Gaza Siege Broken! Thousands Greet SS Liberty in Port!

ISRAELI MILITARY GUNBOAT RAMS UNARMED PALESTINIAN FISHING VESSEL

For More Information, Please Contact:
(Gaza) Donna Wallach, +972 59 883 6420 / cats4jazz@gmail.com
(Gaza) Andrew Muncie, +972 59 883 6309 / muncie88@hotmail.com

For photos of the damage, see:
http://www.flickr.com/pho...

(GAZA COASTAL WATERS) 10th September 2008 - An Israeli military gunboat rammed an unarmed Palestinian fishing vessel today at high speeds. The gunboat smashed through the upper hull of the fishing boat, careened over the top, and landed on the other side.

Extensive damage was caused by the impact to the fishing boat. The hull was badly damaged, and virtually the entire deck area, all the equipment in it, and the canopy above the deck were severely damaged. Unusually, all of the crew happened to be in the cabin or at the fore at the time. Had they been on deck they would have had little chance of survival.

Via a megaphone, the Israeli military aboard the gunboat then made the threat that: "When the internationals leave Gaza, you will all be made to pay."

Human rights observers from the International Solidarity Movement and from the Free Gaza Movement have recently been accompanying Gazan Fishermen during their work. The fishermen are constantly harassed, threatened and attacked by the State of Israel, in flagrant violation of international law and maritime law. Israel has been attempting to impose an illegal "no-go" area 6 miles off Gaza's coast through employment of lethal force against unarmed fishing boats. However, and this is not unusual, today's attack happened within the so-called "permitted" 6-mile area.

The ISM regards the project of accompanying unarmed Palestinian fishermen as a long term commitment. Some of the human rights observers currently undertaking this work are long-term volunteers who will be in Gaza for the indefinite future. More long-term volunteers are expected to bolster their number within the next few weeks.

Please TAKE ACTION and CALL:

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
tel: +972 2 530 3111
fax: +972 2 530 3367

Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations
tel: +1 212 499 5510
fax: +1 212 499 5515

DEMAND that Israel stop using deadly force to intimidate unarmed
Palestinian fishermen operating within Gaza's coastal waters!
###

On Saturday the 6th of September, human rights workers from the Free Gaza Movement and the International Solidarity Movement again accompanied Palestinian fishermen in Gaza. It was just 09:30 in the morning, and we were only 4 miles out to sea, having barely left Gaza's coastline behind, when the gunboat's heavy machine gun opened up, spraying the wake around our hull with bullets.

(Later that day)

Before long and the light began to fade. All in our fleet were heading back to Gaza City, dragging their nets for the last time that day. We waited eagerly in anticipation of Iftar and the time when we could break our fast. Two of the men had already begun preparing the Ramadan supper, frying fish and prawns from that day's catch. We gazed out across the sea, calculating how long it would be before the low sun finally met the horizon.

Suddenly another gunboat appeared with a definite menace apparent in its speed and course. Its cannon roared twice, the shells narrowly missing one of the leading boats, exploding in the water. Tracer bullets then pierced the dim light streaking across the sky just as the gunboat swerved again and went for another target. Its cannon roared a third time, and we tried to film, but the light was now so dim and the boat far away. But it mattered not. The fishermen insisted we stop, for the Ramadan supper was ready and their course was already set.

--Andrew Muncie, Free Gaza Movement, Gaza

http://freegaza.org/

Video of Israeli gunboats firing on Gaza Fisherman:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...

Read the article below to get your own Palestinian Pen Pal!

In August 2008 the Free Gaza Movement shattered the Israeli blockade of
the Gaza Strip by peacefully sailing from Cyprus to Gaza and back again.
It was the first time in over forty years that international ships docked
in Gaza Port, and the first time in over sixty years that Palestinians
freely entered and exited their own country.

On September 22nd the Free Gaza Movement will return to Gaza to
demonstrate that the sea lanes between Gaza and the rest of the world have been permanently opened, and we're going to take the mail with us!

