Free Gaza Boats to break Siege
A couple of days ago, after weeks of preparations and delays, two small boats (the USS Liberty and Free Gaza) set sail from the port of Larnaca, Cyprus for the Gaza Strip. The initiative is an attempt by the international Free Gaza movement to break the crippling siege imposed by Israel and Egypt on the Gaza Strip and its 1.5 million men, women and children for the last year and two months.
On board are 44 international human rights activists and volunteers, including an 84 year old Holocaust survivor, Tony Blair’s sister in law, doctors, professors and other activists. The volunteers are bringing with them medicines and several hundred hearing aids-the entry of both of which into Gaza is severely impeded or banned by the Israeli authorities.
For the last few days, the Israeli government has been threatening to use force to stop the boats from reaching the Strip, predictably accusing the human rights activists of supporting terror. Even though the boats would travel out of Cypriot waters, into international waters and straight into Gaza’s waters, the Israeli military and government claimed they had the right to block the passage of the volunteers. Remember, Israel Left Gaza Two Years Ago™.
I met with one of the organizers the night before she flew out to Cyprus to prepare for the voyage. She told me everyone involved was aware that the Israeli’s may attack them, board the boats and arrest them, or hold them at sea for days on end. They were prepared to take the risks, daring to hope that if their mission succeeded, it would be the first of many such popular initiatives to break the siege.
Shortly after the boats set sail, the communication equipment was jammed for several hours. Those on board elected to keep going, and with Israel continuing to threaten the volunteers, the boats reached Gaza’s territorial waters. In a comedic show of the Israeli government’s inane arrogance, Prime Minister Olmert, Foreign Secretary Livni and Terrorist Barak convened to discuss the imminent threat to Israel’s security. Eventually, they bit the bullet and allowed the two small boats with 40 human rights activists and a few hearing aids to pass through.
*UPDATE: Its 6:10 in Palestine and the USS Liberty and Free Gaza have just docked in Gaza City’s port. Apart from when Palestinians knocked down the border wall in Rafah this past January, this is the first time the siege on Gaza has been broken. Full update later.
