Freedom Flotilla III: Signs of success and hope

The Freedom Flotilla III’s first phase began a month and a half ago when the ship, Marianne av Goteborg , set sail from Sweden. Yesterday’s events are not considered the beginning of the flotilla’s journey, but the first step of the second phase. It began with transporting three flotilla participants and three journalists to international waters in order to board the Marianne.

The next phase occurred yesterday afternoon. A number of flotilla participants were taken to a meeting point to board the ships taking part in the flotilla; they will reach the Gaza coast in the next few hours. This flotilla is a peaceful humanitarian and political mission aiming to break the siege on Gaza.

Zaher Birawi, Head of the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza and founding member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) said that the success of the initial phases so far are considered a great achievement that could not have been made without the determination of the participants and supporters of the flotilla across the world. It was also achieved through the spirit of teamwork and careful planning. “This gives us great hope that the remaining plans will go smoothly as well.”

Birawi added that the political atmosphere and the relationship between the Greek solidarity movement and campaign to break the siege on Gaza and the Greek government played an important role in facilitating this mission. This was not the case in 2011, when the previous right-wing government in Athens succumbed to Israeli pressures and prevented the ships from leaving.

With regards to the matter of the Israeli government granting the army permission to use weapons to prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza, Birawi said that this will reflect negatively on Israel and will further expose it as a terrorist state that does not adhere to international laws or agreements. He also stressed that this does not scare the participants; instead it makes them more determined to work hard and sacrifice not only for the sake of breaking the siege on Gaza, but ending the occupation and enabling the Palestinian people to restore their national rights and determine their destiny.

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