Currently, all mail sent to Palestinians from abroad must first be
delivered to Israel. Mail is regularly blocked by Israel and prevented
from being delivered to the people of Gaza. We believe that the mail must
go through, so we're going to take it in ourselves.

The Free Gaza Movement is announcing two programs for delivering mail to Gaza: Family & Friends, and Letters from the World.

FAMILY & FRIENDS PROGRAM
If you have family or friends in Gaza and would like to send them a
letter, then please place the letter in an unsealed envelope, and address
the envelope in both Arabic and English. Place this envelope in a larger
envelope and mail it to:

Family & Friends Mail to Gaza
Free Gaza Movement
P.O. Box 5341
Beverly Hills, CA 90209-5341
USA

Please DO NOT send money, checks, packages, or valuable items. We CANNOT accept money, valuables, or packages - only letters.

LETTERS FROM THE WORLD PROGRAM
If you do not know anyone in Gaza, but would like to get to know someone, we want to help you try and find a pen pal. This program is available to people of all ages and from all places in the world. We would especially like to encourage schools to participate in the Letters from the World Program.

Place your letter in an unsealed envelope, and address the envelope to the type of person you would like it to be delivered to (for example: "For an
8-year-old girl," or "For a male high school student," "For a teacher,"
"For a fishermen," etc...). Please include your email address if possible.
Place the envelope in a larger envelope and mail it to:

Letters from the World
Free Gaza Movement
P.O. Box 5341
Beverly Hills, CA 90209-5341
USA

Please DO NOT send money, checks, packages, or valuable items. We CANNOT accept money, valuables, or packages - only letters.

We will do our best to deliver any letters sent to us, but we cannot
guarantee delivery.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.FreeGaza.org

ISRAELI NAVAL VESSELS FIRING ON UNARMED FISHING BOATS AND HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date : 09-01-2008

(OFF THE COAST OF GAZA) 1 September 2008 - Israeli Naval vessels are currently firing on unamrmed Palestinian fishing boats and international human rights workers off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The fishing boats are several miles off the coast of Gaza City, in Palestinian territorial waters. As of 11am (4am EST) no one had been injured, but live ammunition is still being fired in the direction of the civilian boats.
The unarmed boats went to sea at dawn this morning, in an attempt to fish in their own water. Six international human rights workers from five different countries accompanied the fishermen in the hopes that their presence would deter the Israeli military from firing on the fishermen. In the past the Israeli military has shot and killed unarmed Palestinian fishermen for trying to fish in their own waters.
Accompanying the fishermen are:
Vittorio Arrigoni, Italy
Georgios Karatzas, Greece
Adam Qvist, Denmark
Andrew Muncie, Scotland
Donna Wallach, USA

http://freegaza.org/index...

Vittorio Arrigoni's Account of the Israeli Shooting

Date : 09-01-2008

"When at a distance, estimated by our fishing boat’s captain, of 7 nautical miles from the coast, we dropped our fishing nets and started fishing the Israeli warships rushed to reach our position.
One of the warships positioned at a distance less than 200 metres alongside of our fishing boat, opened fire in our direction at least 4 times during the day. It was intimidating fire directed into the water, but some bursts almost touched the hull of our boat. A cannon shot almost reached us. Making attempt of obtaining a radio contact was useless. Soldiers on the Israeli warship ordered, with the use of megaphones, the area evacuation. And after that they were shooting. Sometimes they were shooting before having ordered. Once they shooted to our fishing nets and tried to damaged it sailing directly on them.
Unfortunetely our big mistake was not having with us neither cameras nor video cameras that, together with megaphones to be used exactly like they do, I consider essential for our next fishing missions.

Despite these intimidations the fishing was rich and profitable, we brought ashore quantity of fish ten times bigger than the usual Palestinians fishers standard."

01/09/2008

http://freegaza.org/index...

