The SS Dignity is shown being prepared for the previous and second voyage to break the Gaza siege.
Just reported by the Free Gaza Movement, at 5:00 pm today, November 7, 2008, the SS DIGNITY will leave again for the shores of Gaza from Larnaca, Cypress. On this trip, eleven past and current members of the parliaments of Europe are on board, along with Al Jazeera International and The Independent journalists.
As indicated by the Free Gaza Movement,
These dignitaries were among the 53 Parliamentarians denied entrance by Egypt at the Rafah checkpoint. “Egypt did not allow us to enter Gaza via the Rafah terminal, but this will not stop us from visiting the area,” Lord Nazir Ahmad, head of the European delegates stated, “We will sail to Gaza, we are determined to break the siege”.
Ms Clare Short MP emphasized, “The Egyptian refusal to grant us access through Rafah Crossing is insulting to all of us, and Egypt should open the crossing now.”
They will be on a three-day fact finding tour organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the European Campaign to End the Siege as well as several of the organizations in Gaza, who have worked with the Free Gaza Movement on the past two voyages.
On the past trips, Israel has threatened to stop the DIGNITY, arrest its passengers and tow the boat to Israel. The government has been silent on its plans this time, perhaps out of respect for the dignitaries on the voyage. Members of the two organizations stress that the DIGNITY has no intention of going anywhere near Israeli waters but will enter Gaza through its own coastal waters.
The passenger list is available at the Free Gaza Movement website and includes dignitaries from the United States, Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Sudan, and Palestine.
Ahmed, Nazir (Lord) (Pakistan/UK), Andrews, Christopher (Ireland), Bartlett, Eva (Canada), Bolos, Nikolas (Ireland), Healey, Denis (UK), Elhag, Sami Moheildin Mohamed (Sudan), Graham, Derek (Ireland), McNeill, Pauline (Scotland), Morena, Fernando (Spain), Nacer, Mohamed (UK), O’Donnell, Hugh (Scotland, UK), ÓSnodaigh, Aengus (Ireland), Rossi, Fernando (Italy), Arraf, Huwaida (US), Sharp, Rob (UK), Schermerhorn, David (USA), Shoukri, Dr. Arafat (Palestine, UK), Short, Clare (UK), Thomas, Rhodri Glyn (Wales, UK), Tonge, Dr. Jenny (Baroness) (UK), White, Sandra (Scotland, UK), Zisyadis, Josef (Switzerland)
The movement to break the inhumane siege in Gaza is indeed an international effort.
UPDATE: Arrival
European parliamentarians’ “Dignity” boat docks in Gaza
GAZA, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) — A third voyage to challenge Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip successfully completed on Saturday morning as the “Dignity” ship docked in the harbor of the Hamas-ruled territory. Palestinian witnesses said the ship, which set off Friday from Cyprus, berthed at 9:30 a.m. (0730 GMT) in Gaza fishing port with a handful of Hamas officials and tens of Palestinians welcoming the delegation.
The yacht carries 11 journalists, human rights and peace activists in addition to 12 European parliamentarians whom Egypt barred from traveling to Gaza through its territories last month. Hamas authorities arranged a three-day program for the delegation to inspect the effects of the Israeli closure, especially on the healthcare system.
LINK here:
http://english.sina.com/world/2008/1108/197196.html
