http://www.freegaza.org/index.html
ATHENS — A group of peace-loving people from 16 nationalities, including a 81-year-old Catholic nun and an 83-year-old Holocaust survivor, will attempt to sail into Gaza territorial waters next week in solidarity with the besieged people of the Palestinian territory.
“We want to open Gaza to unrestricted international access,” Paul Larudee, one of the campaign organizers, told a news conference in Athens on Tuesday, July 29.
The Free Gaza Movement has bought two wooden sailboats, the 21-meter Free Gaza and 18-meter Liberty, to sail from the Mediterranean island of Cyprus en route to Gaza.
The Greek-flagged boats will leave Cyprus on August 6 or 7 with a host of Israeli and international volunteers, including an 81-year-old Catholic nun, an 83-year-old Holocaust survivor and the sister-in-law of former British prime minister Tony Blair, on board.
“The boats will stop at Greek ports to receive supporters and there will be opportunities for the press and public figures to travel part of the way on board and to broadcast from aboard ship with the latest high-speed satellite data systems,” the group said on its website.
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Private boats were also invited to join the activists.
The organizers maintain the goal is to try and break the Israeli siege of the Palestinian territory, home to some 1.6 million people.
“Our primary reason is for human rights but we will also carry a small amount of aid - 100 hearing aids that will be given to Palestinian children,” said Greta Berlin.
Israel imposed an economic blockade on the Gaza Strip after Hamas was voted to power last year.
It has completely sealed off the coastal territory, including a naval siege, since Hamas took control of Gaza last June following clashes with rival Fatah.
Determined
The organizers have been in touch with Cypriot, Greek and Palestinian authorities about their plans.
“We have been in contact with the authorities in Greece, in Cyprus and with the Palestinians,” said Larudee.
“There is no reason to contact the Israeli authorities because we will not be using their territory,” he stressed.
“Israel says it’s pulled out its soldiers from Gaza so they should have no objection to us going there.”
Israel troops and settlers withdrew from Gaza in 2005 after decades of military occupation but Israel still controls Gaza’s airspace and the waters off its coast.
The organizers recognize that the Israeli authorities might not allow them to complete their humanitarian mission.
“If the ship is prevented from reaching Gaza we’ll stay for 10 days at sea.”
The activists have prepared publicity events, including the release of 5,000 balloons from the boats.
“Then we’ll go back to Cyprus and try again,” said Berlin.
“We are human rights watchers, we are not martyrs.
“Many of us have already been wounded by the Israelis: we’ve been beaten, we’ve been shot, we’ve been tear-gassed, yet we’re still prepared to go back.”
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