1. By Land

About 9 of our original international passengers stayed on in Gaza to do media and other work. Yesterday, British Journalist Lauren Booth and I attempted to exit via Eretz Crossing into Israel, accompanied by sick Palestinians needing specialty care not available in Gaza. The Israeli border guards threatened to shoot us, but we advanced slowly with our arms raised holding our passports up high; We advanced right through the tunnel right up to the iron gate, but the Israelis would not open it. The US and British Embassy's gave us the Royal runaround and would not help us.

So after a visit to Beit Hanoun to see the Al Athamna Family, who are still in a state of grief from the massacre of 19 members of their family by Israeli mortar shells 2 years ago, we headed back to Gaza City. So now we are waiting for the Egyptian authorities to let us out of Gaza through Rafah. They are under pressure from Israel to keep us trapped in here. Now I am getting a better appreciation of what it means to be a Palestinian from Gaza.

Bill Dienst, MD

2. By Sea

We arrived safely last night. The trip home was much less eventful than the trip to Gaza and much less emotional. On board my boat, the FREE GAZA, was a family of Palestinians who had not been let out of the concentration camp called "Gaza" for five years. The mother had given birth to her youngest son four years ago, and the family, living in Cyprus, had not seen him. The joy on the faces of Hana's family was worth waiting the extra half day to leave. We had to make sure that the Cypriot authorities would allow them in.

On board the LIBERTY was a 10-year-old boy whose leg had been shot off by the Israeli military. He was from Khan Younis. The story (and I haven't been able to verify it it yet) is that he was standing with his friend as an Israeli tank invaded his town. A sniper shot him through one leg, then when he stood to run, the sniper shot him through the other one, causing huge damage to the leg. It was amputated at the hip. Again, we had to wait for Cypriot authorities to give permission for him to transit to another country.

On the first page of the Cyprus Mail is a photo of the boy with Osama, one of our organizers. Even though we came in at 9 pm, the media was all over the quay waiting for us. Although we didn't get seasick this time, many of us, because we are so exhausted, are feeling the land effects today, swaying as we try to walk down the streets.

It has been a week of over-riding joy, sadness at the condition of so many sick and wounded Palestinians, hope for the future, and disbelief that we not only arrived safely but left safely. As we pulled out of Gaza yesterday, seven Israeli naval vessels surrounded the Palestinian fishermen who joyfully escorted us six miles out. The last view we had of Gaza was of the seven gunboats surrounding the fishermen. We've heard from our Israeli sources that they arrested four of them.

As usual, the Palestinians will face the wrath of the Israeli military, because they had egg on their faces and will take it out on the weakest.

We meet this morning to plan the second trip.

Greta

http://freegaza.org

courageous peaceful people. I have been so worried for them. Peace Patriots

FREE GAZA MOVEMENT announces the arrival at 20:30 (10:30am PDT), Friday 29 August, 2008 of the FREE GAZA and LIBERTY vessels, in Larnaca Harbour, returning from Gaza, and a successful end to this first of such missions.

The historic return voyage represents the first time since 1967 that Palestinians have been able freely to enter and leave their country. The Free Gaza Movement will mark this historic moment with a reception at Larnaca Harbour , as will Palestinians in Gaza , as both boats return safely from Gazan and international waters after a calm and uneventful crossing.

Organiser Paul Larudee: “This endeavour has been a huge success, far more significant and wide-reaching than anyone ever dreamt it could be. It has had obvious beneficial effects on the Palestinian people, but also on Israel . In fairness, credit must go where credit is due -- despite threats or obstacles, a responsible decision was made by Israeli authorities not to interfere with our mission and this is a model for the future."

Or, in the words of Palestinian voyager, Musheir El-Farra, originally born and raised in Khan Younis in Gaza but currently living in Sheffield , UK :

“For the first time in my life, I went to Gaza without being humiliated, without having to ask Israel for permission. We did it. We finally did it. And now others must join us and do it as well.”

http://freegaza.org/index...

The SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty left port in Gaza at 3:40 PM, and have begun their long voyage back to Cyprus. Aboard the ship are seven Palestinian passengers, including several children. We were able to speak with Paul Larudee on the SS Liberty just a few minutes ago:

"We're a little over an hour into our return trip to Cyprus and, unlike when we came in, there are several Israeli naval vessels in sight. We seem to be the focus of their activity, the center of their attention so to speak. However they're keeping a careful distance, not really approaching us. We expect to reach the twelve-mile limit around 7 PM this evening, and then cross over into international waters.

