Volume [4]
No. [2]
July 2007
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Volume [4]
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No. [2]
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July 2007
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Setting Sail to Break the Siege of GazaBy Paul Larudee, June 2007 |
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| Can unarmed civilians break the siege of Gaza
with a few sailing and fishing vessels? That’s the plan of the Free Gaza
Movement, a group of Palestinians, Israelis, Americans, Europeans, Africans,
and Asians. They include Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Buddhists. On board
will be clergy, celebrities, members of parliament, farmers, fishermen,
language teachers, piano technicians, and Nakba and Holocaust survivors. For forty years, Israel has controlled the lives of Palestinians in Gaza. Israel says Gaza is no longer occupied, yet it denies Palestinians access to jobs, travel, visitors, commerce, education, health, and medical care. It has made the Gaza Strip into a prison controlled by land, sea, and air. Israel forces Palestinians to live on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe. Food, people, medicine, and supplies often wait for weeks at the only three crossings, and often do not cross at all. Is it any wonder is that economic activity is negligible? | The small flotilla will travel to Gaza at
the invitation of Palestinian non-governmental organizations. It will
enter Gaza territory directly from international waters and not travel
through Israeli territory nor seek Israeli permission to enter. If impeded,
it will nonviolently challenge Israel’s blockade through civil resistance.
The voyage is expected to take place in September. ISM endorses this movement, and the Northern California ISM group has
supported its expenses to the extent that we can. However, much more is
needed. While ISM still needs your support, therefore, we also encourage
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