In late June the Irish Ship to Gaza will set sail along with a dozen or so other ships from across the globe as part of Freedom Flotilla 2. The Flotilla is an international effort to undermine the stranglehold that the Israeli state continues to force upon the 1.5 million Palestinian people that reside in Gaza.
People Before Profit Councillor Hugh Lewis will be one of 25 passengers sailing on the Irish ship the ‘Saoirse’. The ship will carry passengers from many different political and cultural backgrounds and represents the deep solidarity that Irish people have for the people of Gaza and the suffering of the Palestinians. Israel’s blockade of the Strip has grown increasingly stringent since Hamas won the Palestinian Legislative Council elections in January 2006. Fuel, electricity, imports, exports and the movement of people in and out of the Strip have been choked off, leading to life-threatening problems of sanitation, health, water supply and transportation.
The blockade has subjected many to unemployment, penury and malnutrition. This amounts to collective punishment of a civilian population for exercising its democratic rights. The 1.5 million people of Gaza are being punished because they voted for the wrong political party in 2006. Therefore they are prisoners of conscience.
The people of Gaza have called on the peoples and governments of the world to challenge an illegal, immoral, and irrational Israeli naval blockade that has caused, and continues to cause, incalculable human suffering. The Flotilla is responding to that call. The primary aim is to overcome the continuing siege of Gaza through civil resistance and non-violent direct action, and to establish a permanent sea lane between Gaza and the rest of the world.
The Flotilla will carry urgent humanitarian supplies that are needed in Gaza, such as medicine and building equipment that are currently banned by the state of Israel. The 25 passengers on the Irish ship will sail along with 1000 concerned citizens in ships from countries such as the USA, France, Canada, Italy, Spain and many more.
Speaking today Cllr. Hugh Lewis said:
“This is a hugely important effort to break the disgusting and illegal blockade of Gaza and I am eager to express my solidarity with its 1.5 million people that effectively live in the world’s largest open prison. We can remember the events on the Turkish ship last year, the ‘Mavi Marmara’ which was attacked by the Israeli Navy resulting in a demonstration of the level of brutality of the Israeli state and resulted in the deaths of nine activists at sea. We know the worlds eyes will be watching Israel and demanding a safe voyage for the passengers and supplies of the Flotilla 2 and we remain resolute that we will not be intimidated the threat of Israeli violence.”
“The recent democratic revolutions across the Middle East have given confidence to those oppressed in the region, we hope to bring this spirit with us and carry with us the huge support that the people of Palestine have in the face of constant Israeli aggression and effective apartheid that has attempted to dehumanise the Palestinians since the inception of the state of Israel..”
“The average age in Gaza is 17, it has over 45% unemployment and its people and economy have been strangled by Israel in an effort to dehumanise its 1.4 million inhabitants. This situation cannot be allowed to continue; disgracefully the international political community refuses to punish Israel for its illegal actions and force it to change policy. We represent those that are in the majority that want to see an end this apartheid system.”