Category Archives: Statements

Freedom Flotilla Coalition is on the move: Will sail for Gaza soon

Gallery March 6, 2024 Canadian Boat to Gaza

Le texte en francáis suit *

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.

For more information contact one of our campaign spokespersons https://freedomflotilla.org/media-contacts/

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/FreedomFlotillaCoalition Together, 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.
Twitter: @CanadaBoatGaza @GazaFFlotilla
www.facebook.com/CanadaBoatGaza www.facebook.com/BateauCanadienGaza www.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition

Ensemble, nous pouvons aider à briser le blocus!

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

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News, Statements

TAKE ACTION NOW: support South Africa’s genocide application at the ICJ today!

January 15, 2024 Canadian Boat to Gaza

(le texte en français suit*)

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.

Twitter: @CanadaBoatGaza @GazaFFlotilla

www.facebook.com/CanadaBoatGazawww.facebook.com/BateauCanadienGazawww.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition

Together, we can help end the blockade!

*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.

Twitter: @CanadaBoatGaza @GazaFFlotilla
www.facebook.com/CanadaBoatGazawww.facebook.com/BateauCanadienGaza www.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition

Ensemble, nous pouvons aider à rompre le blocus!

Statements

Ceasefire now, end the siege, for a just and lasting peace

October 21, 2023 Canadian Boat to Gaza

Le texte en français suit.

People in Canada are watching in horror as the violence in Israel-Palestine has escalated towards an all-out war.

On Tuesday, the bombing of the Anglican Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City killed hundreds of people, most of them children. Over 5,000 people had been sheltering inside. This is a war crime.

Since October 7, thousands have been killed following Hamas’ attack and the Israeli government’s response.

We unequivocally condemn the targeting of innocent Palestinian and Israeli civilians.

As representatives of leading pan-Canadian labour, faith, Arab, Jewish, and civil society organizations, we are calling on the Government of Canada to take these steps:

Call for an immediate ceasefire of all hostilities in Israel-Palestine
Call for an end to the blockade of Gaza and for the restoration of humanitarian aid and access to the basic necessities of life

We endorse the Canadian government’s call for humanitarian aid to Gaza and the safe return of hostages. These demands cannot be meaningfully addressed without an immediate ceasefire and while Israel’s blockade of Gaza continues.

Gaza is facing a “complete siege” as food, water, electricity, and fuel have been cut off. Gaza’s last functioning seawater desalination plant shut down on Sunday after running out of fuel. Water and sanitation services have collapsed in the wake of widespread bombing.

UN shelters have also run out of water and hospital workers are warning that thousands more civilians could die if access to water, fuel, and medicine is not restored.

The already dire humanitarian crisis is rapidly deteriorating.

The Israeli government’s order to a million Gazans to evacuate to the south–an impossible feat in 24 hours–suggests that a ground war and intensifying bombing are imminent.

Our most urgent task is preventing the further loss of life and an even greater humanitarian disaster than what we have already witnessed in Gaza. An all-out war would bring catastrophe to the entire region.

As hostilities escalate, they are fuelling a rise of Anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian racism, Islamophobia, and antisemitism in Canada–which we also unequivocally condemn.

Beyond these immediate steps, the world must support efforts for a just and lasting peace in Israel-Palestine and address the root cause of the violence: Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian territory.

Palestinians, Israelis, and all people in the region deserve to live in peace and security and with justice for all.

Signatories:

Alternatives

Arab Canadian Lawyers Association

Asian Canadian Labour Alliance

Asian Canadian Women Alliance

Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI)

Black Lives Matter – Canada

Canada Stand Up for Palestinian Children’s Rights

Canadian Boat to Gaza

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Canadian Palestinian Professional Foundation

Canadian Palestinian Social Association of London

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario / Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP) Ontario

Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

Centre international de solidarité ouvrière (CISO)

Le CIBLES – Carrefour international bas-laurentien pour l’engagement social

Coalition of Canadian Palestinian Organizations

Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain CSN

Conseil régional Montréal métropolitain FTQ

Fédération autonome de l’enseignement FAE

Femmes en Mouvement du Québec

Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU)

