In ten years from 2008 through 2018, international activists have sailed 35 boats to challenge the Illegal and inhuman Israeli naval blockade of the 1.9 million Palestinians who are trapped in Gaza.
FREE GAZA MOVEMENT
AUGUST-DECEMBER 2008
In August 23-29, 2008, two boats, the Liberty and Free Gaza with a total of 44 passengers, reached Gaza. These boats were sponsored by the Free Gaza Movement and the story of the boats told in the book Freedom Sailors and on their website.
Historic First Voyage
Liberty and Free Gaza boats
On August 23, 2008, 44 ordinary people from 17 different countries sailed from Cyprus to Gaza on two small wooden boats, the FREE GAZA and the LIBERTY. They did what our governments would not do – they broke the Siege of Gaza. The boats encountered rough seas and many of the passengers suffered from severe seasickness. At sea, they were tracked by Israeli naval vessels for over half of the journey, and the boats’ navigation systems were jammed and interfered with. When the two boats arrived safely in Gaza on 23rd August after over 30 hours at sea, they were welcomed by tens of thousands of Palestinians lining the shore.
The passengers stayed in Gaza for 6 days, visited hospitals and schools, and delivered donated hearing aids and medicines. During the stay the Free Gaza boat and several passengers accompanied Palestinian fishermen at sea. This accompaniment helped the fisherman fish in their own territorial waters without being assaulted by the Israeli navy for the first time in several years.
The boats left on 29th August, returning to Cyprus with 7 Palestinians. These included 5 family members who were reunited with the rest of this family in Cyprus, whom they had not seen for several years. Also on board was 15-year-old Saed and his father who were leaving to obtain medical treatment for Saed, who lost his leg and was severely injured in an Israeli attack. They became the first Palestinians in modern history to freely leave their own country. For the first time in over 40 years, international ships docked at Gaza Port. For the first time in over 60 years, Palestinians freely entered and exited their own country.
Ten passengers remained behind in Gaza, six of them on a long term basis, undertaking human rights work and forming the first international presence of the International Solidarity Movement since 2003.
In the words of Palestinian voyager, Musheir El-Farra, a human rights activist originally born and raised in Khan Younis in Gaza but currently living in Sheffield, UK: “For the first time in my life, I went to Gaza without being humiliated, without having to ask Israel for permission. We did it. We finally did it. And now others must join us and do it as well.”
http://archive.freegaza.org/en/first-voyage.html
Great Video of first voyage from DAVID SCHERMERHORN. Video of the first boats to Gaza in 2008 and Gaza fishers. The end of the video has footage from the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, including the beginnings of the Israeli attack on the Challenger 1 as she sped away from the Mavi Marmara. The video ends as the commandos shot a percussion grenade into the cabin of the Challenger 1
People of Gaza stand on the docks of Gaza City to greet the first boats to arrive in Gaza in 40 years.
List of passengers, supporters and Palestinians brought out on the First Voyage.
| Passengers | |||
| First name | Last name | Country | Notes |
| Anne | Montgomery | United States | Catholic nun |
| Adam | Qvist | Denmark | |
| Aki | Nawaz | Pakistan | |
| Anastasios | Kourakis | Greece | |
| Anastasios | Kourakis, MD, MP | Greece | Member of Greek Parliament |
| Andrew | Muncie | Scotland | |
| Ayash | Derraji | Algeria | Al Jazeera |
| Bill | Dienst, MD | United States | |
| Christos | Giouranopoulos | Greece | Cinamatographer |
| Courtney | Sheetz | United States | Nurse |
| Darlene | Wallach | United States | |
| David | Schermerhorn | United States | Videographer |
| Derek | Graham | Ireland | First mate |
| Donna | Wallach | United States | |
| Edtih | Lutz, PHd | Germany | |
| Fathi | Jaouadi | Tunisia | |
| Georgios | K | Greece | |
| Georgios | Klontzas | Greece | Captain, Liberty |
| Greta | Berlin | France/US | Co-Founder |
| Hayyan | Jubeh | Palestine | Rammatan |
| Huwaida | Arraf, LLD | Palestine | |
| Jeff | Halper, PhD | Israel | |
| Jenny | Linnell | UK | |
| John | Klusmire | United States | Captain, Free Gaza |
| Kathleen | O’Connor Wang | United States | |
| Kathy | Sheetz | United States | |
| Ken | O’Keefe | Ireland | |
| Lauren | Booth | UK | |
| Maria del Mar | Fernandez, LLD | Spain | |
| Mary | Hughes Thompson | Canada/UK | Co-Founder |
| Musheir | El Farra | Gaza, Palestine | |
| Nicolos | Bolos | Greece | |
| Panagiotis | Politas, PhD | Greece | |
| Paul | Larudee, PhD | United States | Co-Founder |
| Peter | Phillips | United States | |
| Petros | Giotis | Greece | |
| Ren | Tawil | United States | |
| Renee | Bowyer | Australia | Co-Founder |
| Sharyn | Lock | Australia | Co-Founder |
| Theresa | McDermott | Scotland | |
| Thomas | Nelson, LLD | United States | |
| Vagillis | Pissias, PhD | Greece | |
| Vittorio | Arrigoni | Italy | |
| Yannis | Karripidis | Greece | Cinamatographer |
| Yvonne | Ridley | UK | Press TV |
| Land Crew | |||
| Angela | Godfrey-Goldstein | Israel | |
| Bianca | Shanaa | Palestine | |
| David | Halpin, MD | UK | |
| Hedy | Epstein | Germany/United States | |
| Lynn | Levey | United States | |
| Osama | Qashoo | Palestine | |
| Ramzi | Kysia | United States/Lebanon | |
| Scott | Kennedy | United States | |
| Susan | Halpin | UK | |
| Uri | Davis, PhD | Israel/Palestine | |
| Gaza Supporters | |||
| Jamal | El-Khoudary | Gaza, Palestine | Independent MP |
| Mona | Al-Farra, MD | Gaza, Palestine | |
| Palestinians Brought Out | |||
| Darwish | Family of five | Gaza, Palestine | Reunited with family in Cyprus |
| Khaled | Moslah | Gaza, Palestine | Father |
| Saed | Moslah | Gaza, Palestine | Leg blown off |
2nd Voyage to Gaza: The DIGNITY’s Maiden Voyage
On October 28-November 1, 2008, on the second trip to Gaza, another boat, the “Dignity,” with 27 passengers broke the blockade and sailed into Gaza. www.freegaza.org. On October 28th, 2008, the Free Gaza Movement made its second voyage to Gaza, this time aboard the DIGNITY, a new ship, better able to make the journey in the rough winter weather. Although Israeli warships trailed our small ship when they approached Gaza, the IOF did not attempt to use force against the boat, and the Dignity was able to once again break through their blockade.
Aboard the Dignity were 27 doctors, lawyers, journalists, and human rights workers, representing 12 different countries. The passengers included Palestinian legislator Mustapha Barghouti, Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire, and Italian opera singer Joe Fallisi – who delivered Gaza’s first ever opera concert. The passengers also included Caoimhe Butterly, a renowned human rights worker who stayed on as the first Free Gaza co-ordinator, working alongside the Palestinian NGO Network and the Popular Committee Against the Siege, our partner organizations inside Gaza.
After watching the Dignity’s arrival Fida Qishta, the local coordinator for the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) in the Gaza Strip, said “If Gaza is free then it’s our right to invite whomsoever we wish to visit us. It’s our land and it’s our sea. Now more groups must come, not only by sea but also the crossings at Erez and Rafah must be opened as well. This second breaking of the siege means a lot, actually. It’s the second time in two months that people have come to Gaza without Israel’s permission, and that tells us that Gaza will be free.” http://archive.freegaza.org/en/second-voyage.html
Passengers and land crew for the second voyage. Check the Free Gaza website for biograpies:
http://archive.freegaza.org/en/all-passengers/58-second-trip-to-gaza/221-audrey-bomse-usa.html
| Passengers 2nd Voyage | ||
| Audrey | Bomse, LLD | US |
| Alan | Lonergan | Ireland |
| Ali | Al-Jabar, Al Jazeera | Qatar |
| Amir | Siddiq, Al Jazeera | Sudan |
| Caoimhe | Butterly | Ireland |
| David | Schermerhorn | US |
| Denis | Healey, Captain | UK |
| Derek | Graham | Ireland |
| George | Klontzas, Captain | Greece |
| Ghazi | Abourashed | Holland/Gaza |
| Gideon | Spiro, Journalist | Israel |
| Huwaida | Arraf | USA/Palestine |
| Ibrahim | Hamami, MD | UK |
| Jock | McDougall, MD | UK |
| Joe | Fallisi | Italy |
| Lubna | Masarwa | Palestinian4/Israel |
| Mairead | Maguire | Ireland |
| Marco | Giusti | Italy |
| Mohammed | Alshubashi, MD | Germany |
| Mustafa | Barghouti | Palestine |
| Nikoals | Bolos | Ireland |
| Ramzi | Kysia | USA |
| Renee | Bowyer | Australia |
| Rod | Cox | UK |
| Theresa | McDermott | UK |
| Vilma | Mazza | Italy |
| Land Crew | ||
| Greta | Berlin | France/US |
| Ramzi | Kysia | Lebenon/US |
| Osama | Qashoo | Palestine |
| Fida | Qishta | Palestine, in Gaza |
Video of first trip of Dignity to Gaza https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYqPnrkHZXA
3rd Voyage to Gaza-Dignity’s Second Trip
A week later, November 8-11, 2008, the third trip with the “Dignity” with 24 passengers, including Parliamentarians, sailed again to Gaza.
