18/08/2010 A ship bearing aid for Gaza is preparing to leave Tripoli in Lebanon this weekend in the latest attempt to defy the Israeli blockade – with only women on board.
The Mariam and its sister ship, Naji Al-li, had hoped to set off several weeks ago but faced several delays after Israel launched a diplomatic mission to pressure Lebanon to stop the mission.
Israel says it is concerned a flotilla from Lebanon, with whom it has ongoing hostility, will smuggle weapons to Gaza. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev, has warned that Israel reserves the right to use "necessary measures" in line with international law to stop the ship.
But al-Haj says the mission is purely humanitarian. "Our goal is to arrive in Gaza," she said. "It is the responsibility of the government to deal with the politics. We are not political."
She said that once news of the flotilla was out organizers were inundated with requests to join the voyage, with more than 400 from the US alone. At least 10 Americans will be on board.
The boat has been stocked with medical instruments and medicines to take to the Palestinians.
In preparation for the voyage the participants gathered at a hotel in Beirut to discuss their plans. The logistics are many: minimal grooming, strict food rationing, and limited water supply. "There will be no showers, no skirts and no makeup," al-Haj told the group.
The participants are aware of the dangers, having followed the fate of another flotilla carrying aid for Gaza that was attacked by Israel in May.
Israeli forces landed on the Mavi Marmara, a Turkish vessel, killing nine activists on board. Al-Haj reminded the women to be prepared for a confrontation. "Have blood tests in case we come under attack from Israel and you need a blood transfusion," she said. She added that organizers were going out of their way not to provoke Israel.
"We will not even bring cooking knives," she said.
Meanwhile, Former British MP and author George Galloway pointed out in an article published in the British daily newspaper "the Morning Star" that the "Viva Palestina" convoy will be taking off to the besieged Gaza Strip on September 18.
"It will leave in three coordinated legs to deliver aid to Gaza from London, Casablanca (Morocco) and Doha (Qatar). It aims to sustain the momentum to lift the siege on Gaza, now condemned by the EU, UN, many governments and every major international aid agency," Galloway said in his article.
Former MP praised British Prime Minister David Cameron's speech in Turkey where the latter regarded Gaza as a "prison camp".
Galloway considered Cameron's speech an indication of how isolated "Israel" has become in its illegal siege on the people of Gaza.
"The point for all friends of Palestine is surely this - we are at a moment when pressure can be brought to bear as never before to frustrate "Israel's" moves to crush the Palestinians," he added, pointing out, "So the Viva Palestina convoy heading off on September 18 comes at a crucial point."
Furthermore, Galloway considered, "The direct challenge to this criminal policy is also generating a far wider base of support for isolating "Israel" in the way that apartheid South Africa was isolated."
He indicated, "There will be further initiatives this autumn, building on the work done by established campaigns, trade unions, churches, mosques and others."
Viva Palestina, is a "global lifeline to Gaza", founded by British MP George Galloway, and had already succeeded, after loads of "Israeli" assaults, in entering Gaza earlier in January, delivering some few aids to the Gazans.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
No comments:
Post a Comment