Hearing Palestine

Independent Jewish Voices Canada

International Coalition For Human Rights in the Philippines Canada

Iranian Canadian Congress

Jewish Faculty Network

Montréal pour un monde sans guerre

Le Mouvement d’éducation populaire et d’action communautaire du Québec (MÉPACQ)

National Council of Canadian Muslims

National Union of Public and General Employees

Oblates Franciscaines de Saint-Joseph

Palestine Network, Shining Waters

PalNet Pacific

People for Peace, London

Progress Toronto

Public Service Alliance of Canada / L’Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal, Social Action Office

Soeurs Auxiliatrices, Québec

South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario

SWO KAIROS

Table ronde des organismes volontaires d’éducation Populaire de l’Outaouais

Unifor

The United Church of Canada

United Jewish People’s Order

United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel

Urban Alliance on Race Relations

World Beyond War

Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism

To add your organization’s name to this statement, please email coalition4ceasefirenow@gmail.com.

Cessez le feu et mettez fin au siège pour assurer une paix juste et durable

La population du Québec et du Canada regarde avec horreur la violence entre Israël et la Palestine augmenter jusqu’à ce qui semble aujourd’hui devenir une guerre totale.

Mardi, une frappe aérienne sur l’hôpital anglican Al-Ahli à Gaza a tué des centaines de personnes. Plus de 5 000 personnes s’y étaient réfugiées. C’est un crime de guerre.

Depuis le 7 octobre, des milliers de personnes ont été tuées au cours de l’attaque du Hamas et de la riposte du gouvernement israélien.

Nous condamnons catégoriquement le ciblage de civils innocents israéliens et palestiniens.

En tant que représentants des principales organisations syndicales, confessionnelles, arabes, juives et de la société civile du Canada, nous incitons le gouvernement du Canada à prendre les mesures suivantes :

Appeler à la cessation immédiate de toutes les hostilités entre Israël et la Palestine
Appeler à la levée du blocus de la bande de Gaza et rétablir l’aide humanitaire afin que la population puisse remplir ses besoins essentiels

Nous appuyons l’appel du gouvernement du Canada à l’apport d’aide humanitaire à la bande de Gaza et à un retour des otages israéliens sains et saufs. Ces revendications ne sauraient être vraiment satisfaites sans un cessez-le-feu immédiat et alors que le blocus imposé par Israël à la bande de Gaza se poursuit.

La bande de Gaza est en état de siège complet : les approvisionnements en nourriture, en eau, en électricité et en carburant ont été coupés. La dernière usine de dessalinisation de l’eau de mer en fonctionnement a fermé dimanche après avoir manqué de carburant. Les services d’eau et d’épuration des eaux usées ont cessé de fonctionner par suite des bombardements continus de ce territoire.

Les refuges de l’ONU ont manqué d’eau et le personnel hospitalier ont fait savoir que des milliers de civils blessés risquent de mourir si l’accès à l’eau, au carburant et aux médicaments n’est pas rétabli.

La grave crise humanitaire s’empire rapidement.

Le fait que le gouvernement israélien ait ordonné à un million de Gazaouis d’évacuer le nord de la bande vers le sud – ce qui est impossible en 24 heures–porte à croire qu’une guerre au sol et une intensification des bombardements sont imminentes.

Notre tâche la plus pressante est de prévenir toute nouvelle perte de vie et un désastre humanitaire encore plus important que ce à quoi nous avons assisté dans la bande de Gaza. Une guerre totale serait catastrophique dans l’ensemble de la région.

À mesure que les hostilités augmentent, cela alimente une flambée de racisme anti-arabe et anti-palestinien, d’islamophobie et d’antisémitisme au Canada et au Québec – que nous condamnons sans équivoque.

Outre ces mesures immédiates, le monde doit appuyer les efforts en faveur d’une paix juste et durable entre Israël et la Palestine et régler les causes profondes de la violence : l’occupation du territoire palestinien par Israël qui dure depuis des décennies.

La population de la Palestine, d’Israël et de toute la région mérite de vivre en paix et en sécurité dans des conditions justes pour tous.

