The Free Gaza Movement site provided these last communications on the efforts of the Free Gaza Movement to break the siege of Gaza, which Jimmy Carter, in front of the international press, called a “human rights crime.’ The American press ignored him as did the recent Democratic convention.
Yesterday afternoon, we learned that the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty boats were on their way back to Cypress, the origin of the last leg of their journey. As reported by the Free Gaza Movement, although overly optimistic with respect to their accomplishments, it did achieve tangible successes:
SS FREE GAZA & SS LIBERTY TO LEAVE FOR CYPRUS WITH PALESTINIANS ON BOARD
After having shattered the Israeli blockade of Gaza earlier this week, the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty will depart Gaza for Cyprus at 2pm today. Several Palestinians who have previously been denied exit visas by Israel joined international human rights workers on the journey. Among the Palestinians leaving were Saed Mosleh, age 10, of Beit Hanoon, Gaza. Saed lost his leg due to an Israeli tank shell and is leaving Gaza with his father to seek medical treatment. Also on board was the Darwish family, who will finally be reunited with their relatives in Cyprus.
“I can’t believe we’re finally able to leave for medical treatment,” said Khaled Mosleh, Saed’s father. “This is a miracle of God.
“Nine international human rights workers remained in Gaza to do longer-term monitoring and accompaniment, and one, Dr. Bill Dienst of Omak, Washington, will attempt to cross over into Israel later today via the Erez crossing.
By freely traveling to Gaza, on Saturday, August 23rd, in two, small, wooden boats, the Free Gaza Movement forced the Israeli government to issue a fundamental policy change regarding their military and economic blockade of Gaza. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign affairs publicly announced that humanitarian and human rights missions to Gaza will no longer be stopped or threatened by Israel. With the end of the Israeli siege of Gaza, Palestinians should be free to exercise their rights without fear of being stopped or killed by the Israeli military.
Yvonne Ridley, a journalist and member for the Free Gaza Movement, summed up her experience in Gaza by saying, “I missed the start of the Berlin Wall coming down by just a few days, but now I know how people felt when they tore down those first few bricks. This has been a huge victory of people over power.
“Since the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement did not enter Israeli territorial waters, and since they will requested an inspection from both the Gaza Port Authority when they departed, and the Cypriot authorities upon their return, they expect no interference on the part of the Israeli authorities when they leave Gaza. By Israel’s own admission, it has no authority to inspect the boats or the passengers when they leave Gaza.
With the collapse of the Israeli blockade, the Free Gaza Movement will quickly return to Gaza with another delegation, and they would like to encourage the United Nations, Arab League and international community to organize similar human rights and humanitarian efforts. The Free Gaza Movement will continue to work to ensure that safe passage between Gaza and the outside world will remain free and open.
SS FREE GAZA & SS LIBERTY ON INTERNATIONAL WATERS ON WAY TO CYPRUS
(snip)
We were able to speak with Paul Larudee on the SS Liberty just a few minutes ago:
“We’re a little over an hour into our return trip to Cyprus and, unlike when we came in, there are several Israeli naval vessels in sight. We seem to be the focus of their activity, the center of their attention so to speak. However they’re keeping a careful distance, not really approaching us. We expect to reach the twelve-mile limit around 7 PM this evening, and then cross over into international waters.
“When we arrived in Gaza last Saturday, it was the first time in forty-one years that anyone has freely entered Gaza. But our leaving is in a way even more significant. Last Saturday, two of our Palestinian members came into Gaza on these boats. Today, seven more Palestinians are leaving with them. They got exit stamps from the Palestinian government, they boarded the ships, and soon they’ll be in international waters, and then in Cyprus. This is the first time, ever, that Palestinians have been able to freely enter and leave their own country. It’s an incredible step forward, and a sign of greater things to come.”–Paul Larudee, aboard the SS Liberty, freely leaving Gaza.
In other news about the Free Gaza effort from Scotland, an MSP congratulates Gaza blockade-breakers and urges charges against activist to be dropped.
That activist is Jeff Halper, founder of the Israel Committee Against House Demolition, who was arrested by Israeli authorities for entering Gaza illegally.
From Dr R. Eric Swanepoel
Office Manager/Researcher for Dr Bill Wilson MSPDr Bill Wilson, SNP, MSP for the West of Scotland, today announced that he had lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament congratulating activists aboard SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty who have just broken the Israeli blockade of Gaza. He also confirmed that he had faxed the Israeli government to demand that charges against one of the activists who broke the blockade, an Israeli citizen, be dropped.
Commenting, Dr Wilson said, “My motion is self-explanatory, as are the letters I wrote to Ms Tzipi Livni, the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Meir Shitreet, the Israeli Minister of Interior, Mr Ehud Barak, the Israeli Minister of Defence and Mr Menachem Mazuz, the Israeli Attorney General.
“All I can add to the letters and the motion is to express the hopes that my fellow MSPs will support my motion and send a clear signal to Israel that it should respect human rights and change its counterproductive and provocative policies. This would, I believe, be in the long-term interests of Israelis as much as anyone else.
The Free Gaza Movement is not over by any means, and the return of the Free Gaza boats is not a retreat. It is just the end of the beginning.
For more information about the Free Gaza movement,
Contact:(Gaza) Paul Larudee: +972 598 765 370(Gaza)
Huwaida Arraf: +972 599 130 426(Cyprus)
Osama Qashoo: +357 97 793 595 / osamaqashoo@gmail.com(Jerusalem)
Angela Godfrey-Goldstein: +972 547 366 393 / angela@icahd.org(GAZA CITY, 28 August 2008)