solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
We call on civil society organisations from around the world who share our values and goals to support and join us.
To support our work to end the blockade of Gaza, you can donate online (canadaboatgaza.org/donate) or by postal mail. (Note: like many of our sister organizations, we would prefer to move away from PayPal for online donations. At this point, we are pleased to accept e-Interac transfers from Canadian bank accounts, and we hope to announce other electronic payment methods soon. Please e-mail us if you have questions about this). Elsewhere in the world, please consider donating through one of our sister campaigns in the Freedom Flotilla. Whether you can donate financially or not, please help us spread the word about our campaign: share our messages with your family, friends and/or work colleagues and encourage them to join our mailing list; send an endorsement message from your association, union, congregation or political party;organize and attend events to raise funds and awareness for our campaign;join a Freedom Flotilla campaign near you and encourage others to do so;follow us on the web, Facebook, Twitter (see below), and share our posts widely.Twitter: @CanadaBoatGaza @GazaFFlotilla www.facebook.com/CanadaBoatGaza www.facebook.com/BateauCanadienGaza www.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalitionTogether, we can help end the blockade!
*La Coalition de la Flottille de la Liberté est prête à prendre la mer pour briser le siège de Gaza
La Coalition de la Flottille de la Liberté pour Gaza (FFC) annonce son intention de reprendre la mer pour contester le siège illégal et meurtrier de Gaza par Israël. Dans les semaines à venir, une flottille prendra la mer avec à son bord des milliers de tonnes d’aide humanitaire d’urgence qui seront livrées directement aux Palestiniennes et Palestiniens de Gaza.
Après 17 ans d’un blocus brutal et 4 mois d’un assaut génocidaire, y compris l’utilisation à fins militaires des produits de première nécessité, les Palestiniens de Gaza sont confrontés à une crise humanitaire catastrophique sans précédent. Le 26 janvier 2024, la Cour internationale de justice (CIJ) a ordonné des mesures provisoires pour protéger les Palestinien.nes de Gaza contre le risque plausible de génocide. Parmi les six mesures expressément formulées, la CIJ a ordonné à Israël de “prendre des mesures immédiates et efficaces pour permettre la fourniture des services de base et de l’assistance humanitaire dont les Palestiniennes et les Palestiniens de la bande de Gaza ont un besoin urgent, afin de remédier aux conditions de vie néfastes auxquelles elles et ils sont confrontés”. Cette décision fait suite aux résolutions du Conseil de Sécurité de l’ONU de novembre et décembre 2023 qui appelaient à des mesures urgentes pour permettre immédiatement un accès humanitaire “sûr, sans entrave et élargi” à Gaza.
Le non-respect flagrant de ces ordres par Israël et l’incapacité des autres gouvernements à faire pression sur la puissance occupante pour qu’elle s’y conforme nous motivent, en tant qu’organisations de la société civile, à agir.
“Il nous incombe de veiller à ce que le peuple palestinien de Gaza reçoivent une aide humanitaire”, déclare Ismail Moola, de l’Alliance de Solidarité avec la Palestine (Afrique du Sud). “Nous espérons que le Conseil de sécurité appliquera la décision de la CIJ, mais en raison de la grave crise humanitaire qui sévit à Gaza, nous devons agir immédiatement”.
Les plans de notre campagne “Sauver Gaza” sont en cours, et la Flottille de la Liberté appelle le gouvernement égyptien à faciliter l’acheminement de l’aide vitale à Gaza via Rafah. La mission de la Flottille, “Pour les enfants de Gaza”, menée par notre bateau Handala, partira à nouveau d’Europe du Nord pour se rendre à Gaza en mai 2024.
La Coalition de la Flottille pour Gaza s’est réunie à Istanbul pour planifier ces campagnes avec des représentants des organisations suivantes : Canadian Boat to Gaza (Canada), US Boat to Gaza (États-Unis), Kia Ora Gaza (Aotearoa, Nouvelle-Zélande), Free Gaza Australia (Australie), Ship to Gaza (Norvège), MyCARE (Malaisie), Ship to Gaza (Suède), Palestine Solidarity Alliance (Afrique du Sud), IHH (Turquie), Rumbo a Gaza (État espagnol), Mavi Marmara Association (Turquie) et le Comité international pour la levée du siège de Gaza.
