We Will Resist Israel’s Attempts To Stop US

Tuesday May 25, 2010 23:04 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

(Hearklin, Crete, Tuesday, May 25, 2010)

As the Israeli occupation government continues to insist it will stop the seven-ship international Freedom Flotilla, two more ships departed from Greece to Gaza today.

A 2,000 ton cargo ship and fifty-person passenger ship owned by the European Campaign Against the Siege of Gaza, and Swedish/Greek Ship to Gaza campaigns left Athens to meet the Freedom Flotilla in international waters.

They follow hot on the trail of the cargo ships of Insani Yardim Vakafi (IHH’s) and Free Gaza’s MV Rachel Corrie. IHH’s remaining 1,100 capacity passenger ship and cargo ship are to sail shortly from Turkey.

In Crete, the Free Gaza Movement is readying its two passenger boats for their imminent departure. ‘Al Samoud’ (The Steadfast’) and ‘Al Haya’ (The Ship of Life) were named by children from schools in occupied Gaza and Jerusalem.

Reports coming from the Israeli occupation naval forces say they will jam the flotilla’s signals and communications, isolating those on board the ships, and barring the world from witnessing what could become a confrontation or prolonged naval stand-off.

The strategy of the Freedom Flotilla, however, is to resist any attempts by the Israeli Navy to hijack its ships or to divide cargo ships from passenger vessels.

“The message from Israel is clear: ‘We will stop you. And no-one can prevent us from stopping you.’ said Free Gaza chair, Huwaida Arraf.

However, we will non-violently resist Israeli attempts to seize our boats. Thousands of people have contributed to making this flotilla a reality, and the people of Gaza are expecting us.

“We will not allow our flotilla to be divided. We will stay with our cargo ships – they are the core of the flotilla carrying essential construction materials denied entry into Gaza – cement, steel, and houses.

This action is not a symbolic gesture but a concrete intervention to allow the people of Gaza to rebuild their lives with dignity’, emphasized passenger, Aengus O’Snodaigh, TD Sinn Féin party, Ireland

Ewa Jasiewicz added, "We are not breaking the law, we are upholding it. We are acting out of necessity to prevent a greater crime from taking place – the collective punishment of 1.5 million people imprisoned in Gaza.

The international community is complicit in this collective punishment and must break its silence. Respect for international law is not optional, it is obligatory.’

Turkey asks Israel not to intercept the Freedom Flotilla

[ 26/05/2010 - 08:13 AM ]

ISTANBUL, (PIC)--

Turkey officially asked the Israeli occupation government on Tuesday to allow the freedom Flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip to continue with its trip to the besieged enclave with its humanitarian aid cargo.

Turkish foreign minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, said that his government was in contact with Israel over the aid convoy.

He said that the siege on Gaza should be lifted, adding that Ankara believes that Tel Aviv would be wise in dealing with such a civilian initiative.

Meanwhile, the coalition of the Freedom Flotilla warned Israel against carrying out its threat of intercepting the fleet carrying humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.

A responsible source in the coalition told Quds Press on Tuesday that Gaza is our sole destination, adding, "We will resist any Israeli attempt to halt the fleet".

He pointed to reports mentioning Israel's intention to arrest the solidarity activists and other reports indicating that Israel was planning to jam the activists' communications and to isolate the news of the Flotilla from the world.

For her part, Huwaida Aref, a member of Free Gaza movement a partner in the coalition, said that the participants are adamant to resist "peacefully" any Israeli attempt to control the Flotilla.

She said, "We will reach Gaza, we will remain in our ships", and added that the Flotilla's voyage to Gaza was not a parade but rather aimed at breaking the siege and reaching Gaza with the shipment of reconstruction material and other assistance.

Freedom Flotilla turns down Israeli offer to enter Gaza via land route

[ 25/05/2010 - 05:43 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Israeli occupation government has proposed to the Freedom Flotilla to deliver its aid shipment to Gaza Strip via land route, Rami Abdo, member of the European committee to end the siege on Gaza and one of the organizers of the sea convoy, said on Tuesday.

