Gaza awaits its rescue.
Members of the Free Gaza Movement are presently awaiting departure from Cypress to Gaza in an attempt to put a stop to the siege that has had brutal effects of the Gaza population, children especially, who have suffered malnutrition as a consequence. Jimmy Carter called the siege of Gaza a “human rights crime” that is now happened before our eyes. Americans are asleep concerning the effects of the siege, in spite of the fact that their tax monies are contributing to it. Gaza today is the very model of a Palestinian bantustan, the likes of which Israel apparently proposes to develop in the West Bank once it annexes all of it.
The following is an appeal from the passengers and crew of the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty:
Two years ago, about a dozen human rights activists devised a plan to sail a boat to Gaza in order to break the siege. We rejected a plan to rent a boat as impractical because a similar venture in 1988 failed and three organizers were killed. Thus no boat owner would willingly risk his craft. We ultimately decided to purchase two small boats that could carry 44 passengers, crew and media.
The SS Free Gaza.
The SS Liberty.Each of us contributed what we could, and we also received thousands of dollars from individual supporters, most of whom used the Paypal link on our website. We also held fund-raising events, received a few thousand dollars from small grants, and several “angels” helped us along the way. Each passenger has paid his/her own way to get here, and many have raised additional money through their groups, worked extra jobs, and asked family and friends to donate. The passengers also paid an additional 600 Euros each for lodging in Cyprus and to cover the cost of supplies and food on land and sea.
Jeff Halper, founder of the Israel Committee Against House Demolition, waits to embark along with other protesters.Through these efforts we have raised $300,000, which we thought covered our costs. But the eroding dollar/Euro exchange rate seriously drained our funds. All of our planning did not anticipate this contingency.
We are now in Cyprus awaiting our boats’ arrival from Crete. When they come in, we will fuel up (with very high-cost diesel) and stock necessary food and supplies. We hope to cast off for Gaza this weekend. We are told that hundreds of thousands of Gazans will greet us on arrival.
Many people thought we’d never come this far. But here we are and we firmly intend to set sail regardless of some recent staggering debts. Frankly, we have spent much more than we raised…
(snip)
Except for part of the diesel fuel, we have already paid these costs by running our personal credit cards to the limit, borrowing money, and asking some of the Greek crew to help. Frankly, we’re tapped out.
We need your help so that we sail on the Mediterranean Sea but not on a sea of debt. Please donate through the Paypal account on our website, or send a tax-deductible check to the US address on the website, and/or send a check to the address in the UAE. Every donation, large or small, will help keep us afloat.
And, finally, thanks for your interest, support, and prayers.
Sincerely,
The Passengers and Crew on the FREE GAZA and LIBERTY
Street protest in Vienna about the Gaza siege.
UPDATE: Aug 16 from the International Solidarity Movement:
According to the report, weather is delaying departure. All volunteers for the mission remain committed. These words from a chronicler:
It’s the people watching the horizon in Gaza that keeps everyone going here in Crete.
Meanwhile the world waits too to see what happens. Today Correiere Della Sera, a major Italian newspaper read by more than 2 million, devoted an entire page of their world news section to the Free Gaza Movement and the injustice suffered by Palestinians. The US media is the only group noticeable by their absence.
Free Gaza have the boats, the crew, and the willpower to challenge Israel’s illegal barricade. Now all they need is the weather.
Here is a message to the Gazans watching their sea for signs of ships: the Free Gaza Movement are on their way. When the winds are with them, nothing else should be able halt this mission of peace and goodwill.
Further news this morning on this human rights and humanitarian movement:
CHALLENGING THE SIEGE FROM RAFAH TO CYPRUS
By Rami Almeghari, The Electronic Intifada, 14 August 2008
On Sunday, hundreds of Hamas supporters, many stranded Gaza patients, students and travelers, took part in a rally at the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing terminal in southern Gaza, against the continued closure of the terminal for the past 14 months and calling on Egypt to reopen it. The attendees blamed the Egyptian leadership for the terminal closure, saying that this crossing, Gaza’s sole outlet to the outside world, should be opened under joint Palestinian-Egyptian control. Rami Almeghari reports from Gaza.
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article9763.shtml
Thanks for the diary, shergald! As you mention, Jeff Halper of ICAHD is one of about 45 peace activists making the trip. A couple of articles have been written recently about Halper’s participation in the trip (here and here). The Free Gaza Movement has a website with up to date news about their trip (it was delayed by rough weather on Wednesday. Several members of the delegation, as well as their families, have received death threats). Interesting blog by one of the journalists covering the free gaza group.
Also, Another Paul from Berkeley, who has been too busy to post at Daily Kos lately, is among those on the trip. Maybe we can talk him into writing a diary at Daily Kos about the experience when he gets back.
As you have access to DKos, it would be an interesting diary, even a series of diaries, if it were to be covered by a participant, like the other Paul.
Otherwise thanks for your comments. They are at the very least updating, especially because some people have expressed concern that it would never take place.
I’m a little more than halfway through Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid and it has really been an education. My knowledge of it only extended from about 1995 to the present, with only some passing knowledge of events from prior to 1995.
My thoughts so far: President Carter bent over backward to be fair to both sides, yet some folks blasted this book. And it’s easy to see why:
It’s segregation on acid.
Over the years, I would think, Well, if we knew what was happening with our tax dollars, in our name… but now I feel like they’re getting away with abuses BECAUSE of the sick cocktail of oil politics, racism and Islam bashing (though there are Palestinian Christians, for which the latent racism takes over).
I’ll let you know what I think when I finish, but I’ve been intending to share that with you.
Thanks for sharing. As part of the criticism, some historical errors were noted, and used to defame Carter and his book, but its contribution to bringing to light the human rights situation, and breaking through the censorship, was invaluable. Without our financial and military support, Israel’s brutal occupation and colonialism that continues may not have reached the extent it has, practically nullifying any chance for peace based on sharing the land.
Thanks for the Free Gaza link Rusty. Looks like they do need money I will donate. Free Gaza is already $300,000 in the red.
…and thanks for the update Shergald.