In November 2008, the DIGNITY made its second successful voyage to Gaza, carrying 24 Passengers. On this voyage, the Free Gaza Movement joined with the European Campaign to end the Siege to bring over a ton of medical supplies to Gaza, accompanied by 11 past and current European parliamentarians from England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and Switzerland, including the Baroness Jenny Tonge, Lord Nazir Ahmad and Clare Short, the former British Secretary for International Development. They were part of a much larger group of 53 European parliamentarians who had been denied entry to the Gaza Strip earlier in November. Journalists from Al Jazeera, Haaretz and the Independent (UK newspaper) were also on board for a three day fact finding tour of the Gaza Strip. The passengers also included Eva Bartlett, a Canadian activist who remained in Gaza to increase the number of international human rights workers there.
In addition to delivering medicines, the parliamentarians toured hospitals, schools, agricultural centers, and Gaza’s power plant, as well as meeting with their counterparts in the Palestinian Legislature.
The Dignity left Gaza on 10th November carrying an additional eight Palestinians for the return journey, including the secretary for the Independent Union for the Labour Leagues in Gaza. He came aboard the DIGNITY to speak to syndicates and university students in Spain, and encourage them to participate in breaking the siege on Gaza. Also on board were an elderly Palestinian couple. After suffering from a stroke in 2007, the husband was not allowed out for treatment through either Rafah or Erez. The couple had not seen their children since the siege began in 2006. http://archive.freegaza.org/en/third-voyage.html
Tonge, Dr. Jennifer Louise (Baroness) (UK)- White, Sandra (Scotland, UK)
- Zisyadis, Josef (Switzerland)
The passenger list (see below) and biographies are posted at http://www.freegaza.org.
Lord Nazir Ahmed, (Pakistan/UK),
Christopher Andrews, (Ireland),
Huwaida Arraf, (US),
Eva Bartlett, (Canada),
Nikolas Bolos, (Ireland),
Sami Moheildin Mohamed Elhag (Sudan),
Derek Graham (Ireland),
Amira Hass (Israel)
Denis Healey, (UK),
Pauline McNeill (Scotland),
Fernando Morena (Spain),
Mohamed Nacer, (UK),
Hugh O’Donnell, (Scotland, UK),
Aengus ÓSnodaigh, (Ireland),
Fernando Rossi, (Italy),
David Schermerhorn, (USA),
Rob Sharp, (UK) (The Independent),
Clare Short, (UK),
Dr. Arafat Shoukri, (Palestine, UK),
Rhodri Glyn Thomas, (Wales, UK),
(Baroness) Dr. Jenny Tonge, (UK),
Sandra White, (Scotland, UK),
Josef Zisyadis, (Switzerland)
4th Voyage to Gaza-Dignity’s Third Trip
One month later, December 8-11, 2008, on the fourth trip to Gaza, the “Dignity” with 16 passengers, including students, sailed again into Gaza
On December 8th 2008, the Free Gaza Movement sent in a “students” delegation, headed by professors Mike Cushman and Jonathon Rosenhead of the London School of Economics and BRICUP – the British Committee for Universities for Palestine. The delegation toured schools and universities in Gaza to assess the impact of the siege on education, and successfully brought out 11 Palestinian students who had been accepted to universities abroad, but were unable to exit Gaza due to the Israeli siege. They are just a handful of the over 700 Palestinian students who have visas to study at universities in Europe, but who have been forbidden to leave by Israel and Egypt, another example of the collective punishment on the civilian population of Gaza.
According to Rosenhead and Cushman, “As academics we are particularly pleased to be traveling on the Dignity on this mission to enable at least some of the hundreds of students trapped in Gaza by the Israeli siege to get out and take up their places at universities round the world. This siege is an affront to any idea of academic freedom or human rights. How can anyone justify preventing young people from fulfilling their potential and learning how to serve their community more fully?”
Also on board the DIGNITY on this voyage was a British surgeon, Dr. Sonia Robbins, travelling to Gaza to volunteer in local hospitals. Dr. Robbins had worked in Gaza previously but had been prevented from returning by the siege. The boat also carried a Palestinian who had been denied the right to see his family in Gaza for several years, international human rights workers, and journalists.
The Dignity carried a ton of medical supplies and high protein baby milk formula. Two human rights workers remained in Gaza to join the teams working there, including Ewa Jasiewicz, who joined Caoimhe Butterly as our co-coordinator on the ground in Gaza.
archive.freegaza.org/en/fourth-voyage.htm
Passengers and crew
5th Voyage to Gaza-Dignity’s Fourth Trip
One week later, December 18-19, 2008, on the fifth trip, the “Dignity” with 14 passengers called the “Qatari” delegation, returned to gaza.
On December 27, 2008, the Israeli military began its 22 day attack on Gaza that killed 1440 persons, wounded 5,000 and left 50,000 homeless. No boats were allowed into Gaza after the Israeli attack on Gaza began.
6th Voyage-Dignity Did NOT Get to Gaza
On December 28-29, 2008, the sixth trip with the Dignity with 16 passengers, was rammed and almost sunk by the Israeli navy and slowly limped into a harbor in Lebanon.
Dignity after being rammed by an IOF ship
Video of damaged ship Dignity coming into Lebanon harbor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRghMmgQ1kA
http://archive.freegaza.org/en/all-passengers/62-sixth-trip-to-gaza1054.html?layout=default
7th Trip , But Spirit of Humanity did NOT get to Gaza
JANUARY-JULY 2009
SPIRIT OF HUMANITY
On January 12-15, 2009, on the seventh trip the ferry boat Arion now called the The Spirit of Humanity with 36 passengers, was forced by the Israeli navy to turn back and return to Cyprus.
In February 2009, the cargo ship Tali from Lebanon, not part of the Free Gaza Movement, was attacked by the IOF and taken to Israel.
8th Trip-Spirit of Humanity
Stolen by Israeli Military & Passengers & Crew Put in Jail
On June 29-July 7, 2009, the Spirit of Humanity, on the eighth trip with 21 passengers was forcefully stopped by Israeli commandos, its passengers taken to Israeli prison and deported,–a first in the eight trips the Free Gaza Movement made, and the boat taken to the Haifa, Israel harbor.
Photos from the video link below.
Here is a link link to a unique 7 minute video of the Israeli military stopping the Spirit of Humanity in July 2009 in international waters-most footage of Israeli military zodiac boats approaching the boats to Gaza is never sees the light of day–so this is very rare! The video has passengers on the boat, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire and former US Congressperson Cynthia McKinny speaking about their solidarity with Palestine. All passengers and crew spent 7 days in Givon prison in Israel. This is the first group that was stopped and put in prison and then deported. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0Hkz3t1pJ8
https://davidbaptistechirot.blogspot.com/2009/06/wflickr-free-gaza-boat-spirit-of.html
Spirit of Humanity
GAZA FREEDOM FLOTILLA
MAY 2010
A year later in May 2010, an international flotilla of 7 boats challenged the Israeli blockade. Israeli Offensive Forces violently attacked all 7 boats, killing 9 on the Mavi Marmara with another passenger dying later and wounding over 50. Passengers on all boats were assaulted, kidnapped and taken against their will to Israel where they were interrogated, imprisoned and deported.
MAVI MARMARA
Photo by Kate Geraghty
Photo of Israeli helicopters and gunboats around the Mavi Marmara. Photo by Marcello Fraggi
Mavi Marmara under Israeli attack that killed 9 immediately and wounded 50. Another person died later.
Photos on the side of the Mavi Marmara of 9 killed by Israeli commandos on the Mavi Marmara-a tenth person died later.
Names of the ten humanitarians on board the Mavi Marmara killed by Israeli commandos on 31 May 2010, nine were killed immediately and one subsequently died:
Ibrahim Bilgen
Ali Haydar Bengi
Cevdet Kiliçlar
Çetin Topçuoglu
Necdet Yildirim
Fahri Yaldiz
Cengiz Songür
Cengiz Akyüz
Furkan Dogan
Ugur Suleyman Soylemez
Their boats were stolen by the Israeli government. Later in 2010, the Mavi Marmara was returned to Turkey with blood still on the decks from the murder of nine and wounding of 50.
After two years of continuous demands to the Israeli government and pressure on the Greek government for assistance, in mid-June, 2012, Greek activists succeeded in getting released from Israel two ships that had sailed in the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The passenger ship Sfendoni and the cargo ship Eleftheri Mesogeios, or Sofia had to be towed out of the Haifa, Israel harbor due to damage caused by Israeli commandos and intelligence agents when they attacked the ships on May 31, 2010. The Sofia was towed to Turkey and the Sfendoni was towed to the Greek port of Piraeus arriving on June 20, 2012. A video of the return of the Eleftheri Mesogeois can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqWY7RA-DbU
The Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) sponsored the Mavi Marmara with 581 passengers, and two cargo ships, the Gazze with five passengers and the Defne Y with 27 passengers. The European Campaign to End the Siege sponsored the passenger boat Sfendoni with 45 passengers. The Greek and Swedish Boat to Gaza campaign sponsored the Eleftheri Mesogeios or Sofia cargo ship with 10 passengers. The Free Gaza Movement sponsored Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 boats. The Challenger 1 had 17 passengers. The Challenger 2 developed mechanical troubles attributed to sabotage by Israeli commandos and did not depart from Cyprus. Challenger 2 passengers were placed on the Challenger 1 and the Mavi Marmara.