Abdo told the PIC that the offer was absolutely rejected by the organizers and participants.

He meanwhile revealed that two German MPs joined the participants along with two Swedish MPs bringing the total number of official and parliamentary figures to more than 50 and the overall participants to 750 persons from 60 nationalities.

For his part, Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said in a statement to El-Bayan website on Tuesday that the Israeli threats to the Freedom Flotilla reflected the "Zionist arrogance".

He called for international protection for the fleet along with popular support until it breaks the siege and reaches Gaza.

Barhoum called on the participants not to heed those threats, which should pose as an incentive for achieving their goals.

Turkey Demands that Israel Not Intercept Freedom Flotilla

Wednesday May 26, 2010 08:15 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Turkish government officially demanded that the Israeli occupation forces not intercept or obstruct the Freedom Flotilla, a convoy of ships attempting to bring humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip. Turkey is requesting that the Israeli occupation government  stop its threats against the Flotilla and the activists on board.

Turkey is one of the nations most involved with the Freedom Flotilla. The government in Istanbul has demanded that Israel lift its illegal siege on Gaza.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu stated during a press conference after a UN meeting that his government is in constant talks with Israel regarding the Flotilla.

He added that Israel must act in order to decrease tension, and lift the siege on Gaza.

Davutoğlu said that he believes Israel will use its “wisdom” in dealing with the situation in Gaza and the humanitarian flotilla on its way there.

He added that urgent aid must reach Gaza, and that the countries participating in the Flotilla must act to to ensure that aid makes its way to the Gazan coast.

11 Swedish citizens aboard the Freedom Flotilla

Wednesday May 26, 2010 02:31 by Ship to Gaza

The Ship to Gaza and Freedom Flotilla, currently on its way to Gaza across Mediterranean, are carrying 11 Swedish citizens. Among these are members of parliament, activists, medical doctors and intellectuals.

The Swedish passengers are:

- Ulf Carmesund, theologian and international secretary for Christian Social Democrats of Sweden.

- Mehmet Kaplan, member of the Swedish parliament (the Green Party of Sweden), former spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Sweden, and former president of Young Muslims in Sweden (Sveriges unga muslimer).

- Henning Mankell, author, dramatist, and theater manager.

- Henry Ascher, pediatrician and Medical Director for the Rosengren foundation (Rosengrenska Stiftelsen) and researcher for refugee medicine. Member of Jews for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.

- Viktoria Strand, a physician specializing in allergy medicine.

- Dror Feiler, founder of and spokesperson for Ship to Gaza. He is an artist and musician, president of Jews for Israeli-Palestinian Peace (Sweden), and of European Jews for a Just Peace.

- Saman Ali, board member and treasurer of Ship to Gaza.

- Mattias Gardell, a founder of and spokesperson for Ship to Gaza. He is an author and a professor of the History of Religion at Uppsala University.

- Kimberly Soto Aguayo, Palestine Solidarity, Sweden.

- Amil Sarsour, activist from Ship to Gaza, Uppsala and chairman of the Organization for Immigrants in Uppsala.

- Edda Manga, PhD in History of Ideas and Science, lecturer, and debater.

- Also on board is a team of reporters from the Swedish television channel TV4.
Several other Swedish activists volunteered to come, but the number of passengers from each nation is limited. Approximately 500 passengers from about 50 different nations are in the convoy.

They are travelling not only passengers, but also as witnesses, a part of the solidarity cargo the Freedom Flotilla is bringing to Gaza. The purpose of Ship to Gaza is threefold: humanitarian, political and in solidarity:
- To bring the people of Gaza vital medicine and materials for reconstruction.

-To remind the World and especially politicians of the unacceptable situation in the Gaza Strip.

- To give the people in Gaza a clear, international message: you are not alone!