Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire Sets Sail For Gaza

by Justin Morahan Wed Jun 24, 2009 01:33

Mairead

My warmest congratulations to you on your courage in going again to Gaza. On a previous visit to Palestine, you were violated, shot and gassed by Israeli soldiers in Bil'in as you protested against the continued confiscation of land through the building of the Wall there.

Sadly the Israeli violence continues. Each Friday the protestors are gassed, shot at, several wounded. Last night, the village of Bil'in was raided under the cover of darkness and two young boys were kidnapped by Israeli soldiers at 4 a.m.

The recent Israeli massacre in Gaza over the December/January period is still fresh in all our minds.

You and your co-voyagers are our ambassadors to that besieged people. You are our voice.

My best wishes go with you for a safe and successful voyage and delivery of hope, justice, love and practical help to the people of Gaza.

Go raibh maith agat agus Slan abhaile

by Irish Person in Israel Thu Jun 25, 2009 15:02

One thing I have to say, and I am sure people are going to go mad at me for saying, but I just want to say it anyway.

When Israel gave Gaza back to the people there they had a fantastic opportunity to built a life for themselves. They had hospitals, buildings, roads, infrastructure and lots more - but instead they fired bombs constantly into Israel.

One friend of mine told me he was constantly living in fear in Be'er Sheva, his University almost never able to function due to bombs every week. Another friend of mine's mother lives in Ashqelon and I've seen the devastation from routine bombs there earlier this week.

I was in Bethlehem in the West Bank yesterday and I read a notice board in the main square entitled "A tourist's guide to the occupation of Israel" - a Catholic Priest was with me and pointed out how on every single story there was nothing about what had caused the attacks, this priest has lived for 11 years here and in that time said that while what Israel has done is not OK there are reasons for it and very rarely are those reasons put out in public. He described also a scene where Israel blew up a Mosque where bombs were stored - not exactly a saintly story! On the other hand he said that Israel started calling strikes after religious stories which was very dangerous as gave it a religious meaning when it clearly has nothing to do with religion.

He made another point and that was that since the wall was put up there have been NO more attacks on Jerusalem, so it has worked. Yet at the same time he also said that he felt the problem was the people weren't mixing! And I have had that experience - there seems to be a fear of Islam here that is equal to the fear of Travelers in Ireland if not worse.

Up to now I only ever saw the Palestinian side as in Ireland I don't think I have ever heard a balanced argument. I have to say that up to now I was completely on the Palestinian side but after getting the full story and seeing what the Palestinians have been doing in Gaza to Israel I have to say I have changed sides as it is hard to have respect for them if they wasted this great opportunity to build themselves up in Gaza.

I know this might make you angry but please put anger aside and let me know what I am missing if I am wrong about this....

by Justin Morahan Thu Jun 25, 2009 17:17

I understand that the boat may now not leave Larnaca for a day or two.

by Justin Morahan Fri Jun 26, 2009 01:05

The following letter has been sent by the Free gaza Movement to the Israeli Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs warning Israel not to interfere with this humanitarian mission. A copy has also been sent to the embassies of all the civilians who are on board, including the Irish Embassy.

"June 24, 2009
To: The Israeli Ministry of Defense, Fax: 972-3-697-6717
To: The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fax: 972-2-5303367
From: The Free Gaza Movement

This letter serves as a formal notification to you, as the Occupying Power and belligerent force in the Gaza Strip, that on Thursday, June 25, 2009 we are navigating the motor vessel Spirit of Humanity, and the motor vessel Free Gaza from the Port of Larnaca to the port of Gaza City.

Our vessels will be flying the Greek flags, and, as such, fall under the jurisdiction of Greece.

We will be sailing from Cypriot waters into international waters, then directly into the territorial waters of the Gaza Strip without entering or nearing Israeli territorial waters.

We will be carrying medical supplies in sealed boxes, as well as crayons, coloring books and toys for children, cleared by customs at the Larnaca International Airport and the Port of Larnaca. We will also be carrying 300 bags of cement delivered directly from the supplier to the Port of
Larnaca. There will be passengers and crew on board from 14 different countries. Our boats and cargo will have received security clearance from the Port Authorities in Cyprus before we depart.

As it will be confirmed that neither we, the cargo, any of the boats' contents, nor the boats themselves constitute any threat to the security of Israel or its armed forces, we do not expect any interference with our voyage by Israel's authorities.

On Tuesday, December 30, an Israeli Navy vessel violently, and without warning, attacked our motor vessel Dignity, disabling the vessel and endangering the lives of the 16 civilians on board. This notice serves as clear notification to you of our approach. Any attack on the motor
vessels, Spirit of Humanity and/or Free Gaza will be premeditated and anyharm inflicted on the people on board will be considered the result of a deliberate attack on unarmed civilians.

A copy of this notification has been sent to the embassies of the civilians who will be on board.

For More Information, Please Contact: Greta Berlin, +357 96 471 263 or
Ramzi Kysia, +357 99 081 767
www.FreeGaza.org"

by Mark Chapman - Siege Busters Tue Jun 30, 2009 14:43

Report from ynet... http://tinyurl.com/kodaml

Israeli Navy takes control of aid boat headed for Gaza

Small ferry carrying medical supplies that set sail from Cyprus Monday with 21 peace activists, medical supplies intercepted off Strip's shore; passengers say army jammed boat's radio signals
Ali Waked, Anat Shalev

At around noon Tuesday the Israeli Navy intercepted and took control of a boat that had set sail for the Gaza Strip with three tons of medical supplies, Palestinian sources said, adding that the Navy jammed the boat's radio signals.

The IDF Spokesperson's Office confirmed the report. Israeli military sources said there was no violence after the small ferry, sailing from Cyprus with activists from the US-based Free Gaza Movement, was intercepted off Gaza.

Earlier Tuesday, "Free Gaza" founder Greta Berlin told Ynet that at around 11:00 am six Navy vessels approached the boat and ordered it to stop some 50 kilometers off Gaza's coastline. Despite the order, the boat continued to sail towards the Hamas-ruled territory, said Berlin, who is currently in Cyprus.

Berlin said that the communication with the boat had been disrupted from 1:40-6:00 am, adding that its GPS and navigation systems had been blocked by the Navy, forcing the crew to navigate with the use of a compass alone.

The boat is also carrying 21 peace activists, including former US Congresswoman Cynthia Ann McKinney (D-GA) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mairead Maguire.

Activist Luvana Masarwa, a 30-year-old east Jerusalem resident, said Monday that passengers "are excited about the possibility of contributing to breaking the siege."

"We want to show the Palestinian people in Gaza that they are not alone, and call on the international community to take a more active role in resolving the situation," she said.

Reuters contributed to the report