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News, Reports, Statements

Freedom Flotilla Puts
Handala Mission on Hold

/ 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.

News, Reports

Freedom Flotilla Preparing to Sail to Gaza in 2020 to raise awareness about Palestinian youth in Gaza

In 2012, the UN predicted that Gaza was on track to become “unliveable” by 2020. In 2017, the UN acknowledged that the “unliveability” threshold had already been passed. Despite this, “somehow, families in Gaza find ways to ‘make do’.”

In Spring 2020, the next Freedom Flotilla will sail again to challenge the 12 year, illegal and inhuman Israeli blockade imposed on more than 2 million Palestinian people in Gaza – more than half of whom are children.

Partners in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition are mobilizing support for their participation in the Flotilla and you can get involved by contacting your nearest partner listed here.

The people of Gaza do not give up and neither do we. There are 1.4 million young people in Gaza who deserve a better future.

Watch this video by the Israeli NGO Gisha.

Across the world our partners and other friends have been organizing local events to raise
awareness about the continued blockade and also to raise funds to finance the purchase of boats and supplies.

Here are some photos and links to events held in the US, Spain, Sweden and Australia.

For more images and information about US events

For more images and information about Swedish events

For more images and information about the event in Seville

For images and information about events in Australia

For the children in Gaza and for respect of human rights we will sail again until Palestine is free.

 

 

Reports

Call to action – Your help is urgently needed

CALL TO ACTION

At 1558 (CEST) on 5 October, we lost contact again with the Zaytouna-Oliva and presume that the Israeli Occupation Navy has now begun to attack it and that it has been surrounded in International Waters (latest position: Lat+31.906033 Lon+33.757630). On board are 13 women, including Mairead Maguire, the Nobel peace laureate from Northern Ireland, Fauziah Hasan, a doctor from Malaysia, and retired US army colonel Ann Wright. Take action to protect them! Details of all of the participants are here: https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/participants-on-board-messina-to-gaza 

Pre-recorded video of women onboard here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-l5tZR_gus2Fq8LuaVN24sq_22qGqEhB

Please contact the people listed below asking for the safety of all the 13 women on board of the Women's Boat to Gaza.

They were on a peaceful mission reach the people of Gaza in solidarity and are believed to have been stopped by the Israeli navy.

On Twitter you can use the hashtags: #womentogaza #letfflotillasail

Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0A6
(No postage required!)
Phone: +1 613 995 0253
Phone: 1 514 277 6020
E-mail: j+ustin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca
Twitter: @JustinTrudeau

Stephane Dion, Minister of Foreign Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Contact Information
mailto:stephane.dion@parl.gc.ca


Canadian Consular office Tel Aviv
The Embassy of Canada
P.O. Box 9442
Tel-Aviv, 6706038, Israel

Tel: (011 972 3) 636-3300
Within Israel (03) 636-3300
Fax: (011 972 3) 636-3380
Within Israel (03) 636-3380
Email: taviv@international.gc.ca
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Thursday: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.,

Rona Ambrose, Conservative Leader
Conservative Party of Canada
1720-130 Albert St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5G4
1-866-808-8407
Email: rona.ambrose.c1a@parl.gc.ca

Tom Mulcair, New Democratic Party Leader
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6

Telephone: 613-947-0867
Fax: 613-947-0868

Email: thomas.mulcair@parl.gc.ca
Mail may be sent postage-free to any Member of Parliament.

Constituency Office(s)
154 Laurier Avenue West (Main Office)
Suite 302
Montréal, Quebec
H2T 2N7
Telephone: 514-736-2727
Fax: 514-736-2726

UN

His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Secretary-General
UN Headquarters
First Avenue at 46th Street
New York, NY 10017
USA
E-mail: sgcentral@un.org
Twitter: @UN_Spokesperson

EU

Federica Mogherini High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Email: federica.mogherini@ec.europa.eu
Twitter: @FedericaMog
Address:
European Commission
Rue de la Loi / Wetstraat 200
1049 1049 Brussels
Belgium

Reports

Update Day 6: Zaytouna-Oliva Sailing Peacefully Towards Palestine

picture-aboard-z-o-1-october-1125x480Mediterranean Sea, International Waters, North West of Palestine. Zaytouna-Oliva is continuing as planned on her route to Gaza, Palestine, where our sisters and brothers are preparing for her arrival.

Participants aboard the boat are busy conducting interviews with media outlets to further increase awareness of their trip and the illegal blockade. According to Mairead Maguire, who was awarded the 1976 Nobel Peace Prize: “We sail to Gaza, a 7-day, l,000 mile journey, because our love for all the suffering children is as deep as the Mediterranean Sea on which we sail … As in Gaza, so too around our world millions of children are suffering because of government policies of militarism and war and violence of armed struggles, etc. and this cycle of escalating violence must be broken, lest it spin out of control and cause final disaster for the human family… it is not too late, we can turn around from war to peace, from foes to friendship, from hate to forgiveness and love, it is a choice. We are powerful each in our own way. We can, when we believe passionately in love, change to a non-killing, non-violent world.

Why do I believe such a world is possible? Because on this little boat, rocking gently under the sails, I feel loved and can only be in awe of the beauty of nature, and the magnificence and beauty of the human spirit in the women, with whom I can say, show love in their eyes and actions…”

News, Reports

Update Day 5: Zaytouna-Oliva receives repairs and supplies south of Crete

zaytouna-day-5-repairs

Mediterranean Sea south of Crete (Greece): During a storm a few nights ago, part of the rigging on the Zaytouna-Oliva was damaged by heavy winds. Although the damage was minor and she continued to make good progress for the last few days under motor towards the Greek island of Crete, she still needed her rigging fixed in order to continue the mission.

This morning our friends from Ship to Gaza Greece sent a repair boat which brought a skilled rigging specialist to repair the damage, as well as bringing more fuel and supplies.

According to Madeleine Habib, skipper of Zaytouna-Oliva: “the professionalism of rigger and team that came on board was great. It really meant so much to us! In addition to fuel and other supplies, the boat brought the women Greek desserts, solidarity and friendship.” Zohar Chamberlain Regev, coordinator of the Women’s Boat to Gaza who worked closely with women from Ship to Gaza Greece to arrange the needed repairs, adds: “This immediate response to our boat’s needs is just another example of how much solidarity there is around the world to help break the blockade of Gaza. While there are no Greek women on the boats, their campaign’s concrete solidarity has helped us on this international mission in a vital way.”

The Zaytouna-Oliva is now continuing on her way to break the illega blockade of Gaza, with many thanks to the solidarity and friendship from Greece! She is  scheduled to reach the shores of Gaza later this week.

Media contact person: Ellen Huttu Hansson. Phone: +46 722 883 213
E-mail: ellen.huttu.hansson@gmail.com
Photo credit: Kia Ora Gaza (New Zealand/ Aotearoa).

News, Reports

Update from Zaytouna-Oliva Day 3 and 4: Morale is good

zaytouna-718x480

The following is a compilation from the Captain, crew and participants on the boat.

Wednesday, September 28

We had heavy showers and several women are seasick. There were not many takers of the cous cous salad we had for lunch.  But our discomfort at sea pales in comparison to the people of Palestine.

Thursday, September 29

Today has been easier and we are enjoying calm conditions. We are sitting together enjoying the noon sunshine. It is nice to see everyone smiling and finding their sealegs. Women are singing “I am sailing to be near to you”.

https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/news/update-from-zaytouna-day-3-and-4-moral-is-good

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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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