“Là où nos gouvernements échouent, nous naviguons”, déclare Karen DeVito, de Canadian Boat to Gaza. “Nous mettons le cap sur la conscience de l’humanité, en solidarité avec le peuple palestinien”.
Nous appelons les organisations de la société civile du monde entier qui partagent nos valeurs et nos objectifs à nous soutenir et à nous rejoindre.
Pour plus d’informations, contactez nos porte-parole ici: https://freedomflotilla.org/media-contacts/Pour appuyer notre travail contre le blocus de Gaza, vous pouvez faire un don en ligne (canadaboatgaza.org/donate) ou par chèque ou mandat à la poste. (Nota bene: comme beaucoup de nos alliés, nous aimerions réduire notre dépendance sur PayPal pour les dons en ligne. En ce moment, nous sommes heureux d’accepter les virements par e-Interac à partir des comptes bancaires canadiens, et nous espérons annoncer bientôt d’autres méthodes pour effectuer les paiements électroniques. Veuillez nous contacter par courriel si vous avez des questions à cet égard). Ailleurs dans le monde, nous vous encourageons à appuyer une des autres campagnes de la Coalition de la Flottille de la Liberté si vous pouvez. Que vous puissiez ou pas nous soutenir financièrement, veuillez nous aider à diffuser notre campagne:
partagez nos messages avec votre famille, vos amis, et/ ou vos collègues de travail, et encouragez-les à s’abonner à notre liste de courriel;
envoyez un message de soutien de la part de votre association, votre syndicat, votre congrégation ou votre parti politique.
organisez et assistez à des événements afin de lever des fond et de conscientiser les gens aux objectifs de notre campagne;
inscrivez-vous à une campagne de la Freedom Flotilla à proximité de vous, et encouragez d’autres personnes à le faire aussi; et
suivez-nous en web, sur Facebook, Twitter (voir ci-après), et partager nos billets largement.
TAKE ACTION NOW: support South Africa’s genocide application at the ICJ today!
Please consider sending messages to Canadian parliamentary leaders calling for support of the SA case, here and here. Please also go here to send messages to selected international representatives at the UN calling on them to intervene in support of South Africa’s application this week.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition to sail in 2024
Representatives from the International Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) met in Istanbul at the beginning of November and agreed to increase their efforts to challenge the inhumane and illegal blockade of Gaza, with more urgency than ever. “We will send as many boats as we can with whatever humanitarian medical aid we can gather, as early as possible in 2024.” explains Torstein Dahle of Ship to Gaza Norway. “We know the needs of the Palestinians in Gaza are enormous, and the challenge to rebuild destroyed homes and infrastructure will also be enormous.”
While the total number of boats and the amounts of aid are not yet confirmed, the FFC aims to sail between two and five vessels of different types. December had been projected for a possible departure, but the renewed bombing attacks by Israel along with other factors have pushed the departure date back.
“We call on the Israeli Occupation Forces and their U.S. sponsors to guarantee safe passage through international waters to internationally recognized Palestinian waters off Gaza,” adds Colonel (retired) Ann Wright of US Boats to Gaza. “We have no intention of putting our people or the humanitarian cargo in harm’s way. We will sail as soon as it is safe to do so.”
In response to unfounded rumours that have been reported (in various media), we clarify that there will not be “1000 boats” with 4500 people from 40 countries, including 12 from Türkiye. “The Freedom Flotilla Coalition and the Mavi Marmara Association are not working with Volkan Okçu, as reported on the Turkish news site, Haber7.” states MMA representative, Ismail Behesti. “The FFC has been sailing missions against the blockade of Gaza since 2010, and we have never made such exaggerated claims, which can only harm the credibility of this serious undertaking.”
The FFC boat Handala, which visited northern European ports in 2023, will continue in 2024 on its voyage to challenge the blockade. Updates from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition can be found here, while the new initiative that is drawing in participation from even more countries can be found at the Save Gaza website.
Please follow us on the web, Facebook, Twitter (see below), and Instagram, and share our posts.
*Passez à l’action: Soutenez la requête en génocide de l’Afrique du Sud auprès de la CIJ dès aujourd’hui ! Envoyez des messages aux leaders parlementaires canadiens pour leur demander de soutenir la requête de l’Afrique du Sud ici et ici. Vous pouvez également envoyer des messages ici à certains consulats internationaux à l’ONU pour leur demander d’intervenir en faveur de l’action de l’Afrique du Sud cette semaine.
La Coalition de la Flottille de la Liberté pour Gaza prendra la mer en 2024.
Des personnes représentant la Coalition internationale de la Flottille de la Liberté (FFC) se sont réunies à Istanbul au début du mois de novembre et ont décidé d’intensifier leurs efforts pour lutter contre le blocus inhumain et illégal de Gaza, avec plus d’urgence que jamais. “Nous enverrons autant de bateaux que possible avec toute l’aide médicale humanitaire que nous pourrons rassembler, dès que possible en 2024”, explique Torstein Dahle, de Ship to Gaza Norway (bateau pour Gaza Norvège). “Nous savons que les besoins des Palestiniens de Gaza sont énormes et que le défi de reconstruire les maisons et les infrastructures détruites sera également énorme. Bien que le nombre total de bateaux et les quantités d’aide ne soient pas encore confirmés, la FFC vise à faire naviguer entre deux et cinq navires de différents types. Le mois de décembre avait été prévu pour un éventuel départ, mais les nouveaux bombardements israéliens et d’autres facteurs ont repoussé la date de départ. “Nous demandons aux forces d’occupation israéliennes et à leurs sponsors américains de garantir un passage sûr dans les eaux internationales vers les eaux palestiniennes internationalement reconnues au large de Gaza,” ajoute le colonel (à la retraite) Ann Wright, de US Boat to Gaza (bateau pour Gaza Etats-Unis). “Nous partirons dès que nous pourrons le faire en toute sécurité. Nous n’avons pas l’intention de mettre en danger notre personnel ou la cargaison humanitaire.” En réponse aux rumeurs infondées qui ont été rapportées (dans différents médias), nous précisons qu’il n’y aura pas “1000 bateaux” avec 4500 personnes à bord de 40 pays, dont 12 de Turquie. “La Coalition pour la Flottille de la Liberté et l’Association Mavi Marmara (MMA) ne travaillent pas avec Volkan Okçu, comme l’a rapporté le site d’information turc Haber7”, a déclaré un représentant du MMA, Ismail Behesti. “La FFC effectue des missions contre le blocus de Gaza depuis 2010, et nous n’avons jamais fait de telles déclarations exagérées, qui ne peuvent que nuire à la crédibilité de cette entreprise sérieuse”. Le bateau Handala de la FFC, qui a visité des ports d’Europe du Nord en 2023, poursuivra en 2024 son voyage pour défier le blocus. Les mises à jour de la Coalition de la Flottille de la Liberté pour Gaza sont disponibles ici, tandis que la nouvelle initiative qui attire la participation d’un nombre encore plus grand de pays est disponible sur le site web de Save Gaza.
SVP suivez-nous en web, sur Facebook, Twitter (voir ci-après), et Instagram, et partagez nos billets largement.
The Freedom Flotilla vessel Handala, sailing against the blockade of Gaza, has been visiting English and Welsh ports this month. Supporters of human rights for Palestinians, especially for the Palestinians of Gaza who are mostly children and refugees, have greeted Handala at events in Liverpool, Cardiff, Bristol and most recently Southampton.
This 18 metre former fishing vessel from northern Norway joins more than 12 years of Freedom Flotilla Coalition sailings which have challenged the illegal and inhumane blockade of Gaza with successive voyages since 2010. With support from local chapters of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, welcome events included greetings from trade unionists, progressive politicians and community representatives.
Vancouver film-maker and Canadian Boat to Gaza (CBG) Steering Committee member Jase Tanner joined the voyage from Scotland to Bristol, documenting many of the events and speakers along the way. From Bristol to Southampton to Rotterdam, the Freedom Flotilla Steering Committee is represented by London women’s Advocate/ Counsellor and CBG member Wendy Goldsmith, who also participated in the2016 Women’s Boat to Gaza. Wendy says she is sailing with Handala to help raise awareness of the plight of Palestinian children in Gaza, the world’s largest open air prison, deemed uninhabitable by the United Nations: “We sail to bring awareness to Israel’s ongoing violations of International law, their apartheid regime and their blatant disregard for the humanitarian crisis it has created and sustains.” Montreal lawyer-journalist Dimitri Lascaris, who covered the 2018 Flotilla For a Just Future for Palestine, will join this year’s final leg in Scandinavia this August.
