ACTIVISTS from the Free Gaza Movement set sail for Gaza yesterday afternoon from the port of Larnaca – this after the Cyprus-based group decided to cancel last month’s planned trip that would have seen them arriving during the holy month of Ramadan.
The group, who successfully broke Israel’s blockade on the Gaza Strip in August, plan once again to dock at the Gaza City port – this time to deliver medicine as a gift from the European Campaign to End the on Siege on Gaza.
The group of 26 includes five physicians, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, a member of the Israeli Knesset, Israeli journalist Gideon Sprio and the Irish Nobel Peace Prize Winner Mairead Maguire.
In a statement, Maguire said, ”We sail to Gaza to show the people we love and care for them. What less can we do whilst our governments remain silent and inactive in face of such preventable suffering of the women and children of Gaza and Palestine.”
In a press release issued on Sunday, the Movement said, “We expect no interference from Israeli authorities. Although our message acknowledges Israel’s control over Gaza, we do not accept Israel’s right to prevent us from sailing into the Gaza strip.”
The Movement has alleged that Israel took steps to try and prevent the boat from embarking in the first place. In Sunday’s statement, they said, “Israel continues to exert behind-the-scenes pressure on many of the people who have been assisting the Free Gaza Movement, hoping they can stop the boat before it leaves port.”
“It’s ridiculous that Israel is so frightened of us,” organiser Greta Berlin said. “We are carrying doctors and human rights activists… there is absolutely no reason why they should stand in our way this time.”
The boat left Larnaca yesterday evening and is expected to enter the Gaza City port today after an estimated 24 hours of travel.
The Movement is planning more trips to Gaza over the next year. ”We intend to break Israel’s blockade as often as we can,” Berlin said. “We have lawyers, members of Parliament and other professionals already on our passenger lists for upcoming voyages.”
