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.