This year’s voyage began in early April in Kristiansund, Norway and crossed from Oslo to Scotland in June. Our boat will continue to visit northern European ports in July and August of 2023 to raise awareness about Western governments’ complicity with the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza and occupation of Palestine. The vessel was named Handalaat a ceremony in Bergen on April 13, in honour of the emblematic Palestinian refugee child waiting for return to a free Palestine. This same Freedom Flotilla vessel will sail to the Mediterranean to challenge the blockade of Gaza more directly in 2024.
For more background on the 2023 Freedom Flotilla, see our FAQ. Please follow and share our videos on Youtube, our messages on Twitter, on Facebook and on Instagram.
In solidarity, The Canadian Boat to Gaza Steering Committee
What: Naming ceremony for Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s new boat ‘Handala’, and the formal launch of its voyage to challenge and end the illegal and inhumane Israeli blockade of Gaza.
Who: Fauzia Hussaini-Wiik, Bergen head of Landsorganisasjonen i Norge (LO), the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions; Arne Birger Heli, Captain and representative of Ship to Gaza Norway; participants from on board the Al Awda/Kårstein, Freedom Flotilla 2018; a representative of fishers and farmers in Gaza.
When: April 18, 2023, 17:00 CEST.
Where: Bryggen Harbour, Bergen, Norway.
Why: Most of the West’s governments and many international corporations continue to be complicit in Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, and so in response to calls from partners in Gaza the Freedom Flotilla sails again to challenge and end the blockade, calling for full freedom of movement for all Palestinians.
Our 2023 voyage focuses on the children of Gaza and we have chosen to name this boat Handala after the iconic 10-year-old Palestinian refugee child created by Naji Al-Ali in his cartoons about Palestinians’ longing for return to a free homeland.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a grassroots people-to-people solidarity movement composed of campaigns and initiatives from different parts of the world, working together to end the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza. More information at freedomflotilla.org.
After the global pandemic pause, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is now set to resume our sailing to challenge the illegal, immoral and inhuman blockade of Gaza. We met in London between 4-6 November with representatives of our member campaigns from different countries (Norway, Malaysia, US, Sweden, Canada, France, New Zealand, Turkey and the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza), and with British and international pro-Palestine solidarity organizations (including Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB), popular conference for Palestinians Abroad, Miles of Smiles), to discuss plans to reactivate and expand our work. Our goals remain full human rights for all Palestinians, and in particular, freedom of movement within historic Palestine and the right of return.
In light of the worsening political situation in apartheid Israel and the increasingly brutal repression in occupied Palestine, we are reaching out to other parts of the solidarity movement to work together towards our common goals. This work includes amplifying Palestinian voices, especially those from Gaza, and supporting our civil society partners, like the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, which represents farmers and fishers in Gaza. The UAWC, along with other Palestinian civil society organizations, has been unjustly smeared and targeted by the Israeli occupation in an attempt to undermine their important role in documenting human rights violations and building resilience in Palestine. While some of our partner organizations are actively involved with important programs addressing the most urgent needs of Palestinian children traumatized by the blockade and murderous Israeli attacks on Gaza, we recognize that a lasting solution requires an end to the blockade.
Solidarity movements are under attack in Palestine and around the world. Our response must reflect and amplify the urgent pleas from our civil society partners to end the blockade of Gaza. At the same time, we also work to end the media blockade by exposing the brutal reality of occupation and apartheid.
As our predecessors in the Free Gaza Movement said when they began these challenging voyages in 2008, we sail until Gaza and Palestine are free!
With our Freedom Flotilla partners, along with the generous support of donors like you, we were able to fund this ambulance which arrived in Gaza in November. As a part of the Miles of Smiles humanitarian convoy, it’s now being used by the Benevolent Society for Disabled People in Gaza.
Please watch and share this video showing this donated ambulance at work.
Finally, after 10 years, the Israeli government has settled our compensation claim for its seizure of our boat and its cargo.
On November 4, 2011, the Tahrir, funded by grassroots donations from Canada, Australia, Belgium and Denmark, along with its cargo of some $30,000 in medical aid, was stolen by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) and never delivered to our civil society partners in Gaza. A dozen people on board, including journalists, were imprisoned in Israel and eventually deported.
In January 2012, the Canadian Boat to Gaza filed a legal claim against the Israeli military. Through diligent research, our amazing Israeli legal team established an irrefutable basis for our claim. As a result, we have received a net settlement of $185,647 CDN, about half of the Tahrir’s total costs. Although we have accepted this out-of-court settlement, it does not represent full justice for our losses, much less for those of Palestinians.Many more Palestinian boats from Gaza have been stolen and damaged by the IOF: their owners face far greater legal obstacles than we do in pursuing claims and obtaining justice.
“This settlement is a victory for us and for the entire Freedom Flotilla movement, as well as for all organizations and individuals who contributed time and money to ending the blockade of Gaza.” said Canadian-Israeli Sandra Ruch, who was the registered owner of the Tahrir on behalf of our campaign, outside the Israeli consulte in Toronto today (video). “Of course, the funds from this settlement will be dedicated to the ongoing actions to help achieve full freedom of movement for all Palestinians.”
We are using a portion of this settlement towards purchasing much-needed new ambulances for Gaza. These new ambulances, which our Freedom Flotilla partners helped fund, are now en route towardsPalestine: when they arrive we will let you know.
Enfin, après 10 ans, le gouvernement israélien a réglé notre demande de dédommagement pour sa saisie de notre bateau et de sa cargaison.
Le 4 novembre 2011, le Tahrir, financé par des dons populaires du Canada, de l’Australie, de la Belgique et du Danemark, ainsi que sa cargaison d’environ 30 000 $ d’aide médicale, ont été volés par les forces d’occupation israéliennes et n’ont jamais été livrés à nos partenaires de la société civile à Gaza. Une douzaine de personnes à bord, dont des journalistes, ont été emprisonnées en Israël et finalement déportées.
En janvier 2012, le Bateau canadien pour Gaza a déposé une plainte contre l’armée israélienne. Grâce à des recherches diligentes, notre incroyable équipe juridique israélienne a établi une base incontestable pour notre demande. En conséquence, nous avons reçu un règlement net de 185 647 dollars canadiens, soit environ la moitié des coûts totaux du Tahrir. Bien que nous ayons accepté ce règlement hors tribunaux, il ne représente pas une justice complète pour nos pertes, et encore moins pour celles des Palestiniens.ne.s. De nombreux autres bateaux palestiniens de Gaza ont été volés et endommagés par la marine de l’occupation israélienne: leurs propriétaires rencontrent des obstacles juridiques bien plus importants que les nôtres pour faire valoir leurs droits et obtenir justice.
“Ce règlement est une victoire pour nous et pour l’ensemble du mouvement de la Flottille de la liberté, ainsi que pour toutes les organisations et personnes qui ont contribué en temps et en argent à la levée du blocus de Gaza”, a déclaré la Canadienne-Israélienne Sandra Ruch, qui était la propriétaire immatriculée du Tahrir au nom de notre campagne, devant le consulat israélien à Toronto aujourd’hui (vidéo). “Bien sûr, les fonds de ce règlement seront consacrés aux actions en cours pour aider à atteindre la pleine liberté de mouvement pour le peuple palestinien.”
Si nous ne sollicitons pas de dons pour notre campagne à l’heure actuelle, nous vous demandons de soutenir nos campagnes sœurs de la coalition de la Flottille de la liberté, ainsi que nos partenaires à Gaza, notamment We Are Not Numbers. Notre autre partenaire à Gaza, l’Union des comités de travail agricole, a un besoin urgent de solidarité maintenant : veuillez signer et envoyer cette lettre pour les soutenir, ainsi que d’autres organisations de la société civile palestinienne ciblées par l’occupation israélienne.
Nous utilisons une partie de ce règlement pour acheter de nouvelles ambulances dont Gaza a tant besoin. Ces nouvelles ambulances, que nos partenaires de la Flottille de la liberté ont contribué à financer, sont maintenant en route vers la Palestine : nous vous informerons de leur arrivée. Merci encore pour votre soutien continu. Ensemble, nous continuerons à défier physiquement le blocus que nous finirons par aider à briser !
Freedom Flotilla sailors and participants are sometimes asked: Why do you keep sailing toward Gaza only to be captured? Why not give the funds you raise directly to the Palestinians of Gaza as aid? Our rationale for sailing and our experiences in 2018 provide some answers. Our Palestinian partners in Gaza are asking us to challenge the illegal blockade. In May 2018 the Norwegian fishing trawler Al Awda (The Return) and the Swedish sailing ship Freedom sailed from Scandinavia. Over two months, we called on ports in Denmark, Germany, Holland, England, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy spreading the message of freedom for Palestinians. Israel has extended its reach, pressuring governments in Cyprus,Turkey, and Greece to prevent our ships sailing from their ports.
