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Ankara- A caravan was born Freedom Flotilla As a humanitarian initiative that carried on its shoulders the dreams of millions of people besieged in Gaza StripIts first voyage began in 2010, coordinated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which brought together activists from all over the world, united by a desire to break the restrictions of the unjust siege imposed by the Israeli occupation on the Strip since 2007.
The fleet consisted of small ships loaded with great hopes, led by activists of different nationalities and 14 civil and humanitarian organizations around the world, determined to reach the shores of Gaza despite all the difficulties.
Over the years, 6 convoys have set out, the most famous of which was the first Freedom Flotilla in 2010, led by the ship “There is no Marmara“, which witnessed an Israeli attack that resulted in the killing of 9 activists and the injury of dozens.
On April 25, the Freedom Flotilla was about to launch its latest campaign after it was postponed the previous year, while the international coalition had completed all the necessary legal preparations, and made the sixth version of the flotilla ready to sail towards Gaza, loaded with hope and humanitarian aid.
But as the launch date approached, the campaign faced an unexpected challenge after the declaration of the Republic. Guinea Bissauwhich had previously agreed to fly its flag on ships, has withdrawn.
Zaher Birawi, head of the International Committee to Break the Siege and a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, told Al Jazeera Net that the Sixth Fleet, which included at least three ships carrying 5,000 tons of food, drinking water and medical aid, faced a series of obstacles and pressures from the governments the fleet was to pass through, which prompted the organising committee to postpone its departure.
The flotilla's organizing body indicated that the occupation authorities exerted pressure on the Republic of Guinea-Bissau to withdraw its flag from the main ship, which resulted in delaying the flotilla's departure by one day from the scheduled date, after more than 280 activists from 30 countries had prepared to sail on board.
What did the fleet achieve?
Although the Freedom Flotilla has not yet succeeded in achieving its primary goal of breaking the siege on Gaza, its impact has been profound internationally. It has succeeded in drawing the world’s attention to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and has made the issue of the siege a focus of international media attention.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, activist Koeva Butterly, who participated in the Freedom Flotilla, stressed that the flotilla represents part of a global uprising that includes millions of people who refuse to be complicit or silent about the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Butterly explained that the flotilla carries on its journey feelings of sadness and testimonies of people from all over the world, noting that the aim of this movement is to shed light on the mass killing of Palestinian children and the daily massacres to which they are subjected, which she described as “systematic and unprecedented in their scale.”
“As members of civil society, solidarity activists, doctors and humanitarian workers, we are trying to uphold international law at a time of total impunity,” Butterly added. “When governments fail to do their duty, it is our duty as the people to lead the way, to show that the Palestinian people are not alone in their long and painful march to freedom.”
She concluded by saying, “Whether we succeed in breaking the siege or not, the Hanthala ship remains a symbol of love, responsibility and solidarity, and a confirmation that the children of Gaza are all our children.”
The ship “Hanthala” docked last week in Malta…in preparation for sailing towards the shores of the Gaza Strip, in a move that reflects the coalition’s determination to move forward towards achieving its goal. The ship stands out as a symbol of the coalition’s commitment to breaking the siege on the Palestinian people, and confirms their determination to convey their message to the world not to retreat until this goal is achieved.
Zaher Birawi describes the Hanthala ship as small in size, but it carries a big message aiming to break the siege on the Gaza Strip. He explained that the ship has 13 activists on board, while the accompanying volunteers change in each country due to the small size of the ship.
The most prominent obstacles
Birawi identifies the most prominent challenges facing the Hanthala ship in the dangers related to the Israeli occupation, and the possibility of being attacked by Israeli forces, as happened in previous trips, in addition to the complex financial, technical, logistical and political challenges facing the trip.
He pointed out that the organizers have alternative plans to deal with these obstacles, stressing that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which enjoys the support of dozens of solidarity organizations, relies on the legal approach and commitment to ensuring the safety of the participants. Therefore, efforts are always seeking to organize matters in accordance with international law and maritime laws.
Speaking to Al Jazeera Net, human rights activist Howayda Arraf expressed her deep resentment at the ongoing pressures exerted by some governments on the Freedom Flotilla, which has obstructed its sailing instead of facilitating its humanitarian mission.
Arraf explained that these pressures are not just passing obstacles, but rather organized attempts to disrupt the efforts of activists seeking to break the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
Despite all the challenges, Arraf stressed that the activists are determined not to surrender to these pressures, whether from Israel or any other party, noting that their lofty goal of lifting the siege on Gaza will not be easily dissuaded. She stressed that their determination is strong and that they will continue the struggle until their humanitarian mission is achieved.
In an urgent message to the Arab and international peoples, Arraf called for practical steps to pressure the Israeli government to stop its ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people. She issued a serious warning that continued silence on these violations will not only lead to the deterioration of the situation in Palestine, but will also open the door to the spread of these crimes to other parts of the world.