The Free Gaza Movement and the Malaysian Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) sponsored the cargo ship Rachel Corrie with 21 passengers. The Rachel Corrie had sailed from Ireland and did not arrive in the Mediterranean in time to go with the other ships of the flotilla. She was boarded by Israeli commandos and taken to Haifa Harbor on June 5, 2010, five days after the main flotilla was attacked.
There were 688 passengers from 41 nations on all the seven ships of the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Notable flotilla passengers included Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Nobel Peace prize winner, Denis Halliday, former UN Assistant Secretary-General, Edward Peck, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, Fehmi Bülent Yıldırım, the İHH president, Haneen Zoubi, an Israeli-Arab member of Knesset.
A partial list of the names of the passengers on all the boats is available at this link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_participants_of_the_Gaza_flotilla
Great video by David Schermerhorn of Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The video has the first boats to Gaza in 2008 , Gaza fishers and at the end the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, including the beginnings of the Israeli attack on the Challenger 1 as she sped away from the Mavi Marmara. The video ends as the commandos shot a percussion grenade into the cabin of the Challenger 1.
SFENDONI PASSENGER SHIP
The European Campaign to End the Siege sponsored the passenger boat Sfendoni with 45 passengers.
After two years of continuous demands to the Israeli government and pressure on the Greek government for assistance, in mid-June, 2012, Greek activists succeeded in getting released from Israel two ships that had sailed in the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The passenger ship Sfendoni and the cargo ship Eleftheri Mesogeios, or Sofia had to be towed out of the Haifa, Israel harbor due to damage caused by Israeli commandos and intelligence agents when they attacked the ships on May 31, 2010. The Sofia was towed to Turkey and the Sfendoni was towed to the Greek port of Piraeus arriving on June 20, 2012.
The other five boats, Challenger 1, and cargo ships Free Mediterranean, Dafne Y, Gazze, and Rachel Corrie were stolen by Israel and remain in the Israeli harbor of Haifa.
Challenger 1 and Challenger 2
Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 Challenger 1 and 2 were sponsored by the Free Gaza Movement and both developed steering mechanism problems on the way to the meeting point with the other boats from probable sabotage while in Crete. Both went to Cyprus for repairs. Passengers on the Challenger 1 and 2 were transferred to the Mavi Marmara for 2 days until Challenger 1 returned with members of Parliament from European countries. The members of Parliament boarded the Mavi Marmara while most of the original Challenger 2 passengers went onto Challenger 1. Challenger 2 did not sail from Cyprus, only Challenger 1. Challenger 2 was later sold to the Irish campaign and became the Saiorse that sailed in November 2011.
Challenger 1 at sea
Biographies of Passengers on Challenger 1 and Challenger 2 from Crete
Paul McGeogh (Australian Journalist)
Kate Geraghty (Australian photo journalist)
Griet Deknopper (Belgium)
Inge Neefs (German member of Parliament transferred to Mavi Marmara)
Kevin Niesh (Canadian transferred to Mavi Marmara)
Nader El Sakka
Annette Groth (German member of Parliament transferred to Mavi Marmara)
Inge Hoge (German member of Parliament transferred to Mavi Marmara)
Matthia Jochheim (German member of Parliament transferred to Mavi Marmara)
Norman Peach (German member of Parliament transferred to Mavi Marmara)
Fintan Lane (Ireland)
Lubna Marsawa (Palestine, Israel)
Mustapha Mansor
Anna De Jong (Netherlands)
Randi Kios
Espen Goffeng (Norway)
Nidal Hejazi
Hassan Norwarah
Iara Lee, (U.S. documentarian with Cultures of Resistance)
Srojan Stojkikoric (Videographer with Cultures of Resistance-transferred to Mavi Marmara
Ewa Jasiewicz (U.K. and Poland)
Alex Harrison
Gehad Sukker
Huwaida Arraf (U.S., Palestine, Israel)
Kathy Sheetz (U.S.)
Scott Hamman (U.S.)
Ann Wright (U.S.)
Dennis Healy (U.K. and Cyprus)
Fiachra O’Luain (U.S. and Ireland)
Teresa McDermott (Scotland)
David Schmererhorn (U.S.)
Chris Andres
Aengu O’Snodaigh (Ireland)
Kyricos Triantaphyllides (Greece)
Nicolas Shahshashani (French)
Shane Dillon (Ireland) First-mate
Inge Neefs (Belgium).
Passengers on Challenger 1 that sailed to Gaza
Paul McGeogh (Australian Journalist)
Kate Geraghty (Australian photo journalist)
Griet Deknopper (Belgium)
Fintan Lane (Ireland)
Anna De Jong (Netherlands)
Alex Harrison (U.K.)
Huwaida Arraf (U.S., Palestine, Israel)
Kathy Sheetz (U.S.)
Scott Hamman (U.S.)
Ann Wright (U.S.)
Dennis Healy (U.K. and Cyprus) Captain
Shane Dillon (Ireland) First-mate
Inge Neefs (Belgium).
Fiachra O’Luain (U.S. and Ireland)
Teresa McDermott (Scotland)
Cargo Ship Rachel Corrie
The Free Gaza Movement and the Malaysian Perdana Global Peace Foundation (PGPF) sponsored the cargo ship Rachel Corrie with 21 passengers. The Rachel Corrie had sailed from Ireland and did not arrive in the Mediterranean in time to go with the other ships of the flotilla. She was boarded by Israeli commandos and taken to Haifa Harbor on June 5, 2010, five days after the main flotilla was attacked.
xxxx need passengers/crew listsxxx
Gazze Cargo Ship
Gazze Cargo Ship
Gazze Cargo Ship. The Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) sponsored the Mavi Marmara with 581 passengers, and two cargo ships, the Gazze with five passengers and the Defne Y with 27 passengers.
xxxx Need passenger / crew list for Gazze xxxx
Eleftheri Mesogeios or Sofia Cargo Ship (Greek and Swedish boat)
Eleftheri Mesogeios or Sofia Cargo Ship (Greek and Swedish boat)
After two years of continuous demands to the Israeli government and pressure on the Greek government for assistance, in mid-June, 2012, Greek activists succeeded in getting released from Israel two ships that had sailed in the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The passenger ship Sfendoni and the cargo ship Eleftheri Mesogeios, or Sofia had to be towed out of the Haifa, Israel harbor due to damage caused by Israeli commandos and intelligence agents when they attacked the ships on May 31, 2010. The Sofia was towed to Turkey and the Sfendoni was towed to the Greek port of Piraeus arriving on June 20, 2012.
Passengers on the Eleftheri Mesogeios
Saman Ali, aktivist
Dror Feiler, artist
Victoria Strand, MD physician
Mehmet Kaplan,MP Green Party
Henning Mankell, author
Sfendoni
Amil Sarsour,
Kim Soto Ayugo
Ulf Carmesund
Henry Ascher, MD physician
Mavi Marmara
Mattias Gardell, professor
Edda Manga
xxxneed Greek crew and passengersxxx
___
Defne Y Cargo Ship
Defne Y Cargo Ship
The Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (IHH) sponsored the Mavi Marmara with 581 passengers, and two cargo ships, the Gazze with five passengers and the Defne Y with 27 passengers.
xxxxxNeed passenger/crew list xxxxxx
SEPTEMBER 2010
Irene, the Jewish Boat to Gaza
In September 2010, a small sailboat named Irene, called the Jewish Boat to Gaza with nine Jewish activists was stopped by the IOF and two former IOF soldiers assaulted and tasered. Passengers were Reuven Moskovitz, an 82-year-old Holocaust survivor; Rami Elhanan, a founder of the Bereaved Families Circle of Israelis and Palestinians, whose daughter was killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber; Lillian Rosengarten, an American activist from New York who escaped Nazi Germany as a child, Marion Kozak, the mother of the former leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, Ed Miliband, is a prominent member of Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Yonthan Shapira and Itamar Shapiro, former members of the IOF.
Passengers and crew were taken to Israel, interrogated, imprisoned and deported and the boat stolen by the Israeli government.
Irene, International Jewish Boat to Gaza
Irene boarded by IOF commandos
JUNE 2011 FREEDOM FLOTILLA TWO
In June 2011, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla II had 9 ships sponsored by 11 non-governmental organizations. The Israeli government paid the Greek government to stop the boats from leaving Greek ports. The U.S. and Canadian boats attempted to leave Greek waters but were stopped by Greek naval commandos.
