Tag: Blockade - Page 7 - International Solidarity Movement

In Photos: Palestinians gather support for #FreedomWaves and ending blockade of Gaza

by Alistair George and Ben Lorber

Canadian and Irish ships sailing with Freedom Waves to Gaza were illegally boarded by the Israeli military in international waters yesterday afternoon.

The Israeli military stated that “Upon arrival of the vessels at the Ashdod port, the activists will be transferred to the custody of the Israel Police and immigration authorities in the Ministry of Interior”.

At present, it has been confirmed that two of the passengers have been released by the Israeli authorities without charge. The fate of the remaining passengers is unknown.

Palestinians gather support for Freedom Waves- Click here for more images

Huwaida Arraf, spokesperson from Freedom Waves to Gaza, said “It’s clear that 27 civilians on two small boats, carrying only medicine, constituted no security threat to the Israeli state, and that the determination to keep them out is only a furtherance of Israel’s policy of collective punishment, a crime against humanity. Despite this Israeli aggression, we will keep coming, wave after wave, by air, sea, and land, to challenge Israel’s illegal policies towards Gaza and all of Palestine. Our movement will not stop or be stopped until Palestine is free.”

The two ships, carrying a total of 27 passengers and $30,000 worth of medicine and supplies, set off from Turkey on November 2. The Freedom Waves to Gaza initiative is a non-violent, civil society movement to challenge the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza.

Freedom Waves to Gaza organizers had been unable to communicate with the ships soon after the vessels were approached by Israeli warships earlier yesterday afternoon.

The Canadian boat ‘Tahrir’ (Liberation) confirmed that the Israeli navy had contacted them asking for their destination at around 13:00 (Gaza time) to which Ehab Lotayef, an activist on board the ship, replied “The conscience of humanity”. When the Israelis again demanded to know the destination of the ship Lotayef replied; “The betterment of mankind”.

When the Israeli navy made contact, both ships were around 51 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza, well into international waters. ‘

However, the Israeli military reported that the navy has been ordered by IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz to board the ships after “attempts to contact them failed.”

Anatolia News Agency, Turkey, has reported that the boats were offered the choice to go to Egypt or return.

A spontaneous gathering took place yesterday in Gaza’s seaport in anticipation of the arrival of the boats turning quickly into a protest, as the news of the assault became known. Protesters are calling for UN sanctions against Israel for its persistent violations of international law. Protests took place yesterday evening in Ramallah in solidarity with the flotilla, and in Haifa and Gaza the previous days. Rally goers demanded UN accountability for Gaza’s current siege, as Israel continues its tight grip on the suffocating Gaza Strip.

Israeli commandos boarded a previous Gaza Freedom Flotilla on 31 May 2010, killing nine Turkish activists and wounding many more.

Ben Lorber is a volunteer with International Solidarity Movement and writes for Alternative Information Center. Alistair George is a volunteer for ISM (name changed).

Palestinians gather in Gaza Seaport to support Freedom Waves flotilla

by Joe Catron

5 November 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza

Dozens of Palestinian civil society leaders, fishermen, youth, and international activists gathered in the Gaza Seaport Friday morning to support the Freedom Waves flotilla.

Participants included representatives of the Fishing and Marine Sports Association and the Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO), as well as Palestinian youth activists from Gaza.

Front row, from left to right: Rana Baker, Jehan Alfarra, Hussien Amody, and Mahfouz Kabariti – Click here for more images

Mahfouz Kabariti, president of the Fishing and Marine Sports Association, which hosted the event, greeted attendees and spoke of Freedom Waves participants. “These brave men and women are challenging the same criminal siege that confronts Palestinian fishermen daily,” he said.

“It’s not only a matter of aid, but is more importantly a statement about the ongoing blockade, as well as the lack of freedom of movement between Palestinian territories and the Palestinian people,” said Jehan Alfarra, a 20-year-old English literature student at Islamic University.

“Israel’s inhumane blockade and system of apartheid have for so long kept us, the people of Gaza, away from our relatives in the West Bank; and kept the people of the West Bank away from their relatives in Gaza,” added Rana Baker, a 20-year-old business administration student at Islamic University.

After a brief press conference, attendees launched a boat into the harbor from which they waved Palestinian flags and sang Palestinian national songs like “Unadikum” to symbolically welcome the flotilla to Gaza.

Participants returned to the Seaport Friday afternoon after hearing of Israel’s interception of the flotilla.