Signataires :

Alternatives

Arab Canadian Lawyers Association

Asian Canadian Labour Alliance

Asian Canadian Women Alliance

Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale (AQOCI)

Black Lives Matter – Canada

Canada Stand Up for Palestinian Children’s Rights

Canadian Boat to Gaza

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Canadian Palestinian Professional Foundation

Canadian Palestinian Social Association of London

Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario / Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique (SCFP) Ontario

Canadian Voice of Women for Peace / La Voix des femmes canadiennes pour la paix

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East / Canadiens pour la justice et la paix au Moyen-Orient

Centre international de solidarité ouvrière (CISO)

Le CIBLES – Carrefour international bas-laurentien pour l’engagement social

Coalition of Canadian Palestinian Organizations / Coalition des organisations palestiniennes canadiennes

Conseil central du Montréal métropolitain CSN

Conseil régional Montréal métropolitain FTQ

Fédération autonome de l’enseignement FAE

Femmes en Mouvement du Québec

Front d’action populaire en réaménagement urbain (FRAPRU)

Hearing Palestine

Independent Jewish Voices Canada / Voix juives indépendantes Canada

International Coalition For Human Rights in the Philippines Canada

Iranian Canadian Congress

Jewish Faculty Network / Universitaires juifs

Montréal pour un monde sans guerre

Le Mouvement d’éducation populaire et d’action communautaire du Québec (MÉPACQ)

National Council of Canadian Muslims / Conseil national des musulmans canadiens

National Union of Public and General Employees

Oblates Franciscaines de Saint-Joseph

Palestine Network, Shining Waters

PalNet Pacific

People for Peace, London

Progress Toronto

Public Service Alliance of Canada / L’Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal, Social Action Office

Soeurs Auxiliatrices, Québec

South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario

SWO KAIROS

Table ronde des organismes volontaires d’éducation Populaire de l’Outaouais

Unifor

The United Church of Canada / L’Église unie du Canada

United Jewish People’s Order

United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel / Réseau uni pour la justice et la paix en Israël et en Palestine

Urban Alliance on Race Relations / Alliance urbaine sur les relations interraciales

World Beyond War

Wildseed Centre for Art & Activism

Pour ajouter le nom de votre organisation à cette déclaration, veuillez envoyer un email à coalition4ceasefirenow@gmail.com.

Statements

“This is an opportunity for the world to wake up and resolve this issue.”

Image October 10, 2023 Canadian Boat to Gaza

Palestinian ambassador to the UK, Oct. 8, 2023 – see link below

Photo credit: Al Jazeera English CC BY-SA 2.0 (license link below)

The Canadian Boat to Gaza stresses the importance of looking at the root causes of the current attacks on Israel and the Israeli military response. We object to the Canadian government’s unqualified support for Israel. The tragic loss of life in the past few days require an immediate ceasefire, not an escalation of violence. The recent violence has a context which is far too often ignored by both government and media.

While we do not support violence in any form, we must point to the precipitating factors that led to the current crisis. Canada along with the international community has failed to acknowledge the 17 year old blockade of Gaza in any substantive way. A blockade that severely limits access to employment, food, fresh water, electricity, and health services as well as other basic necessities is collective punishment: a war crime under international humanitarian law.

Israel has occupied Palestine for 75 years. Basic human rights are denied, Palestinian homes are demolished, Israeli settlements continue to expand and settler violence is on the rise. Palestinian children are imprisoned without just cause. The Canadian government and our allies are silent about these ongoing crimes, and therefore complicit in the root causes of the violence.

We call on the Canadian government to do all that is within its power, both in word and action, to address these inhumane acts and call for an immediate cease-fire.

We call upon those living in this part of Turtle Island to make the same demand of our government (see below).

Sailing For the Children of Gaza

January 9, 2023 Canadian Boat to Gaza

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!

News, Statements

Freedom Flotilla-funded ambulance at work in Gaza

Video March 24, 2022 Canadian Boat to Gaza

Read the report in the Palestine Chronicle that features the ambulance which our campaign helped to fund.

https://www.palestinechronicle.com/freedom-flotilla-sponsored-ambulance-serve-disabled-patients-in-gaza-photos-video/

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.

News, Statements

Legal victory against Israeli seizure of Tahrir. Ambulances on their way to Gaza.