Audacity of Hope from the United States
Greek commandos on behalf of the State of Israel stop the US Boat to Gaza, Audacity of Hope, 5 miles off the coast of Athens, Greece
Passengers
Nic Abramson
Johnny Barber
https://www.facebook.com/USBOATTOGAZA/
Photos, Videos, Blogs & articles of Gaza Flotilla
US Boat to Gaza passengers’ bios
5 minute video by Johnny Barber of Greek commandos stopping the Audacity of Hope US Boat to Gaza https://972mag.com/flotilla162011/
Slow Boat to Gaza by Ray McGovern–photo essay http://coldtype.net/Assets.11/pdfs/0811.Ray.GazaBoat.pdf
Len Tsou’s photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/lythrn/albums/72157682067245093
Louise Michel from France
Louise Michel from France
(xxx need passenger list and photos xxx)
Gernika from Spain
Gernika passenger protest against Greek government helping Israelis by refusing to let 2011 Gaza Freedom Flotilla boats depart Greek ports
Passengers on the Gernika in Crete, June 2011
- WILLY MEYER, MEP GUE/NGL
- WILLY TOLEDO, actor
- JOAN CALVERA VEHI – Madrid
- MARINA ALBIOL, Politician, coordinator Esquerra Unida País Valencià
- SANTIAGO ALBA RICO, Spanish philosopher and author, lives in Tunisia
- MERCEDES LEZCANO, Theater director, ex member of the Madrid Assembly PSOE (Socialist Party)
- RAFA PALACIOS, ex General Director of international cooperation in government of Asturias
- ALICIA ALONSO – Sodepaz Balamil Valladolid.
- MARIA DEL RIO DOMENECH – Sodepaz Balamil Valladolid
- ALEJANDRO ANDARES RUETTER FRIDMAN, Argentinian of Jewish origin
- ELVIRA SOUTO PRESEDO – Galiza
- IGNACIO PRIETO – Madrid
- JUAN MANUEL MORALES – Madrid
- LAURA ARAU – Catalunya
- MANUEL TAPIAL – Madrid
- JOSE ANTONIO ESCRIBANO BARRIOS – Cádiz, Andalucía
- MANUEL PINEDA – Málaga, Andalucía
- DIEGO CAÑAMERO – Sevilla, Andalucía
- EDORTA JIMENEZ – Euskadi
- MIKEL ZULOAGA – Euskadi
- MIGUEL ANGEL SAN MIGUEL – Asturias
- ANTON GOMEZ REINO – Galiza
- CARMEN SALAVERT – País Valencia, CEDSALA
- CARMEN PEREZ CARBALLO — member of Madrid Assembly for United Left Party
- ALBERTO GARCIA WATSON – Málaga, Andalucía
- JAVIER ANDREU – Alicante, País Valencia
- MONCHO GONZALEZ BOAN – Galiza, secretario relaciones int’l CIG
- ALVARO TOEPKE – Alicante, País Valencianas
- ALVARO H.S. Martín ¿? – Madrid
- ZOHAR CHAMBERLAIN REGEV – Israeli citizen, lives in Huelva, Andalucía
- SALVA LACRUZ – País Valencianas
- FERNANDO CORZO – Galiza
- MARIA PULIDO BEDOYA – Madrid
- DOLORS FABREGAS – Barcelona, Catalunya
- ASUNCION MARTIN ESTRIEGANA – Madrid
- MANUEL GARCIA – Málaga, Andalucía
- XXXXX Need captain and crew names XXXXX
xxxxxxxx Need passenger list xxxx
Tahrir Canadian/Australian/Belgian/Danish Boat to Gaza
Tahrir Canadian/Australian/Belgian/Danish Boat to Gaza (after being stopped by Greek Coast Guard in Crete)
Canadian Kayakists slowed down the response of Greek Coast Guard ship that was trying to stop Canadian Boat to Gaza from leaving Crete for Gaza.
Passengers on Tahrir-Crete-2011
Canadian Delegates
Bachar Elsolh
Muhammed Hamou
David Heap
Miles Howe
Soha Kneen
Mary Hughes-Thompson
Robert Lovelace
Irene MacInnes
Manon Massé
David Milne
Dylan Penner
Marie-Eve Rancourt
Harmeet Singh Sooden
Jase Tanner
Kate Wilson
Josy Dubié , Belgium
Guido Gorissens , Belgium
Yannick Van Onckelen, Belgium
Asmaa El Mourabiti, Belgium
Vivienne Porzsolt , Australia
Sylvia Hale , Australia
Nick Wallwork, Australia
Michael Coleman , Australia
Charlotte Lund , Denmark
Tahrir Passenger list with bios is here: http://www.tahrir.ca/en/content/delegates-board-tahrir-june-july-2011
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/07/04/israel.gaza.flotilla/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2011/07/2011741529521330.html
http://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20110702/283747015783568
Greek – Swedish Boat to Gaza- Juliano
Greek and Swedish boat organizers working on their damaged ship Juliano in the port of Pireaus. Photo by Karla Larson
Need passenger list of xxxxx Juliano xxxxx
Irish Boat to Gaza-Saoirse
Fintan Land explaining the damage done to the Irish Boat to Gaza.
The Irish Boat to Gaza -the Saoirse- was sabotaged in Turkey in the same manner that the Greek boat in Piraeus had been sabotaged.
The June 2011 ‘Saoirse’ passengers were:
Fintan Lane (Dublin – co-ordinator)
Gerry MacLochlainn (Derry)
Charlie McMenamin (Derry)
Zoe Lawlor (Limerick)
Mags O’Brien (Dublin)
Shane Dillon (Dublin – skipper)
Jim Roche (Dublin)
John Hearne (Waterford)
Pat Fitzgerald (Waterford)
Rik Walton (Donegal)
Paul Murphy MEP (Dublin)
Gerard Barron (New Ross)
John Mallon (Belfast)
Chris Andrews (Dublin)
Hugh Lewis (Dublin)
Roman Kurkiewicz (Poland)
Felim Egan (Dublin)
Phil McCullough (Belfast)
Trevor Hogan (Tipperary/Dublin)
Eleftheri Mesogeios cargo ship from Greek and Swedish campaigns
This boat was in the 2010 flotilla and Israeli courts ordered it and the Sfendoni returned to its owners who had both ships towed to Greece.
xxxxNeed passenger/crew lists and photos xxxx
Dignite Al Karama (see below)
JULY 2011
In July 2011, the French yacht Dignité Al Karama was stolen by the IOF 65 kilometers off Gaza and the 16 passengers and crew were kidnapped to Israel, interrogated, imprisoned and deported.
The ship had been allowed to sail from the Greek island of Kastelorizo whose mayor was born in Gaza.
https://electronicintifada.net/content/dignity-ship-remains-destined-gaza/10175
https://www.theepochtimes.com/israeli-navy-seizes-french-flotilla-ship_1495772.html
Dignite Al Karama from France with IOF commandos surrounding
Aboard the DIGNITY:
Stéphan Corriveau, Coordinator of Canadian boat to Gaza;
Dror Feiler, spokesperson of Ship to Gaza-Sweden, President of the European Jews for a Just Peace, artist, musician, composer;
Jérôme Gleizes, France, Europe Ecologie Les Verts;
Jacqueline Le Corre, France, Médecin-Collectif 14 de soutien au peuple palestinien, member of Parti communiste francais;
Jean Claude Lefort, former MEP, French Communist Party –PCF, president France-Palestine Solidarity Association (AFPS);
Claude Léostic, spokesperson of Un bateau français pour Gaza;
Yamin Makri, France, Collectif 69 de soutien au peuple palestinien;
Omeyya Naoufel Seddik, Tunisian, Fédération des Tunisiens pour une citoyenneté des deux rives (FTCR), and Ligue tunisienne des Droits de l’Homme (LTDH), Phd in Political Science;
Thomas Sommer-Houdeville, spokesperson of Un bateau français pour Gaza, Researcher, Political Science, Middle East Studies, at the Institut francais du proche Orient;
Vangelis Pissias, spokesperson of Ship to Gaza-Greece, Professor at Technical University of Athens;
Amira Hass, Israeli journalist – Haaretz;
Ayyache Derradji, Journalist from Al Jazeera;
Stéphane Guida, Cameraman from Al Jazeera; with
Zacharia Stylianakis, Captain;
Hilaire Folacci, Mariner;
Yannick Voisin, Mariner;
Jo Leguen, Navigator
NOVEMBER 2011
Tahrir and Saoirse
In November 2011, the two boat flotilla named Freedom Waves, the Canadian-Australian-Danish-Belgian boat Tahrir with 12 passengers and crew and the Irish boat Saoirse with 15 passengers and crew sailed from Turkey and were stolen by the IOF 30 miles off the coast of Gaza.
Tahrir – Canadian/Australian/Belgian/Danish Boat to Gaza
Passengers and crew on Tahrir:
Lina Attalah (Egypt),
Casey James (US),
Aimane Zoubir (Morocco),
Jihan Hafiz (US),
Hassan Ghani (UK)
http://www.tahrir.ca/content/delegates-freedom-waves-gaza-november-2011
Saorise- Irish boat to Gaza
Passengers:
Mags O’Brien,
Fintan Lane,
Hugh Lewis,
Trevor Hogan,
Chris Andrews,
John Hearne,
Pat Fitzgerald,
John Mallon,
Phil McCullough,
Billy Smith,
Paul Murphy,
Felim Egan,
Ger Barron
Captain Zach
https://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1104/308294-gaza/
http://mondoweiss.net/2011/11/turkish-harbormaster-let-11-of-us-sail-and-25-are-left-behind/
Tahrir and Saoirse attacked by IOF commandos
OCTOBER 2012
Estelle
In October 2012, the Swedish boat Estelle with 30 passengers sailed around Europe and the Mediterranean before heading for Gaza and was stolen by the IOF. In August 2013 the state of Israel filed a petition to confiscate the vessel. In August 2016, the Israeli supreme court ruled that the state cannot confiscate the Estelle, and ordered to state to pay NIS 40,000 (approximately $10,500 USD) to the ship’s owner to cover court costs.
