Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 12 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
General News   

Dignité on the last leg of voyage to Gaza

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   1 comment
Message Press Release
[SEE UPDATE BELOW]

For Immediate Release

Dignità © on the last leg of voyage to Gaza: Small French ship carrying message that cannot be silenced

[ATHENS] The Steering Committee of Freedom Flotilla II: Stay Human can confirm, that after anchoring in international waters overnight, the French-flagged ship Dignità © / Karama has commenced the last leg of its voyage to Gaza. We wish all on board well and remind Israel to refrain from interfering with our vessel as it makes its way through the illegal and immoral sea blockade it has imposed on the Gaza Strip.

It is in large part because the Dignità © commenced its voyage from a French port and the French government refused to interfere with this civilian human rights initiative that the ship continues its mission. The Dignità © and its passengers -- from France, Canada, Greece, Sweden, and Tunisa -- represent a flotilla that was delayed by acts of sabotage and by an egregious act of complicity by the Greek government with Israel's human rights violations and policy towards Gaza that the International Committee of the Red Cross determined to be "collective punishment." But they also represent the steadfastness and determination of the flotilla movement to sail until the blockade is broken. The idea that Freedom Flotilla II could be stopped misunderstands the nature of this non-violent movement and its strength of purpose.

Despite most of the ships being unable to leave Greek ports, the flotilla nonetheless managed to highlight the vicious nature of Israel's policy towards Gaza. Israeli leaders showed their willingness to use intimidation, lies, economic blackmail, threats of violence, and sabotage to stop boats that Israeli military officials admitted would not be carrying weapons. This clearly demonstrates that Israel's blockade of Gaza is not based on "security", but is meant to punish the Palestinian people, denying their freedom and keeping them cut off from the rest of the world.

Israel believes itself untouchable and continues its affront to humanity as a result of the international community's failure to take tangible measures to defend Palestinian human rights. Indeed, as we have seen recently in Greece, some significant players -- including the EU and the US -- are even directly complicit in Israel's crimes. This is why international civil society has mobilized to take direct action.

We cannot predict how Israel will behave as the Dignità © approaches Gaza but we can say that -- just as Israeli threats and violence have failed in the past to deter non-violent global solidarity with the people of Palestine -- those on board this small French ship intend to reach their destination. The Dignità © carries a message of solidarity and human empathy from the people of the world to the people of Gaza, and all of Palestine, that Israel's violence can never silence.

While the Dignità © continues to sail to Gaza, proving that the will of global civil society cannot be intimidated, the remaining ships in Freedom Flotilla II: Stay Human are regrouping to fulfill our obligations to the besieged people of Gaza and to the hundreds of thousands of ordinary people around the world who funded and organized this act of solidarity.

As long as the illegal blockade of Gaza remains in place, ships will sail to confront it; as long as Israel continues its occupation, colonization, and violent repression of Palestinians and our governments are silent about it, the global solidarity movement will mobilize to challenge it directly.

History shows that Israel is running out of options; we are only getting stronger.

For more information:

Huwaida Arraf (US): +1-202-294-8813

Alex Harrison (London): +44-759-485-7448

Angela Godfrey-Goldstein (Jerusalem): +972-547-366-393

[UPDATE 19 July 2011, 12:00 CST]

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Must Read 1   Touching 1   Valuable 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Press Release Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

"March Against Monsanto" Planned for Over 30 Countries

Idle No More-- The Indigenous People's Revolution Begins

Statement of 911 Widows In Response to 12/25 Terror Attempt

Bernie Sanders Blocks Bernanke Confirmation... With Bi-Partisan Support

Bush and Associates Found Guilty of Torture

Family Farmers Amplify Legal Complaint Against Monsanto's GMOs

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend