The Freedom Flotilla wants to break the blockade and introduce humanitarian aid into Gaza
- The Freedom Flotilla is made up of dozens of world organisations and its aim is to break the blockade of Israel to Gaza since 2007. After last October this blockade has increased dramatically, and in the coming days this fleet will try to reach Gaza.
Turkey welcomes the fleet participants and in the coming days they will leave Gaza from Istanbul. The expedition is based on a cargo ship carrying 350 containers and 5,500 tonnes of humanitarian aid, which will help three other vessels to ensure their arrival in Gaza. Hundreds of people from all over the world will go to these boats, such as those dedicated to the observation of human rights, doctors, politicians or journalists.
From Euskal Herria, people will also split in the fleet, along with others from the Spanish state. Departure from Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao. It has been known that among them will be the former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, or the general secretary of Podemos, Martina Velarde, Andalusia.
Heading to Gaza (Gazara Bidean) is an initiative of the Spanish State. In the Spanish Congress they met with representatives of different political forces – Sumar, Podemos, ERC, Junts, EH Bildu and BNG – to request that the Spanish Government support the fleet.
The Freedom Flotilla has denounced that Israel is using hunger as a weapon and that hunger has spread throughout the territory. Israel is preventing the work of UNRWA to help refugees in Palestine and there are major problems in getting human aid into Gaza. The international fleet will therefore seek to bring this aid to Gaza.
In 2010, the Freedom Fleet and the Israeli Army followed such an attempt by attacking with grave consequences: they killed ten people and wounded more than 30. In 2015, three sailboats tried to reach Gaza, but the Israeli army boarded the ships and stopped the effort. On this Rumbo a Gaza website you can see the attempts of the Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza for several years.
Istanbul. 27 April, Saturday.
Ninth day in Istanbul. The Freedom Flotilla is hit another hard blow. The flag and documentation of Guinea-Bissau have been taken from the Akdeniz, so it has no permit to embark. For the time being, the initiative has been suspended and all... [+]
Istanbul. Thursday, 25 April.
Seventh day in Istanbul. The problems have been going on these days, and we have to say that the Freedom Flotilla will not be able to depart on Friday. We'll leave, but not now. We are under enormous pressure. The US, Germany, the UK and, of course,... [+]
Istanbul, Monday, 22 April.
Fourth day in Istanbul, waiting for the Freedom Flotilla to come out. The expected departure of yesterday, by 21, has had to be delayed due to problems with the smell of Israel. Instead of launching the boats, we are demonstrating in Istanbul to... [+]
Istanbul, Saturday, 20 April.
Yesterday, day 19, was quiet and we had meetings with people from different parts of the State and international delegations. The organization has explained that they have received 12,000 requests to participate in the fleet, but it will involve... [+]
Although the occupation of the whole of Palestine and the blockade of Gaza have been growing for decades, it was difficult to imagine a few months ago the size of the attacks on the Palestinian population to become genocide.
Since October, day by day, month by month, we have... [+]