The Supreme Court ruled that the state should have immediately asked the court for the confiscation of the ship and shouldn’t have waited for ten months. The state did not conduct negotiations with the owner of the ship, did not respond to appeals by the owners and did not inform the owners about its intentions.
A movie by Laura Aura about the 3 month voyage of the Estelle from Sweden and Norway to many ports throughout Europe is here:
Also, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2bNcDe_tI0
Member of Parliament Hagen Aksel Norway
- Member of Parliament Britton Sven Sweden
- Member of Parliament Kodelas Dimitios Greece
- Member of Parliament Sixto Ricardo Spain
- Member of Parliament Diamantopoulos Evangelos Greece
- Former Member of Parliament Manly James Canada
- Opperdoes Joel Arvid Alexander Sweden
- Andreasson Charles Bertil Sweden
- Särner Daniel Karl-Erik Sweden
- Uddebrant Johan Lars OS Sweden
- Widell Anders Nils Olof Sweden
- Reksten Herman Elias Norway
- Elhanan Elazar Israel
- Sjøstrøm Nils Johan Norway
- Koivisto Velimati Finland
- Hammervold Jan Petter Norway
- Feiler Dror Sweden
- Svenberg Kristian Sweden
- Boethius Maria-Pia Sweden
- Mor Reut Israel
- Jämiä Mika Finland
- Arau Crusellas Laura Spain
- Ramazzotti Stockel Marco Italy
- Shapira Yonathan Israel
- Tiktopoulos Mikhalis Greece
- Zabale Gouzalet BegoÒa Spain
- Stamellos Loukas Greece
- Piassas Evangelos Greece
- Gardell Mattias Sweden
- Vinthagen Stellan Sweden
2013-2014 GAZA’S ARK-BUILDING HOPE
Gaza’s Ark was more than a project; it was the building of hope for Palestinian artisans, traders and exporters through peaceful action against the blockade of the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip.
In 2013 and 2014, with financial and logistical support from friends around the world, Palestinian workers transformed a 25 metre long fishing boat into a cargo boat to sail out of Palestine from the port of Gaza City, carrying Palestinian products and passengers in defiance of the Israeli blockade. Organizations and individuals in Australia, North America and Europe purchased over $24 000 USD worth of Palestinian export goods via the Gaza’s Ark project.
Gaza’s Ark had been reconstructed in Gaza by Palestinian hands and expertise, with international assistance where requested. Gaza’s Ark has helped revitalize the dwindling ship building industry in Gaza and to ensure the transmission of this disappearing expertise (another effect of the blockade) to the younger generations.
Through Gaza’s Ark and trade deals secured between Palestinian producers in Gaza and international businesses and NGOs, a channel was established to export Palestinian products from Gaza that are available despite the blockade.
Gaza’s Ark was preparing to provide training to Gaza’s sailors in the use of up-to-date electronic sailing equipment and techniques, which they have been denied for years as a result of the blockade.
Although it helped in a very limited manner to alleviate Gaza’s unemployment crisis by paying wages to the boat builders and providing business opportunities to traders, Gaza’s Ark was not an aid project. It was a peaceful action against the blockade which Israel unilaterally and illegally imposes on Gaza.
Gaza’s Ark stood in solidarity with the Palestinian fishers in Gaza whose ability to operate in territorial waters and to derive a livelihood is threatened by the same illegal Israeli blockade which our campaign is challenging.
Gaza’s Ark challenged the blockade by building hope on the ground in Gaza. It affirmed our confidence that the Palestinians of Gaza can rebuild their economy through outbound trade that threatens no-one’s security.
Although the Israelis may have destroyed this boat they will not destroy hope.
The project endured many difficult challenges and obstructions that delayed its planned sailing. The boat was nearly ready to sail in the spring of 2014, until an explosion was detonated on the boat at 3.45am on April 29th. Extensive damage was caused.
(Gaza’s Ark after it was attacked on 29 April 2014)
Gaza Ark’s organizers remained determined after this attack and continued to work on the project, repairing the damage and setting a new sailing timeline for September, 2014. The boat was on track for her September sailing when the Israeli offensive began in early July 2014, which killed more than two thousand people, injured thousands more and caused massive destruction across the Gaza Strip, with damage to homes, factories, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure.
On 10 July 2014, Gaza was on fire as F16 attacked and the Israeli navy fired on the seaport. At about 2am Gaza’s Ark was hit by a missile and was quickly engulfed in flames. The bombardment was so severe that the Civil Defense firefighting crews were unable to enter the seaport. The Ark was burned to a skeleton.
The Gaza’s Ark was attacked in the midst of the Israeli offensive to ensure that news of its destruction was lost in the larger story of the war in the western media. Publicity of the attack would have proved to the international community that Israel will do whatever they can to prevent exports from Gaza and to stop Palestinians from developing their economy. Ultimately, that’s the main reason for the siege. Current exports are only 3% of the 2006 amounts. When you consider the siege you think about how hard it is to import materials and goods, but in fact the blockade on exports is far more harmful to the economy. (Written by Charlie Andreasson, activist with Ship to Gaza – Sweden and volunteer worker and Quality Control Manager on Gaza’s Ark 2013-2014.)
For more information about Gaza’s Ark, go to http://www.gazaark.org/
JUNE 2015 Freedom Flotilla III-
Marianne
Juliano 2, Rachel and Vittorio
Route of the Marianne from Sweden to Gaza. The other 3 boats joined the Mariann off the coast of Crete, Greece
In June 2015, four boats in Freedom Flotilla III, sailed from Greece carrying 47 passengers from 17 countries. Two other boats were scheduled to sail but were unable to do so. The Swedish ship Marianne had sailed from Sweden for several months with stops in Europe and the Mediterranean. The Marianne had 18 passengers when was stolen by the IOF. The other three boats, the Rachel, Vittorio, Juliano 2, returned to port in Greece. Their names (Rachel, Vittorio and Juliano II) were given in memory of peace activists Rachel Corrie, Vittorio Arrigoni and Juliano Mer-Khamis, while Juliano II also recalls the Juliano, another boat that was about to leave port but had to stay, due to technical reasons. It is not yet clear whether this boat has been sabotaged, as happened in 2011, and this suspicious case is still under investigation.
While the Flotilla bore much-needed aid, the main cargo was, as always, human solidarity and non-violent direct action for the respect of human rights.
The passengers on the four boats were:
MARIANNE AV GÖTEBORG (Swedish flag, 18 people)
Dror Feiler (Sweden / Musician & composer)
Bassel Ghattas (Israel / Member of Israeli Knesset, Palestinian politician)
Dr. Moncef Marzuki (Tunisia / Human Rights activist, Ex-President of Tunisia)
Ana Miranda (Spain / Member of the European Parliament (BNG))
Nadya Kevorkova (Russia / Journalist)
Kajsa Ekis Ekman (Sweden / Journalist, Author)
Robert Lovelace (Canada / University Professor & retired Algonquin Chief)
Joel Opperdoes (Sweden / Crew)
Gustave Bergstrom (Sweden)
Herman Reksten (Norway)
Kevin Neish (Canada)
Jonas Karlin (Sweden)
Charlie Andreasson (Sweden)
Ammar Al-Hamdan (Norway / Aljazeera Arabic)
Mohammed El Bakkali (Morroco / Aljazeera Arabic)
Ohad Hemo (Israel / Channel 2 Israeli TV)
Ruwani Perera (New Zealand / MaoriTV)
Jacob Bryant (New Zealand / MaoriTV)
RACHEL (Greek flag, 8 people)
Ehab Lotayef (Canada)
Christian Martel (Canada / Retired Québec trade-unionist)
Anouar Gharbi (Tunisia / Founding member of the ECESG)
Yannis Vaitsis (Greece / Doctor)
[K] (Greece / Crew)
[X] (Greece / Crew
Marietta Simegiatou (Greece)
Aissa Boukanoun (France / Journalist, Euronews Arabic)
VITTORIO (Greek flag, 9 people)
Ann Wright (USA / retired U.S. Army colonel & former State Dept. Official)
Nasser Hamdaduche (Algeria / MP)
[D] (Greece / Crew)
[L] (Greece / Doctor)
Gerd von der Lippe (Norway / Professor in Sports Sociology & Author)
[N] (Greece / Crew)
Wellu Koivisto (Finland)
Achilleas Karaklis (Greece)
Abdel Lateef Belkaim (Algeria / Shourouk TV)
JULIANO II (Greek flag) 12 people
Martin Lejeune (Germany / Freelance journalist)
Zohar Chamberlain (Israel / Rumbo a Gaza)
[M] (Greece / Crew)
Claudio Tamagnini (Italy / International Solidarity Movement)
Anas Nairoukh (Jordan)
Lennart Berggren (Sweden / Freelance journalist)
Abouzaid El Mokrie El Idrissi (Morocco / MP, ruling party)
Odysseas Voudouris (Greece / Surgeon, ex president of MSF-Greece, ex MP)
Iasonas Voudouris (Greece)
[N] (Greece / Crew)
[M] (Greece / Crew)
Tayfun Jalci (Turkey / Anadolu news agency)
A maritime court in Haifa, Israel in November 2015 approved the Israeli government’s request to seize the Marianne.