"When we arrived in Gaza last Saturday, it was the first time in forty-one years that anyone has freely entered Gaza. But our leaving is in a way even more significant. Last Saturday, two of our Palestinian members came into Gaza on these boats. Today, seven more Palestinians are leaving with them. They got exit stamps from the Palestinian government, they boarded the ships, and soon they'll be in international waters, and then in Cyprus. This is the first time, ever, that Palestinians have been able to freely enter and leave their own country. It's an incredible step forward, and a sign of greater things to come."

--Paul Larudee, aboard the SS Liberty, freely leaving Gaza.

(GAZA CITY, 28 August 2008) - After having shattered the Israeli blockade of Gaza earlier this week, the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty will depart Gaza for Cyprus at 2pm today. Several Palestinians who have previously been denied exit visas by Israel will join international human rights workers on the journey. Among the Palestinians leaving are Saed Mosleh, age 10, of Beit Hanoon, Gaza. Saed lost his leg due to an Israeli tank shell and is leaving Gaza with his father to seek medical treatment. Also on board are the Darwish family, who will finally be reunited with their relatives in Cyprus.

PALESTINIANS LEAVING GAZA ON THE SS FREE GAZA & SS LIBERTY
Maha M.S. Darwish, mother
Omar Darwish, age 5
Sami M.J. Darwish, age 14
Ayman M.J. Darwish, age 17
Tawfiq M.J. Darwish, age 18
Khaled Mosleh, father
Saed Mosleh, age 10

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS LEAVING GAZA
Greta Berlin, Los Angeles, USA
Nikolaos Bolos, Athens, Greece
Lauren Booth, London, UK
Maria del Mar, Vilanova i La Geltru, Spain
Musheir El Farra, Sheffield, UK
Eliza Ernshire, London, UK
Petros Giotis, Athens, Greece
Christos Giouanopoulos, Athens, Greece
Derek Graham, Ballina, Ireland
Mary Thompson-Hughes, Los Angeles & London
Fathi Jaoudi, Jendouba, Tunisia & London
Yiannis Karipidis, Komothnh, Greece
Giorgios Klontzas, St. Nicolaos, Greece
John Klusmire, Monterey, CA, USA
The Hon. Anastasios Kourakis, MP (representing Thessaloniki, Greece)
Dr. Paul Larudee, El Cerrito, CA, USA
Dr. Edith Lutz, Cologne, Germany
Theresa McDermott, Edinburgh, Scotland
Sr. Anne Montgomery, New York, USA
Aki Nawaz, Bradford, UK
Thomas Nelson, Welches, OR, USA
Peter Philips, New York, USA
Dr. Vaggelis Pissias, Athens, Greece
Panagiotis Politis, Volos, Greece
Yvonne Ridley, London, UK
David Schermerhorn, Deer Harbor, WA, USA
Huwaida Arraf Shapiro, Ramallah, Palestine
Courtney Sheetz, New York, USA
Kathy Sheetz, Woods Hole, MA, USA
Ren Tawil, Minneapolis, MN
Kathleen Wang, Diamond Bar, CA, USA

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS REMAINING IN GAZA
Vittorio Arrigoni, Bulciago, Italy
Georgios Karatzas, Pireas, Greece
Jenny Linnell, Totnes, UK
Andrew Muncie, Spean Bridge, Scotland
Ken O'Keefe, London, UK
Adam Qvist, Copenhagen, Denmark
Darlene Wallach, San Jose, CA, USA
Donna Wallach, San Jose, CA, USA

http://freegaza.org/index...

Two boats full of international activists that were allowed to sail into Gaza's harbor on Saturday may be detained by the navy on Thursday as they set sail back to Cyprus, this time with 14 Palestinians on board.

