November 2011: Two boats sail out of Turkey quietly heading to Gaza: the Tahrir and the Saoirse. Once in international waters they announce their destination and their challenge to the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza. The two boats are attacked, boarded and seized by the Israeli Navy in international waters, just 45 nautical miles from Gaza. October 2012: After a four-month trip in solidarity with the people of Gaza and against the Israeli blockade imposed on the tiny coastal strip, a trip during which it spread awareness and gathered public support in numerous European ports, the sailing vessel Estelle is attacked, boarded and seized by the Israeli Navy. It too, was in international waters, in this case 38 nautical miles from the port of Gaza. Those two challenges to the blockade of Gaza by sea follow in the steps (or sails) of the Free Gaza pre-Cast-Lead missions in 2008, the 2010 Freedom Flotilla (known for the deadly Israeli attack on its lead vessel, the Mavi Marmara) and the 2011 second Freedom Flotilla which was sabotaged and blockaded in Greece. Although it is a continuation of those non-violent direct actions against the blockade, Gaza’s Ark is different.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 21:38:47 +0000
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