Marianne was boarded in international waters by the Israeli navy on the 29th June 2015 during an attempt to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip. The ship conducted under duress to Israel where the crew and the international delegates who were on board first imprisoned and later deported from Israel. Thereafter, the vessel, owned by the Swedish Ship to Gaza, sold as scrap – by the Israeli Navy. Gaza has filed a claim for compensation for the full value of the ship, while the Israeli government claims that it has the legal right to seize the ship.
The same court has previously rejected the Israeli demand to seize the Ship to Gaza Finnish-flagged sailing schooner S / V Estelle as was accomplished in identical circumstances in October 2012. A verdict that was confirmed by the Israeli Supreme Court in June this year.
In both cases, the state has a way compelled to rely on the British Naval price Act of 1864, a law which it claims is applicable in Israel as a legal relic of the time of the British Mandate in Palestine, 1920-1948.
Naval price act came originally to sanction States legal claim to get cut civilian merchant ships during the war. It has until now not been raised in any court since World War II.
The Court’s argument to accept the requirement to obtain seize Marianne – despite the fact that they rejected the same requirements in terms of the S / V Estelle – based on Navy in the former case were waiting over 10 months after the boarding of producing any legal requirements.
The Israeli Navy in this way must try to revive an over 150 year old law from the era of completely different principles of international law have been noted with some surprise by maritime law experts.
Gaza is now in consultation with their Israeli lawyers to decide whether to appeal the Maritime Court.
Marianne-Swedish Ship to Gaza
One of the three sailboats on the 2015 flotilla
A MaoriTV media team of senior journalist Ruwani Perera and award-winning, free-lance camera operator Jacob Bryant, reported on the 2015 Freedom Flotilla III attempt to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
Facilitated by Kia Ora Gaza, the Native Affairs team joined other international journalists on the board the flotilla to observe and document the mission.
Here are the links to their two part documentary.
SEPTEMBER 2016 Women’s Boats to Gaza
WOMEN’S BOATS TO GAZA
Zaytouna Oliva and Amal 1 in Barcelona Harbor
In September 2016, two boats, the Amal and the Zaytouna Oliva, were a part of the Women’s Boats to Gaza sailing 1,715 miles to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. The Amal suffered a major engine problem in Barcelona, Spain and was unable to accompany the Zaytouna. The Zaytouna sailed from Barcelona to Corsica to Sicily and finally to 34 miles off Gaza where it was stolen by the IOF and 13 women passengers and crew from 13 countries were kidnapped, interrogated, imprisoned and deported.
The Women’s Boat to Gaza, the Zaytouna Oliva, set sail from Barcelona, Spain on Sept. 15 to bring international attention to this Israeli-imposed darkness. We sailed with 13 women on our initial voyage, a three-day trip to Ajaccio, Corscia, France.
Captain and Crew
Captain Madeline Habib from Australia, who has decades of captaining and sailing experience recently as the Captain of the Dignity, a Doctors Without Borders ship that rescues migrants from North Africa.
Crewmembers:
Emma Ringqvist from Sweden
Synne Sofia Reksten from Norway.
The international participants selected to be on this part of the journey were:
Co-Boat Leaders:
Wendy Goldsmith, Canadian social-worker human rights campaigner,
Ann Wright, retired U.S. Army Colonel and former U.S. diplomat Women’s Boat to Gaza co-leaders of the boat
Delegates:
Rosana Pastor Muñoz, member of Parliament and actor from Spain;
Malin Bjork, member of the European Parliament from Sweden;
Paulina de los Reyes, a Swedish professor originally from Chile;
Jaldia Abubakra, Palestinian from Gaza now a Spanish citizen and political activist;
Dr. Fauziah Hasan, medical doctor from Malaysia;
Yehudit Ilany, political consultant and journalist from Israel;
Lucia Muñoz, Spanish journalist with Telesur;
Kit Kittredge, U.S. human rights and Gaza activist
Delegates Unable to Sail from Barcelona Due to Malfunction of Amal 1
Other participants who had flown to Barcelona but were unable to sail due to the breakdown of the second boat, Amal-Hope, were:
Co-Boat Leaders:
Zohar Chamberlain Regev, a German and Israeli citizen resident in Spain
Ellen Huttu Hansson-Sweden
Lisa Fithian- U.S. – internationally recognized non-violence trainer
Norsham Binti Abubakr,-Malaysia- medical administrator
Gail Miller- U.S.-Palestine activist
Crew members:
Laura Pastor Solera from Spain,
Marilyn Porter from Canada
Josefin Westman from Sweden.
Ivory Hackett-Evans, a boat captain from the United Kingdom, flew to Barcelona and then to Messina from work with migrants in Greece to help find another boat in Sicily to replace the Amal-Hope.
A new group of women joined us in Ajaccio, Corsica, France for the 3.5-day trip from to Messina, Sicily, Italy. Besides our crew, the participants were:
Boat co-leaders
Wendy Goldsmith from Canada
Ann Wright from the U.S.;
Medical Doctor Dr. Fauziah Hasan from Malaysia;
Latifa Habbechi, member of Parliament from Tunisia;
Khadija Benguenna, Al Jazeera journalist and broadcaster from Algeria;
Heyet El-Yamani, Al Jazeera Mubasher On-Line journalist from Egypt;
Yehudit Ilany, political consultant and journalist from Israel;
Lisa Gay Hamilton, TV actor and activist from the United States;
Norsham Binti Abubakr, medical administrator from Malaysia;
Kit Kittredge, U.S. human rights and Gaza activist.
Messina, Sicily, Italy to Gaza trip
A third group of women sailed for nine days and 1,000 miles from Messina, Sicily, to 34.2 miles from Gaza before the Israeli military stopped us in international waters, 14.2 miles outside the illegal 20-mile Israeli imposed “Security Zone” that limits access to Palestine’s only port located at Gaza City.
The ten women participants and three crew members were:
Nobel Peace Laureate from Northern Ireland Mairead Maguire
Algerian Parliamentarian Samira Douaifia
New Zealand Parliamentarian Marama Davidson;
Swedish First Substitute Member of the Swedish Parliament Jeanette Escanilla Diaz (originally from Chile);
South African Olympic athlete and university student rights activist Leigh Ann Naidoo;
Spanish professional photographer Sandra Barrialoro;
Malaysian medical doctor Fauziah Hasan
Al Jazeera journalists British Mena Harballou
Lebanese citizen Hoda Rakhme living in Russia
Retired US Army Colonel and former US diplomat Ann Wright
Captain Madeleine Habib from Australia
Crew member Emma Ringqvist from Sweden
Crew member Synne Sofia Reksten from Norway
Participants who were not able to sail from Messina due to lack of readiness of Amal 2
While the Zaytouna-Olivia sailed to Sicily, our international coalition attempted to find a second boat to continue the mission to Gaza. Despite great efforts, ultimately a second boat could not be fully crewed due to the delayed timeline and many women who traveled from around the world to Messina were unable to go on the final voyage to Gaza.
That group’s participants were:
Çigdem Topçuoglu, a professional athlete and trainer from Turkey who sailed in 2010 on the Mavi Marmara where her husband was killed;
Naomi Wallace, playwright of Palestinian issues and author from the U.S.;
Gerd von der Lippe, athlete and professor from Norway;
Eva Manly, retired documentary maker and human rights activist from Canada;
Efrat Lachter, TV journalist from Israel;
Orly Noy, online journalist from Israel;
Jaldia Abubakra, Palestinian from Gaza now a Spanish citizen and political activist;
boat co-leaders from the international Freedom Coalition
Zohar Chamberlain Regev, a German and Israeli citizen resident in Spain,
Ellen Huttu Hansson from Sweden,
Wendy Goldsmith from Canada;
and crew members:
Sofia Kanavle from the U.S.,
Maite Mompó from Spain
Siri Nylen from Sweden.
Women’s Boat to Gaza 2016 (video with song for Women of Palestine+) – YouTube
The Women’s Boat to Gaza was a non-violent challenge to the illegal and inhuman blockade of Gaza …
Palestinians thank the Women’s Boat to Gaza – YouTube
Writers from http://wearenotnumbers.org explain the importance of the sea to every Palestinian from Gaza, and …
Many photos of Women’s Boat to Gaza here: https://wbg.freedomflotilla.org/video-photo-archive
2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla
“The Right to A Just Future for Palestine”
May 15-August 3, 2018
The 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla “The Right to A Just Future for Palestine” began its voyage in mid- May from several ports in Scandinavia.
Two boats – Al Awda (The Return) and Freedom sailed along the Atlantic coast, while two other boats – Mairead (for Nobel Peace Laureate and great supporter for Palestine Mairead Maguire) and Falestine travelled via European canals and rivers, the first time any of the Gaza flotilla boats had attempted this route.
At the instigation of the Israeli Ambassador to France, Paris police patrol boats refused to let the two small boats stop on the Seine River in Paris for planned educational activities-but the refusal got the flotilla publicity.