On Wednesday, the Free Gaza Movement held a press conference in Gaza City to announce the departure of the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty early Thursday morning. In addition to the 40 foreign activists, organizers said, the boats would also be carrying some 14 Palestinians who had previously been denied the right to exit Gaza by Israel.

The organizers said that among the Palestinians were students with valid foreign visas or dual citizenships who had been accepted to universities abroad. Additionally, a Palestinian professor will be leaving to return to teach in Europe, and a young woman will be trying to reunite with her husband abroad.

Israeli pro-Palestinian activist Jeff Halper was arrested in Sderot on Tuesday for illegally entering Hamas-ruled Gaza, police said.

Halper, who also heads the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions, crossed into Israel via the Erez border crossing, police said.

He was questioned at Sderot's police station, and will be charged for violating the IDF's Southern Command Front order which forbids Israeli citizens from entering Palestinian areas without permission, a Lachish police spokesman said.

http://www.jpost.com/serv...

UPDATE:

Israeli activist released "conditionally " after questioned for Gaza boat protest

JERUSALEM, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli who sailed to the Gaza Strip with other international activists in defiance of an Israel-imposed sea blockade was released "conditionally" Tuesday evening after being questioned, local news service Ynet reported.

Sderot Police Chief Shimon Nachmani was quoted as saying that The Israeli, Prof. Jeff Halper, "was held for questioning and the decision whether to arrest him will be taken at the end of the probe."

Halper was interrogated at a border crossing in the afternoon on his way back from the Palestinian enclave, before police put him into custody at a police station in the southern town of Sderot, Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, a contact person for the protest organizer Free Gaza Movement, told Xinhua.

She said that Halper, the only Israeli participant in the voyage, was arrested for violating the law prohibiting Jewish citizens from entering the coastal strip.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date : 08-26-2008

(GAZA CITY, 26 August 2008) – The SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty will leave Gaza for Cyprus on Thursday morning at 9:00 am. Several Palestinian students who have been denied exit visas by Israel will travel to Cyprus on the boats. One Palestinian professor will finally be able to go back to teaching in Europe and one young, Palestinian woman will finally be reunited with her husband. Several of the Free Gaza international human rights workers will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring.

By freely traveling to Gaza, on Saturday, August 23rd, in two, small, wooden boats, the Free Gaza Movement forced the Israeli government to issue a fundamental policy change regarding their military and economic blockade of Gaza. Until now, Israel has wanted absolute control of Gaza with no responsibility. Israel has managed to maintain this situation, in spite of international law, because its policies have never been challenged.

When the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty approached the waters of Gaza, the Israeli government had to decide whether it wanted to publicly acknowledge that Israel remains an occupying power in Gaza, in which case Israel would be responsible under international law for its actions, including war crimes. In the face of intense, public scrutiny, Israel instead chose to acknowledge the inherent right of Palestinians to freely engage with the world. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign affairs publicly announced that humanitarian and human rights missions to Gaza will no longer be stopped or threatened by Israel. With the end of the Israeli siege of Gaza, Palestinians are free to exercise their rights without fear of being stopped or killed by the Israeli military.

Since the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement will not be entering Israeli territorial waters, and since they will request an inspection from the Gaza Port Authority, they expect no interference on the part of the Israeli authorities when they leave Gaza. By Israel’s own admission, it has no authority to inspect the boats or the passengers when they leave Gaza.

With the collapse of the Israeli blockade, the Free Gaza Movement will quickly return to Gaza with another delegation, and invites the United Nations, Arab League and international community to organize similar human rights and humanitarian efforts. The Free Gaza Movement will continue to work to ensure the free passage between Gaza and the outside world will remain safe and open.

http://freegaza.org/index...

FREE GAZA MOVEMENT IS AT SEA AGAIN:
on the 8 mile limit off Gaza Harbour –

SS Free Gaza, with six Palestinian fishermen’s boats, is 8-miles off the coast of Gaza, being circled by three Israeli Dabur naval vessels. No shots have been fired. The fishing boats are continuing to exercise their right to fish and have not turned round, but the Free Gaza has just now turned round (10.15 a.m.). The Oslo Accords allow Palestinian Gazans a 20-mile limit off the coast of the Gaza Strip. Currently the Navy is enforcing a 6 mile limit, so the Free Gaza Movement has broken that naval blockade, too.

