Freedom Flotilla to Gaza Leaving Tomorrow with Australian Chris Graham on Board

18 July 2018

Tomorrow (19 July), four boats from the ‘Right to a Just Future for Palestine’ Freedom Flotilla Coalition are scheduled to leave Palermo, Sicily, to break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza, and to assert the Palestinian people’s right to freedom of movement and their right to a just future. As we mark 100 years since the birth of Nelson Mandela, we recall his words on his release from prison in 1990: “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

As always, our boats carry representatives from across the world and messages of love and solidarity for those living under the inhumane, decade-old blockade – the collective punishment on the civilian Palestinian population of Gaza. Given the dire situation in Palestinian hospitals, we are also transporting some urgently needed medical supplies (#Gauze4Gaza).

This need is even more critical given the thousands of people severely wounded by Israeli snipers and tear gas in the past few months during the Great March of Return protests (see 10 July UN report on serious injuries).

Chris said: “I’m obviously anxious about the response of the Israeli Government to the flotilla – they killed 10 members of a Flotilla in 2010 during a raid on the Mavi Marmara. But I’m also mindful that the Israeli Government’s campaign of misinformation and intimidation of journalists and media organisations has been effective in reducing scrutiny of its actions.”