The arrival of the ships at each European port occasioned special events, marches, music, speaking opportunities, as well as visits with municipal and provincial politicians. In some places cities and regions had passed motions to support the Flotilla and recognize Palestine. In Amsterdam, activists organized a small-boat Flotilla through the canals with music, banners and flags. Supporters followed along the canals and bridges handing out hundreds of flyers. Brighton, England gave a rousing welcome on the pier, held an information event in a local park, and a packed house speaking event in the town. Gijón, Spain held a march through the city with about 800 people with music, dancing, singing and a Palestinian flag that required 40 people to parade it through the streets. The City Council of Cádiz, Spain voted the Flotilla "Illustrious Visitor." Two smaller Swedish sailboats crossed Netherland, Belgium and France by river and canal, catching public interest when authorities prevented them from mooring in Paris, and visited a number of other waterside communities.
Energizing local solidarity groups, providing outreach and diplomacy are all aspects of the Flotilla's work. The voyage around Europe is so valuable in these respects. We also discovered that refugees would visit our ships at each port. The mayors of three Italian ports met our ships at the piers and declared refugees welcome to their cities, regardless of their then-Prime Minister's negative attitude. Our crew met with local and provincial politicians, ambassadors– they attended regional parliamentary sessions, municipal meetings and gave presentations to the public as well as tours of the boats. All these activities are part of why we sail.
Palestinians in Gaza are now more than ever connected with the rest of the world by the internet. They know when the Freedom Flotilla is coming; they go to the seashore and wait. We are answering a civil society call when we sail–when we ask our partner organizations in Gaza if they would prefer a donations over a Flotilla, they always respond saying we should to sail and raise international awareness about the blockade. They prefer we expand awareness of the longest running occupation in modern history. They also tell us that our sailing gives Palestinians hope and the knowledge that they are not alone.
The Flotilla movement has launched successful legal challenges to Israel for improper confiscation of our ships. One recent court victory by Ship to Gaza Sweden provided the funds for purchase of the Freedom and two smaller sailboats that travelled through France to the Mediterranean. And so Captain John, when interrogated on the way to an Israeli prison, was pleased to answer this question: "Did a terrorist organization provide your funding?" with a solid "Yes!". Then to the question "Which one?", John replied: "The Israeli government."
The Freedom, aside from its main cargo of hope, also carried some medical aid that Israel is required to deliver. To date our 114 boxes remain in Israel, awaiting delivery to Gaza. While these medical supplies were not a significant quantity, they provide another opportunity for ongoing legal action in Israeli courts against the blockade.
The Flotilla will sail again in 2020, at the request of Palestinians of Gaza. This is the year the UN report declared that Gaza will be unliveable. Right now, most of its drinking water is contaminated. Every child shows symptoms of psychological distress. Each Friday Palestinians stand on their own land near the fence asking for their human rights as Israeli snipers shoot them. In 2018 the IDF has killed 254 people in Gaza, 47 of them children. Thousands have been injured; many amputations have resulted.
There are shortages of medicine in Gaza. Children go to school in shifts. Many are orphaned. Israeli drones fly overhead day and night. Hospitals are overwhelmed, especially on Fridays. Last summer we met young Jamil from Gaza in an Italian port; his mother had applied to Israel for permission to take him there for medical treatment. During the years of waiting he had survived on blood transfusions from his grandfather. He must return once his rare blood condition is treated. We saw the worry in his mother’s eyes. Gaza is hazardous even for a healthy child.
One critical way to help this campaign is to contribute financially. There are different ways you can make a donation. Click here to donate. We ask you to consider a monthly donation. We are pleased to accept e-transfers from Canadian bank accounts (Interac) or online using a major credit card or PayPal account. You can also donate by cheque or money order and mailing to Canadian Boat to Gaza, PO Box 1950, London Stn. B, London, Ontario N6A 5J4, CANADA. In other countries, please consider donating through one of our Freedom Flotilla coalition partner campaigns.
Please help us spread the word about our campaigns:
– share our messages with your family, friends and/or work colleagues and encourage them to join our mailing list;
– send an endorsement message from your association, union, congregation or political party;
– organize and attend events to raise funds and awareness for our campaign;
– join a Freedom Flotilla campaign near you and encourage others to do so;
– follow us on the web, Facebook, Twitter (see below) and share our posts widely.