Angela Godfrey-Goldstein

See: http://freegaza.org

and not a word from the MSM.

To all of you who have followed this two-year journey.

Fifty thousand Palestinians lined the walls of the Port of Gaza yesterday as our two wooden boats came into view across the horizon. We've seen the video of our boats flying the flags of 17 nations as well as dozens of Palestinian flags, come over the top of the water and approach. Those of us crowded at the front of the two boats could see everyone lined up waiting for us.

A few hundred meters before we navigated through the small opening into theport, we were met by dozens of fishing boats loaded with people. Little boys jumped in the water to swim around us. We had blown up balloons (yes, they are biodegradable) and dropped them in the water as the young boys swam around catching their trophies. On each red, white, black and green balloon, it said FREE PALESTINE with a dove on it. Those of us who were parents on board held our breath as the swimmers multiplied. I don't know how our two captains managed to lightly pull into the dock amid all of the other boats and people, but they did.

Today, I looked out the window of this beautiful hotel we're staying in, and
there were the boats, and we had really arrived. A sour-faced Israeli
official announced last night that "We have decided to let the boats through this time, but we will look at other trips on a case by case basis." In short, our little group of 40+ human rights workers not only won the right to enter Gaza, but we won the PR battle as well.

There wasn't an Israeli warship in sight. They withdrew everything. In the
30 hours we traveled from Cyprus to Gaza, most of us seasick, the electronic systems jammed, barely able to communicate from boat to boat, we knew we had broken Israel's siege of this small seashore community, perhaps not permanently, but that small hole in the wall is now too large to put a PR finger in to stop the flow of outrage against Israel's policies.

The quay was packed with people.... packed. The video doesn't begin to do it justice. Many literally fell into the boats in an attempt to interview us,
grabbing us by the hand, pulling us in front of cameras. Tony Blair's
sister-in-law was brilliant, the face of the internationals here. Jeff
Halper, the Israeli professor was passionate, all of us were crying. We
could barely catch our breath in the crowd of well-wishers. Mushier Al Fara had tears streaming down his face, "I can finally go visit the grave of my mother." he said.

Palestinian flags were everywhere as was security. Today, if we wanted to go to the boats, we had to be accompanied by several guards in big cars as they drove us down to what they consider a symbol of support. We clearly know that, if anything happens to any of us or to the boats, it will be because Israel has ordered it, one way or the other.

Most of us leave on Tuesday to take one boat back to Cyprus and go home. Nothing that any of us will ever do again in our lives will live up to what we saw yesterday.

Greta Berlin

Reuters has about a dozen nice photos here, click the thumbnail images on the left side of the destination page to view full size:

http://www.reuters.com/ne...

This blog has some photos after the initial post and some more in the comments section:

http://palestinian.ning.c...

This page has some Quicktime videos. I'm on a slow connection and can't view them, but here ya go:

http://freegaza.org/index...

Get too friendly or helpful with the locals and you can bet Hamas will blow them up, you can just imagine how friendly they would have been had someone tried to hand out a Bible.

I woke up this morning wondering if it was all a dream. And then I looked through the window and saw the harbor, and the fishing boats, and our two proud lttle boats, the FREE GAZA and the LIBERTY, bobbing gently in the Gaza breeze and I could finally believe we are here!

There are not enough words to describe the feelings we all had as we saw the shores of Gaza appear on our horizon, and then as we got closer and closer we were welcomed by the first of dozens of fishing boats, all crowded with cheering, waving Gazans who had waited since early morning for our arrival. Dozens of them jumped into the water and climbed aboard our boats, cheering and waving and hugging everybody, smiling and telling us "you are welcome." I don't know how so many members of our welcoming committee managed to crowd onto the two piers.... women, men, children, a band playing for us, police trying to control them as more of them jumped into the water to reach us.
It was truly an experience for a lifetime. Surreal. After two years of planning and hoping, and disappointments, and great sadness when our beloved friend Riad was suddenly gone from us. But his spirit is here with us, and many of us wore pink shirts in his memory.