Video of the police preventing the Gaza flotilla boats from stopping in Paris.
https://www.reuters.com/video/2018/06/17/french-police-block-gaza-flotilla-from-d?videoId=436816338
Each leg of the voyage on all four boats had new participants to give more supporters of Palestine an opportunity to participate directly on the 2018 flotilla. Over 100 persons participated on the boats during the 75 day voyage and hundreds more helped as ground and port support in the 28 ports that were visited by at least one of the boats. Artists in many communities were invited to paint on the boats with messages to Palestine.
In late July, the boats met together again-in Palermo, Sicily, Italy for the final leg towards Gaza. Information and photos about events and visitors along the way are recorded throughout our website https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org/category/news, as well as on our social media sites, Facebook and Twitter.
Unfortunately due to a mechanical issue and a crewing issue, the two small boats Falestine and Mairead ended their voyage in the Mediterranean and could not directly confront the illegal Israeli blockade.
Al Awda and Freedom left Palermo on 22 July 2018 on their final leg to the port of Gaza, Palestine. Al Awda had 22 crew and participants and Freedom had 12 crew and passengers. The Israeli military stopped both boats in international waters, Al Awda on July 29 and Freedom on August 3, arrested the crew and delegates, beat two crew members badly, tasered four and broke the ribs of three, took them against their will to a country they did not want to go-Israel, imprisoned them and ultimately deported them.
As this is written in mid-September 2018, forty-five days after stopping the two boats, the Israeli military has not sent the 114 boxes of medical supplies (sterile gauze and sutures) worth over 10,000 euros to Gaza as required by international law.
Photo of Crew and Participants on Al Awda on the way to Gaza.
The 22 crew and participants on the final leg of Al Awda were:
| Zohar Regev Chamberlain- Spain-Boat Leader |
| Gerd von der Lippe- Norway- Freedom Flotilla Coalition, professor and journalists |
| Dr. Mohd Afandi Salleh- Malaysia – Professor |
| Herman Reksten- Norway- Captain |
| Charles Andreasson-Sweden- First Mate |
| Yonathan Shapira-Israeli- crew member |
| Mikkel Grünner – Norway- crew member |
| Jorgen Pederson – Norway – crew member and chef |
| Jan Petter Hammervold – Norway – crew members and chef |
| Arne Birger Heli -Norway – engineer |
| Divina Levrini – Sweden – Human rights activist |
| Larry Commodore – First Nation representative from Canada |
| Mike Treen – Trade Union representative from New Zealand |
| Lucia Mazzarrasa Alvear- Spain – Professor of Nursing (retired) |
| Joe Meadors -United States – Survivor of Israeli attack on USS Liberty in 1967 |
| Sarah Katz – France – Demographer (retired) |
| Chris Graham – Australia – Journalist |
| Dr. Swee Chai Ang – UK – Physician & co-founder of Medical Assistance for Palestine |
| Jason Soo – Singapore -Journalist |
| Emilia Nacher Verdaguer – Spain – Nurse |
| Merouane Metidji – xxx- Al Jazeera Journalist |
| Abdelmounim Elamrani – xxxx- Al Jazeera Journalist |
https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org/participants
Photo of Crew and Participants on Freedom
The 12 crew and participants on the final leg of Freedom were:
John Turnbull – Canada- Captain
Francisco Canales – Spain
Anna Dressler – Germany/Sweden
Ferry Sarpooshan – Sweden / Iran
Tobbe Larsson – Sweden
Ellen Hansson – Sweden
My Leffler – Sweden
Carl-Robert Staiger – Sweden
Pascal Maurieras – France
Karin Sanfridson – Sweden
Ian Diez Young – UK/Spain
Richard Sudan – UK – Journalist
https://shiptogaza.se/en/about-us
The crew and participants on Falestine that had to stop in Greece due to mechanical problems caused by a storm after leaving Sicily are:
Andreas Gustafsson – Sweden – Captain
Jan Stromdahl – Sweden
Nils Andersson – Sweden
Gabor Tiroler – Sweden
https://jfp.freedomflotilla.org/participants
Schedule of Boats Around and Through Europe to Sicily
Al Awda and Freedom stopped in the following cities and local Palestinian supporters helped organize educational events to emphasize the horrific conditions that Palestinians are living under in Gaza and the West Bank.
Bergan, Norway –Al Awda begins its journey
May 15 Gothenberg, Sweden –Freedom, Falestine and Mairead begin their journeys
My 20 – 21 Copenhagen, Denmark— All Four boats meet and begin the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla
May 27-28 Kiel, Brunsbuttel and Wilhelmshafen, Germany
May 31- June 3 Amsterdam, the Netherlands –Falestine and Mairead leave Al Awda and Freedom to begin their journey down the waterways and canals of the Netherlands, Belgium and France to the Mediterranean
June 5-8 Brighton, UK – Freedom stops in Brighton
June 4-5 Jersey, Channel Islands, UK -Al Awda stops in Jersey
June 7-9 La Rochelle, France
June xxxx Gijon, Spain
June 19-22 Lisboa (Cascais), Portugal
June 23-26 Cadiz, Spain
June 29-July 1 Malaga, Spain (technical stop)
Tunis, Tunisia (Freedom made an emergency stop in Tunis, Tunisia for a journalist who needed an emergency appendectomy
July 2-4 Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
July 5-8 Ajaccio, Corsica, France
July 10-14 Naples, Italy
July 16-22 Palermo, Italy
July 22-23 Messina, Italy (with small team)
Off to Gaza
Inside Al Awda
Articles and Videos on 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla
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May 29, 2018 Palestinian Flotilla Sailing OUT OF GAZA–Al-Hurriyah (Liberty)
Boat from Gaza attempts to break Israeli blockade
By Mohammed Arafat
See more at: https://wearenotnumbers.org/home/Story/Boat_from_Gaza_attempts_to_break_Israeli_blockade
Abdul Menim Aabed, 27, is among a crowd of Gazan Palestinians who are anxious—despite the obvious danger—to be among the first to try to sail out of Gaza tomorrow on Al-Hurriyah (Liberty). The boat is being organized by the Great Return March National Organizing Committee and will carry 35 Gazans who hope to receive medical treatment or to study abroad.
“I can’t walk right anymore and I can’t get the treatment I need here in Gaza,” says the wheelchair-bound Aabed, who was shot in both legs at the border protest May 4. “I’m desperate.”
The plan for the requisitioned fishing boat is to attempt its departure on May 29, the eighth anniversary of the Israeli attack on the Turkish boat Mavi Marmara, one of the ships in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla that tried to break through the blockade. When Israeli troops halted the flotilla in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, nine activists were killed. The international outrage that followed forced the Israeli government to ease the blockade somewhat by allowing more goods into Gaza, but it has remained in place.
Protest organizers have warned potential passengers it is likely the Al-Hurriyah will be attacked by the Israeli navy and they could be arrested as well. Still, Aabed and others are lining up to register for this first attempted voyage or for others that will follow.
Another hopeful passenger is Kamal Elias Tarazi, a Palestinian from Bethlehem who traveled through Egypt to Gaza to visit family members in 2012 and has been stuck there ever since, despite repeated attempts to leave.
“My health is bad and I want to go home,” he says. “I’ve tried to leave through [Egypt’s] Rafah crossing dozens of times, but they refuse to let me out.”
Egypt has opened the Rafah crossing for the duration of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, temporarily easing the border blockade of Gaza enforced by Israel for the past 12 years. But more than 20,000 residents hoping to travel are on the waiting list, a backlog created by long periods of closure, and Egyptian border officials are clearing about 400 travelers attempting to leave a day, about a third of the usual volume in past years.
For those with money, there’s also the option of what Gaza residents sarcastically call “Egyptian coordination.” This refers to payments, reportedly up to $3,000 per traveler, to Palestinian middlemen who claim to have connections on the Egyptian side. Few Gazans have that kind of money, however, and sometimes these middlemen simply pocket the fee without producing any results.
Permits are even more difficult to obtain to travel out of Gaza via the Israeli Erez exit. In April, for example, only about half of all requests by to leave for urgent health care were approved.
Holding a poster thanking Turkey and other countries for being willing to accept Palestinians, Tarazi didn’t seem scared about attempting to travel by boats since he has “tried all other means to get out. I don’t care if these boats are hit by the Israeli army. I have to try everything to get treatment and go back home to Bethlehem.”
Tarazi’s message to the world is the same as that of all of Gazans interviewed: to help break the Israeli siege.
“We have thousands of injured people here in Gaza and they must get treatment outside Gaza,” he says.
Yousef Abu Arish, director general for the Gaza Ministry of Health, said at a news conference that the health care system in the Strip is unable to deal with the large number of wounded (more than 13,000 to date) from the Great Return March.
“We’re working in inhumane conditions in terms of the extent of the injuries and the number of wounded being brought in at the same time to the shock room and the operating rooms. As skilled as the staff is and as much as they want to help the victims, in the end they’ll collapse under the burden,” Mahmoud Matar, MD, a specialist in orthopedics at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City told the Haaretz newspaper.
Adnan al-Barash, MD, added that surgeons are seeing complex injuries, including bullet-exit wounds 15 centimeters wide. “There’s no question the Israeli army is using bullets and other very dangerous weapons that leave very complex injuries requiring prolonged treatment, which the health care system in Gaza is unable to provide,” he said.