“At 2:00, the boats were boarded by Israel in international waters about 48 miles off shore,” announced Hussien Amody, a 19-year-old computer engineering student at Al-Azhar University.

“This is a crime, of course,” he continued. “Why don’t they just open the borders and let supplies enter if they really want us to have them?”

Act Now: Rafah border crossing closed for 6 days

5 November 2011 | International Solidarity Movement, Gaza

Only hours after activists from popular committees and youth movements throughout the West Bank formally presented the Egyptian ambassador, His Excellency Yasser Othman, with an appeal and a petition to open the Rafah crossing unconditionally and permanently, the Palestinians of Gaza learned that the crossing will in fact be closed for six consecutive days during the Eid holiday.

A petition was originally issued by Gaza-based civil society sectors including academics, students, workers, and youth. It was immediately supported publically by Egyptian revolutionaries and grass-roots organizations as well as renowned International human rights defenders such as Desmond Tutu and Richard Falk.

Despite assurances by the Egyptian ambassador that conditions at Gaza’s only lifeline to the outside world will improve in the coming days, it seems that the people of Gaza will continue to suffer from frequent and arbitrary closures on weekends and holidays. This closure comes while the Taba crossing to the Israeli city of Eilat as well as other Egyptian border crossings, airport terminals and seaports are closed for only one day for Eid al Adha and continue their activities throughout the year without interruption.

While Palestinians and their allies continue to struggle against the criminal Israeli-imposed siege, the frequent closures of the Rafah crossing by the Egyptian authorities compounded with the quota system that only allows a limited number of people to cross every day results in long delays and significant hardship. At times, students miss their school terms and workers lose their jobs while waiting for their turn to cross. Family members who hold foreign passports are still prevented from visiting their loved ones in Gaza.This severely hinders the freedom of movement of the Palestinians of Gaza, a basic human right under international law.

CALL TO ACTION

1. Organize a delegation to deliver the petition to your Egyptian embassy, consulate or representative office.

2. Contact your Egyptian embassy. In the US, fax, phone or email the DC Embass Fax: (202) 244-4319; Phone: (202) 966-6342; Consulate@egyptembassy.net

3. Sign and circulate the petition.

4. “Like”, “Share” and Post your activities on the campaign Facebook page

5. Sign this petition to unconditionally open the Rafah crossing

For more information and to send an email about your activities contact: rafahcrossingcampaign@gmail.com

Activists react to Gaza flotilla assault

by Ruqaya Izzidien

4 November 2011 | Al Akhbar English

Palestine activists call on the international community to keep pressuring Israel to end the blockade of Gaza after the Freedom Waves flotilla was assaulted by Israel in international waters.

Gaza — Palestinian activists have condemned the Israeli navy’s assault on the Freedom Waves to Gaza flotilla in international waters.

Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian-American human rights activist said, “This kind of violent, irrational behavior by Israel is similar to that which we see in other brutal regimes that are being challenged by the people. It’s important that we don’t give into this violence and that we keep taking to the sea, to the air, to the streets, to prove that violence and military might is not more powerful than the rights that we are fighting for.”

The 27 activists and journalists aboard the boats were taken, against their will, to the Israeli port of Ashdod where they were put in the custody of local police. Benny Gantz, the Israeli army Chief of Staff gave the order to board the two boats, which were carrying US$30,000 worth of medical supplies, at around 3:15pm, Gaza time, after Israeli naval vessels had tailed them for nearly two hours.

The flotilla crew was first contacted by the Israeli naval around 1:35pm and radio communication was later established. When asked for details of their destination, crew of the flotilla responded with “the betterment of mankind.” Israeli forces then directed the flotilla to redirect to Turkey, Egypt, or the Israeli port of Ashdod. Flotilla members refused and their boats were boarded and commandeered by the Israeli navy, who led the boats to Ashdod, regardless.

Jehan Al Farra, a Palestinian blogger and student explained, “The flotilla’s arrival would have meant a lot for Gaza. The attempt itself reminds us that there are efforts to break the siege, declaring it illegal and to make the world aware of what is happening here. Remember that just because the siege has been ‘eased’ that doesn’t make it any less illegal.”

On 30 May 2010, just five miles away from today’s assault, nine activists were killed aboard the Mavi Marmara boat as their vessel was intercepted and attacked by the Israeli navy. Today, Israeli naval officers, who typically carry heavy weaponry, boarded the ship and forcibly took control of the two boats.

