Free the Tahrir, free the flotilla, free Gaza

by Amelia Murphy-Beaudoin

Greece has declared its complicity in Israel’s siege on Gaza by physically blocking a flotilla from carrying vitally needed aid supplies to sail.

The Freedom Flotilla II is an international initiative with the goal of challenging the illegal blockade of Gaza.

The Canadian boat, aptly named the Tahrir (the Arabic word for liberation), attempted to sail on July 4 but was boarded by Greek marines, towed back to the port and rammed against the shore. Greek authorities are refusing to fix the damage caused to the boat. Their actions contradict international laws concerning freedom of navigation.

The US boat also made an attempt to sail from the port, but it was also boarded by marines and forced back to shore. The captain of the boat was arrested.

Greece crumbled under pressure from Israel, and media is speculating that Israel has promised to bail beleaguered Greece out of its economic crisis if it upholds the blockade of Gaza by blocking the flotilla.
The delegates on board the Tahrir include politicians; Jewish, Muslim and Christian Canadians; artists, peace and human rights activists.

Three activists on board were arrested—Sandra Ruch, owner of the boat who refused to surrender registration papers and was charged with “not stopping” the boat from leaving the port, and Michael Coleman and Soha Kneen for leading the boat’s escape from the port—guiding it out from their canoes.

All received a light suspended sentence and are on probation for three years.

The flotilla of ten boats is challenging the siege on Gaza and garnering international attention, shining a spotlight on Israel’s apartheid policies.

The Harper government is one of the staunchest allies of the state of Israel, and has been indifferent about security for the Canadians aboard the Tahrir. Last year, the Mavi Marmara flotilla attempted to break the siege, and Israeli soldiers attacked the boat killing nine unarmed activists onboard.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird warned against supporting the flotilla, suggesting that the provision of aid to Gaza was a “provocative” move. What is truly provocative is Harper’s government and its ongoing uncritical support for Israel’s occupation and human rights abuses.

As we go to press, activists continue with non-violent efforts to break the criminal blockade of Gaza and the flotillas, and Greek authorities continue to interfere with the aid vessels and the flotilla.

Despite sabotage of at least two vessels, bureaucratic obstacles, groundless allegations against the flotilla and the delegates, and manipulation and economic blackmail from the Israeli government, the Freedom Flotilla II is already a remarkable victory.

It has succeeded in bringing worldwide attention to the cruelty of colonialism and Israel’s illegal blockade.

Israel has lost the battle of hearts and minds, as the whole world observes its blatant oppression of 1.6 million Gazans, almost one million of which are UN-registered refugees.

One of the passengers interviewed on the US boat stated, “The fact of the matter is that we have already won. The international press is talking about the blockade and Gaza.

“The contradiction between the world of the Israeli military officials and the world in which the rest of us live is exposed for all to see.”

Creative actions such as the flotillas and the many land convoys highlight the inhumanity of Israel’s deadly apartheid policies against Palestine. These efforts to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza must continue.

For more information visit www.tahrir.ca and www.freegaza.org.