The attempt to address this crisis by sailing a boat out of Gaza comes one week after the launch of a three-ship flotilla attempting to break the Israeli blockade from the outside. The group includes a fishing boat owned by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition named Al-Awda (Arabic for return), which left the Norwegian port of Bergen April 30, and three ships sponsored by Sweden’s Ship to Gaza movement–the Heria (another English spelling for the Arabic word for freedom, or liberty), Falestine (Palestine) and Mairead (after the Irish Nobel Peace Prize laureate and BDS activist Mairead Maguire, who was on board the 2010 flotilla in which the Mavi Marmara participated). Although the Free Gaza Movement successfully sailed five times into Gaza, all flotillas since 2008 have been forcibly stopped by the Israeli navy.
Israeli aircraft targeted and destroyed a boat May 23 in the Gaza City harbor that had been due to sail to meet this latest flotilla should it actually succeed.
“Gaza has become a big prison isolated from the world. The Palestinians of Gaza are banned from the exercising the simplest of human rights due to the Israeli siege,” said Salah Abdul Atti, a member of coordination committee for the Great Return March, when the attempt to sail out was announced. No further details on the boat or the first round of selected passengers were released, to try to protect them from Israeli reprisal.
During the press conference, students, injured people, children and others held posters saying, ‘’We dream to have a seaport’’ and “We are waiting for your ships and delegations to break the Israeli siege on Gaza.’’ One group held pictures of the nine passengers who were killed during the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara.
Ismail Ridwan, a leader with the Hamas government, noted, “Our case [against Israel] is political, and humanitarian cases should not be linked to political debate because health care and education are basic human rights.”
One 60-year-old woman who refused to give her name attended, even though she is too sick to travel by boat. Nevertheless, she said she came to the seaport to “support and encourage those who will participate so we can break the siege that is suffocating us.”
Posted: May 28, 2018
– See more at: https://wearenotnumbers.org/home/Story/Boat_from_Gaza_attempts_to_break_Israeli_blockade
By +972 Magazine
IDF intercepts Gaza boat trying to escape the blockade
Carrying 17 people, including university students, cancer patients, and protesters wounded by Israeli forces during the Great Return March, the Gaza boat was headed towards Cyprus before IDF gunboats intercepted it.
By Meron Rapoport, Mohammed Zaanoun, and +972 Magazine Staff
https://972mag.com/idf-intercepts-gaza-boat-trying-to-escape-the-blockade/135818/
Israeli gunships intercepted a Palestinian boat attempting to break Israel’s naval siege of the Gaza Strip Tuesday afternoon. The attempt to break the blockade comes two weeks after Israeli soldiers killed at least 60 Palestinian protesters and wounded thousands of others at the Gaza-Israel separation barrier on Gaza’s eastern boundary.
The boat was headed to Limassol, Cyprus, and was part of a small flotilla comprised of three boats in total. The two other boats turned back and did not breach the naval blockade line enforced by the IDF. The IDF does not allow Palestinians to venture more than nine miles off the coast of the Gaza Strip.
The boat that the IDF intercepted was carrying 17 people. Those on board were mainly university students, but also included cancer patients and protesters wounded during the Return March seeking medical care outside of the besieged Gaza Strip, flotilla participants said.
“We are two university graduates, we lost hope of finding work in Gaza. Life in Gaza is impossible. We want a secure future. We are leaving for the sake of freedom,” flotilla participants Shadi al Nakleh, 28, and Ihab abu Armaneh, 29, told +972 correspondent Mohammed Zaanoun.
“We have no connection to any political party in Palestine,” the participants added. “We are sailing peacefully, without any weapons. Our message to the world is that we want peace — our journey is nonviolent.”
Asked about the risks their journey could entail, the participants responded, “We believe we will arrive in peace, but there are clear dangers: attack, arrest, the sinking the ship.”
“But the most important thing is that we will get their peacefully,” they stressed. “All other messages have failed.”
“Shadi told me that he wanted to leave, that he wanted to find work,” said Shadi’s mother. “He made his decision — what can I do? May God protect him from danger.”
After Israeli naval forces intercepted the boat, the IDF spokesperson announced that the boat would be towed to a naval base in Ashdod and the passengers returned to Gaza.
The interception of the Cyprus-bound boat comes just as another Freedom Flotilla, which departed the Norwegian port of Bergen on April 30, is on its way to Gaza. It is also nearly eight years to the day since Israeli commandos boarded the Mavi Marmara, part of the 2010 Gaza flotilla, and killed 10 Turkish activists.
July 10, 2018 Palestinian Flotilla Sailing OUT OF GAZA
For second time in 2 months, IDF intercepts Gaza blockade-running boat
Navy arrests 8 passengers, some of them Palestinians injured in recent border clashes with Israel, after vessel left permitted fishing zone, ostensibly en route to Cyprus
The Israeli Navy stopped and seized a fishing boat that attempted to break through the naval blockade around the Gaza Strip, arresting the eight Palestinians on board, some of them people injured in recent border clashes with Israeli troops, the military said.
The vessel’s purported destination was Cyprus, however the boat lacked the equipment necessary to safely reach the island nation, making it more likely that this was a symbolic act of protest.
“The vessel was seized without incident,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement.
After a search of the vessel, the boat was towed to the Israeli Navy’s base at the Ashdod port.
New ‘freedom flotilla’ to set sail from Gaza to Cyprus
New ‘freedom flotilla’ to set sail from Gaza to Cyprus
The boats will carry patients and Gazans injured by Israel [Al-Araby al-Jadeed]
Date of publication: 9 July, 2018
https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/news/2018/7/9/new-freedom-flotilla-to-set-sail-from-besieged-gaza
A new attempt to break Israel’s crippling blockade of Gaza will be launched on Tuesday, a local NGO in the besieged Palestinian enclave has announced.
A flotilla of small boats carrying activists, patients, and some Gazans injured in recent clashes near the border with Israel would attempt the journey from Gaza’s port, the Great Return March National Organising Committee said at a press briefing Monday.
This is the second such attempt from Gaza since late May, when the Israeli navy stopped and seized a similar flotilla protesting its blockade on the strip.
The small flotilla had left a port in the Palestinian enclave with the goal of breaking the decade-long Israeli blockade and aimed to reach Cyprus.
Gaza has been blockaded by Israel and Egypt for over a decade, preventing vital supplies reaching Palestinians there.
Salah Abdul Atti, one of the organisers, called on the UN to protect the flotilla and those on board and pressure Israel to allow it to reach Cyprus.
Abdul Atti also called on international organisations to work for the release of the captain of the first flotilla, Suhail al-Amoudi, who is still being detained by Israel following the interception of the boats.
Explainer: Life in Gaza under Israel’s blockade
The Great Return March National Organising Committee is the group now known for staging the large border protests since late March, which Israel violently attempted to suppress.
Since the protests began on March 30, they have been violently quashed by the Israeli army. At least 139 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire.
The majority of those killed were non-violent protestors, as well as journalists, bystanders and a nurse. Only a small number were seeking to breach or damage the border fence, although they too were unarmed.
No Israelis have been killed.
The 11-year-long Israeli blockade has long starved the Gaza Strip from receiving much needed humanitarian aid, including food stuffs, medical equipment, and clean water.
Starting in 2007 the blockade limits Palestinians use of their territorial sea to 9 nautical miles (16 kilometres).
This zone is allocated for fishing and other “small scale economic activity”.
However, the Israeli authorities limit these activities as well, often targeting any boats which enter the zone.
Books about the Boats of the Free Gaza Movement and Freedom Flotilla Coalition
Freedom Sailors
Midnight on the Mavi Marmara
Towards Gaza: Live on the Freedom Flotilla
Drawing A Line in the Sea: The Gaza Flotilla Incident and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Zionist view)
Ship to Gaza (Order from Ship to Gaza-Sweden (https://shop.shiptogaza.se/product/bok-bakgrunden-resan-framtiden#.WTiTXfrys6U)
Estelle (In Norweigian with great photos–order from Ship to Gaza-Norway http://www.shiptogaza.no/)
https://shop.shiptogaza.se/product/bok-bakgrunden-resan-framtiden#.WTiTXfrys6U
Women’s Boat to Gaza (Photo Album from Malaysian campaign)
34 Miles-Women’s Boat to Gaza (in Malaysian)
Articles, Videos
2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla
2011 Gaza Freedom Flotilla
Slow Boat to Gaza- 30 Page Photo Essay by Ray McGovern of 2011 Gaza Freedom Flotilla and Audacity of Hope 0811-ray-gazaboat
Greece Arrest Captain of Gaza-Bound US Boat
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2011/07/201172143643709749.html
Watchful Activists Guard Boats Bound for Gaza
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2011/07/201171142616817763.html
Greet Coast Guard Seizes Canadian Ship Bound for Gaza
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2011/07/04/greek-coast-guard-seizes-canadian-ship-bound-gaza
Other Resources
Gaza Freedom Flotillas-Ships, Passengers & Lawsuits Against the Israeli government 
Everything is very open with a clear explanation of the issues. It was really informative. Your site is extremely helpful. Many thanks for sharing!😎 😀 2021-10-07 10h 38min
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