November 4, 2021 Canadian Boat to Gaza

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.”

While we are not seeking donations for our campaign at this time, we ask you to support our sister campaigns in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, as well as our partners in Gaza, including We Are Not Numbers. Our other partner in Gaza, the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (also representing Palestinian fishers), urgently needs solidarity now: please consider signing and sending this letter supporting them and other Palestinian civil society organizations targeted by the Israeli occupation.

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.

UPDATE: The convoy of ambulances arrived in Gaza on November 8: here are some details about the arrival, including a ‘Peace Train’ video, from our friends at Kia Ora Gaza.

Thank you once again for your continued support. Together we will keep physically challenging and eventually help break the illegal blockade!

News, Statements

Victoire juridique contre la saisie israélienne du Tahrir. Les ambulances partent pour Gaza.

November 4, 2021 Canadian Boat to Gaza

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 !

Statements

Already unliveable: Help the Freedom Flotilla sail against the inhuman blockade of Gaza

February 19, 2020 Canadian Boat to Gaza

Dear Supporters,
In 2020, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition will sail again to break the illegal and inhuman blockade of Gaza. During this mission we will be focusing on children and youth struggling to survive in the wreckage of Gaza, their beloved home. Canada Boat to Gaza is reaching out to children and youth organizations, and to individuals like you, to help support our work and to bring an end to the suffering in Gaza.

Eight years ago in 2012, the UN declared that Gaza would be uninhabitable by 2020. Over the years, the international community has watched that prediction become truth. Palestinians in Gaza live among bombed out hospitals, schools, and homes. There are water, food and electricity shortages throughout the beleaguered strip making basic survival a serious challenge. The desperate economic situation in Gaza also means that children have to think and act as older than they are, with too many of them working to help support their families.

The most vulnerable of the innocent are children and youth, many of whom have been deliberately targeted by Israeli snipers since the beginning of the Great March of Return, when Palestinians demand their right to return to their homeland from which Israel expelled them. Israeli snipers have murdered at least 256 Palestinians in these peaceful protests, and more than 29,000 have been maimed for life, many of them children and youth. Please watch and share this award-winning short video about one of them, Dreams in the Crosshairs, created by one of our Palestinian partner organizations in Gaza, We Are Not Numbers, with funding from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

The world expresses outrage and yet the slaughter and deliberate destruction of Gaza continues with impunity. In November 2019, after a three day Israeli offensive on Gaza, Palestinian Health Minister, Dr. Mai al-Kaila, reported that one-third of the Palestinians killed by Israeli missiles and shells were women and children.

It seems clear that Israel is systematic targeting Gaza's future, its children and youth. Imagine if this was happening in your hometown. Imagine if it was your child who was permanently maimed for peacefully protesting human rights violations. Would the world still be silent? Would you want others to speak up against these attacks?

Will you help us sail this year? Together we can help end the blockade! Read and share our last message (Why we Sail, and Sail and Sail Again) on the Canadian Boat to Gaza website.

Many of you will be hearing this week about the "Steal of the Century" proposed by the US President. We remind everyone that without justice, there can be no peace, and so we encourage you to read, share and amplify Palestinian responses in your communities and around the world, including this "Appeal of the Century" from We Are Not Numbers.

A critical way to help our 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 : https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org/donate

Participants, Statements

Why We Sail, Sail, and Sail Again: Freedom Flotilla 2020

January 28, 2020 Canadian Boat to Gaza

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.

Canadians Karen DeVito and John Turnbull joined the sailing ship Freedom in Denmark and crewed her from Copenhagen to Palermo where John then captained the ship on the final leg toward Gaza. Other Canadians, including Heather Milton-Lightening, Ron Rousseau, Majed Khraishi, Kathy Wazana, and Larry Commodore of the Stó:lo Nation, were on board Al Awda at different points in her voyage, and Canadian journalist Dimitri Lascaris reported for The Real News Network from Flotilla boats and from several 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.

And so the flotilla will sail again in 2020, even more mindful this year of the children of Gaza and the tenth anniversary of the attacks on the Mavi Marmara and other Flotilla vessels in 2010.

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.

Together, we can help end the blockade!