There is so much more to say, but for now this is just to say we have arrived, we are elated, we are humbled, we could not have achieved this without the support of so many friends and strangers who believed in us.

Shukran, and love to all of you.
Mary in Gaza City

“What we’ve done shows that people can do what governments should have done. If people stand up against injustice, we can truly be the conscience of the world.”
--Jeff Halper, Ph.D.

Here's the first photo I have seen of the Liberty in Gaza.

The two boats of the Free Gaza protest group arrive from Cyprus, in Gaza City

http://www.latimes.com/ne...

Some quotes:

"We will surely try to bring the boats back again," said Huwaida Arraf, one of 44 passengers who overcame rough seas and communications problems after setting out Friday from Cyprus. "The goal is to open a route between Cyprus and Gaza.

"People here are just ecstatic to see that someone cares."

Organizers plan to sail back to Cyprus in a few days. But they'll be leaving something behind: Several activists plan to stay for a few months, volunteering with local nongovernmental organizations.

The boats will return to their new home port in Cyprus. Organizers promised more trips and hope to rally support for other international activists to follow suit.

But Arye Mekel, a spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry warned that future attempts might get a different reception.

"I don't know if others will want to do this," he said, "but this is not a precedent for future."

this is so wonderful if only peace could break out. Peace Patriots

and return them safely to their homes!

A great day for Liberty and Freedom!

GAZA (23 August 2008) - Two small boats, the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty, successfully landed in Gaza early this evening, breaking the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The boats were crewed by a determined group of international human rights workers from the Free Gaza Movement. They had spent two years organizing the effort, raising money by giving small presentations at churches, mosques, synagogues, and in the homes of family, friends, and supporters.

They left Cyprus on Thursday morning, sailing over 350 kilometers through choppy seas. They made the journey despite threats that the Israeli government would use force to stop them. They continued sailing although they lost almost all communications and navigation systems due to outside jamming by some unknown party. They arrived in Gaza to the cheers and joyful tears of hundreds of Palestinians who came out to the beaches to welcome them.

Two small boats, 42 determined human rights workers, one simple message: “The world has not forgotten the people of this land. Today, we are all from Gaza.”

Tonight, the cheering will be heard as far away as Tel Aviv and Washington D.C.

QUOTES FOR PUBLICATION

“We recognize that we’re two, humble boats, but what we’ve accomplished is to show that average people from around the world can mobilize to create change. We do not have to stay silent in the face of injustice. Reaching Gaza today, there is such a sense of hope, and hope is what mobilizes people everywhere.”
--Huwaida Arraf.

Huwaida is Palestinian-American, and also a citizen of Israel. She’s a human rights activist and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement. In 2007 she received her Juris Doctor from American University in Washington D.C. Currently she teaches Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at Al Quds University in Jerusalem. Huwaida sailed to Gaza aboard the SS Liberty.

“We’re the first ones in 41 years to enter Gaza freely - but we won’t be the last. We welcome the world to join us and see what we’re seeing.”
--Paul Larudee, Ph.D.

Paul is a cofounder of the Free Gaza Movement and a San Francisco Bay Area activist on the issue of justice in Palestine. He sailed to Gaza aboard the SS Liberty.

“What we’ve done shows that people can do what governments should have done. If people stand up against injustice, we can truly be the conscience of the world.”
--Jeff Halper, Ph.D.

Jeff is an Israeli professor of anthropology and coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD), a non-violent Israeli peace and human rights organization that resists the Israeli occupation on the ground. In 2006, the American Friends Service Committee nominated Jeff to receive the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize with Palestinian intellectual and activist Ghassan Andoni. Jeff sailed to Gaza aboard the SS Free Gaza.

For More Information:

http://freegaza.org

for peace&liberty

http://www.youtube.com/wa...
http://www.dvds4delegates...
http://www.flickr.com/pho...

