13 COUNTRIES TO SEND CONVOY TO BREAK SIEGE ON GAZA

Ankara, 17 Shawwal 1435/13 August 2014 (MINA) – Turkish human rights organisations and activists from 12 countries announced their intention to send a fleet to challenge the blockade imposed by Israeli occupation regime on the Gaza Strip, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting, Wednesday.

The organisations involved in the fleet did not specify the date it would set sail but the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH), which launched the Mavi Marmara in 2010, said in a statement that the “coalition” including activists from 12 countries who gathered in Istanbul during the week and discussed sending a fleet to break the blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The statement added: “Freedom Flotilla Coalition decided that in light of the complicity of government in Israel’s occupation regime crimes, the civil society should take responsibility for challenging the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.”

The Freedom Flotilla, which was launched in May 2010 to provide humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, was attacked by Israeli occupation regime forces. Forces took control of the Mavi Marmara and killed 10 Turkish activists aboard ship. This incident is still hampering the normalisation of relations between Israeli occupation regime and Turkey.

Gaza Freedom Flotilla I

The Gaza Freedom Flotilla I, organized by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief (İHH), was carrying humanitarian aid and construction materials, with the intention of breaking the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the Gaza Strip. In normal circumstances, aid is brought to Israel to be inspected and then transferred to Gaza.

On 31 May 2010, Israeli occupation regime forces boarded the ships from speedboats and helicopters and killed nine activists (see Gaza flotilla raid). Widespread international condemnation of and reaction to the raid followed, Israel–Turkey relations were strained, and Israel subsequently eased its blockade on the Gaza Strip.

The flotilla was the Free Gaza Movement’s ninth attempt to break the naval blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip. Israel proposed inspecting the cargo at the Port of Ashdod and then delivering non-blockaded goods through land crossings, but this proposal was turned down. Israeli forces then raided and seized the Gaza-bound ships in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Five shipments had been allowed through prior to the 2008–09 Gaza War, but all shipments following the war were blocked by Israel. This flotilla was the largest to date. An Islamic aid group from Turkey, the İHH (İnsani Yardım Vakfı) (Foundation for Human Rights and Freedoms and Humanitarian Relief) sponsored a large passenger ship and two cargo ships.

While one U.N report found Israel’s blockade of Gaza to be legal,[9][10] another set of U.N. experts, reporting to the Human Rights Council, came to the opposite conclusion finding that it violated international law.

Gaza Freedom Flotilla II

“Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human”[1] was a flotilla that planned to break the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel by sailing to Gaza on 5 July 2011. Ultimately, the sailing did not take place.

The flotilla was organized by a coalition of 22 NGOs. Its name refers to the May 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Their stated goal was to end the blockade of Gaza “completely and permanently”. Initially, 10 ships, with 1,000 activists[4] were set to sail for Gaza, but by 28 June 2011, the number of expected participants had decreased to fewer than 300, plus a few dozen journalists, and by 7 July all but a few dozen activists had returned home.

The flotilla was publicly opposed by the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Canada, the Middle East Quartet (consisting of the European Union, Russia, the United Nations, and the United States), and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. It was publicly supported by Hamas.

Activists on two ships, one in Greece and one in Turkey, found similar damage to their propeller shafts, and claimed that the ships had been sabotaged by Israel. It was reported that the investigation by Turkish authorities on one of the ships determined that there may have been no sabotage at all, and that any damage happened before the boat arrived in Turkey, but these media reports appeared prior to the formal investigation beginning and the Turkish coastguard enquiry has yet to announce its findings. The media reports were disputed by Irish Ship to Gaza, the owner of the vessel.

Greece forbade the vessels from leaving its ports, citing safety concerns, but offered to instead send any humanitarian aid to Gaza in its own vessels, under United Nations supervision. Greece’s offer was supported by Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the United Nations, but rejected by the flotilla activists.

Subsequently, two flotilla ships, the Audacity of Hope and Tahrir, disobeyed Greece’s orders. They were intercepted by the Greek coast guard, brought back to shore, and a few activists were arrested. Activists responded by occupying the Spanish embassy in Athens.

Only the French ship Dignité Al Karama managed to approach Gaza. They advised the Greek authorities that their destination was the Egyptian port of Alexandria, and then turned toward Gaza. On 19 July, the ship was intercepted and boarded without incident by Israeli commandos and escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod. (T/E01/IR)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)