Before being boarded, the boats lost radio contact for over an hour, leaving supporters praying for their safety. As communication was cut, Twitter users in Gaza filled the silence with messages of support; 22-year-old blogger Lina Al-Sharif tweeted, “Praying for Freedom Waves.”

Rana Baker joined dozens of other Palestinians at Gaza port to stand in solidarity with the flotilla in symbolic gesture of solidarity. She said, “To me, Freedom Waves has already broken an extended blockade. Things need not to be clarified. Israel can no longer isolate Gaza, our cause is being contacted and supported by the 99 percent, the only one being isolated is Israel itself.” Again, in international waters, Israel attacked two small boats carrying supplies and 27 activists.

Earlier this year, Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, announced that, “Turkish warships will be tasked with protecting the Turkish boats bringing humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.” Many supporters were hopeful that this support would be provided to Freedom Waves to Gaza, despite the fact that the boats are Canadian and Irish.

An Israeli military statement said the vessels were advised they could “turn back at any point, thereby not breaking the maritime security blockade, or sailing to a port in Egypt or the port of Ashdod.” The release said that “the activists refused to cooperate.”

The blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has been in effect since 2006, is considered collective punishment by many governments, a crime that is illegal by international law. The UN has repeated called for an end to the blockade.

Initial reactions from Gaza on the new Freedom Flotilla

by Radhika S.

3 November 2011 | Notes from Behind the Blockade

Here in Gaza, people — especially the youth — are really excited about the new flotilla on its way from Turkey.

“I can’t wait to receive my brothers and sisters who share our suffering and who also experience Israel’s apartheid policies and aggression,” said 19-year-old Al-Azher University student Hussien Amody, upon hearing news that a Palestinian from Haifa was on board yesterday evening. Hussein subsequently stayed up all night making signs and posters for today’s march in Gaza demanding that the United the Nations and the international community protect the two small boats.

I rose early this morning and head to Gaza’s port to go out on the Oliva, a project run by CPS Gaza to monitor the Israel navy’s treatment of Palestinian fisherman. I promptly told Salah, our Captain, the news:

“Two boats are coming from Turkey to Gaza right now,” I said, as our small white boat left port.

“Now?” he asked. “Yes right now. They will arrive in Gaza maybe tomorrow morning,” I said in Arabic. The “maybe” was for the morning– I didn’t know how to say “scheduled to arrive.”

“Inshallah,” Godwilling, he said, and then asked where the boats were from and other details. A tiny boat rowed by two young men balancing delicately on the edges passed by as the Mediterranean undulated below them. Salah shouted to them the news and they exchanged a brief conversation.

“I think the Israeli navy will stop them,” he said as continued out to sea. Indeed, that’s what the IDF spokesperson had declared on Twitter the night before.

Nonetheless, Salah yelled out to a passing yellow and blue trawler the news. The trawler had eyes with long lashes and a smiley face painted on its wooden bow. Palestinians on a similar trawler reported being shot at by the Israeli navy when I was out at sea yesterday. We had heard the automatic gunfire as we were leaving port. The Israelis have an elite navy and all the Palestinians have are their pink, blue and yellow smiley faced boats, I thought.

I shared with Salah that the boat was bringing Palestinians from outside Gaza, since that was something the youth here were particularly excited about. A few them had mentioned that because of Israel’s complete closure of Gaza, they hadn’t been able to see their family members in the West Bank or leave Gaza for university in the West Bank or abroad.

Salah only shrugged and said “inshallah,” again, a word I had never heard him use in the past. He was refusing to get his hopes up about

something that, in his mind, Israel would clearly prevent from happening. I tried to convince him that maybe this flotilla would be different.

“[Prime Minister] Erdogan has promised that the Turkish navy will accompany freedom boats to Gaza,” I said. “And the boats left from Turkey,” I added, attempting to convince Salah, and even myself. Indeed the Canadian boat tweeted last night that they believed the Turkish Coast Guard was behind them.

“Inshallah,” Salah replied.

Despite Israel’s declarations that it will stop the flotilla, Palestinian civil society groups and even the fisherman have a big welcome in store for Freedom Waves. Why is Israel trying so hard to keep 27 civilians from seeing what life is really like behind the blockade? What is Israel trying to hide?

Check out this solidarity song with Gaza and keep the #FreedomWaves rolling on Twitter.

Rhadhika S is a volunteer with International Solidarity Movement