This was a VERY smart thing for the Israeli's to do. Anything less would have been HORRIBLE.

Peace boats arrive in Gaza Strip despite Israeli blockade

Gaza City - Two boats carrying 46 pro-Palestinian peace activists arrived without incident in the Gaza Strip from Cyprus Saturday, despite warnings from the Israelis.

Thousands of Palestinians were on hand at the strip's fishing port to welcome the activists aboard the Free Gaza and the Liberty, both flying the Greek flag.

Dozens of Palestinian boats accompanied the two vessels, which had left Cyprus on Friday, into the port.

http://www.monstersandcri...

Boats with pro-Palestinian activists reach Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip—Two boats of international activists on a solidarity mission with the Palestinians have reached the Gaza Strip after a two-day journey at sea.
Since setting sail from Cyprus on Friday, the mission had been in question. Israel had hinted it might prevent the vessels from reaching Gaza. The activists also suffered from rough seas and accused Israel of sabotaging their communications equipment.

Earlier Saturday, Israel said would permit the boats to dock in Gaza after determining that the activists were carrying humanitarian equipment. Hundreds of Palestinians have gathered to greet them.

The mission is meant to defy Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip. Israel imposed the blockade in June 2007 after the Hamas militant group seized power in Gaza.

http://www.mercurynews.co...

For anyone interested, Press TV has been doing a tremendous job of covering this event and has been doing live streaming interviews.

http://www.presstv.ir/

This is also a great source of up to the minute news if you want a perspective other than that from the US media.

Yvonne Ridley Date : 08-23-2008

A Message to All from the SS Liberty:
"We've entered Gazan waters. We're flying the Palestinian flag, and we now believe that we're going to reach the shores of Gaza very soon. I missed the start of the Berlin Wall coming down by just a few days, but now I know how people felt when they tore down those first few bricks. Today is a huge victory of people over power."
--Yvonne Ridley, aboard the SS Liberty, bound for Gaza, 23 Aug. 2008

Pro-Palestinian activists expected to reach Gaza

OFF THE GAZA COAST (AP) - Israel said Saturday it will allow a pro-Palestinian activist group to sail two boats carrying humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip, after earlier hinting it would block the shipment from reaching the coastal territory. The boats were expected to reach Gaza later Saturday, defying Israel's yearlong blockade of the territory.

"I brought the kids so if they (the activists) arrive, I can tell them welcome and thank you for not forgetting us," said Jamila Hassan, a 42-year-old Gaza resident who brought along her 14-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter to the port.

If the activists reach Gaza, it would be the first time foreign activists have broken the blockade. However, it remained unclear how the foreigners will leave the territory. Israel controls all movement to and from the coastal strip.

http://www.pr-inside.com/...

Israel says seafaring activists can enter Gaza

GAZA (Reuters) - Israel said on Saturday it would allow seafaring activists seeking to challenge its blockade on the Gaza Strip to enter the Hamas-controlled territory.

The 44 "Free Gaza" activists from 17 nations set out on Friday from Cyprus in two wooden boats. They expected to complete the 240 nautical mile journey and reach Gaza's coastline, which is patrolled by the Israeli navy, on Saturday.

"We will allow the two boats to arrive in Gaza in order to avoid a well-publicised provocation in the middle of the sea," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said.

http://africa.reuters.com...

Activists sail to bust Israeli sea blockade on Gaza

The 44 activists sailed from the port of Larnaca in two wooden boats at 9:50 a.m. (0650 GMT). Hailing from 14 countries, they said they expected to reach the shores of Gaza, patrolled by the Israeli navy, on Saturday.

http://uk.reuters.com/art...

Protest boats leave Cyprus for Gaza

The boats — the 70-foot Free Gaza and 60-foot Liberty — left the southern port of Larnaca about 10 a.m. for the estimated 30-hour trip.

"I've been nervous, but today I'm excited," said activist Lauren Booth, 41, sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. "It's not about our fear, it's about the people waiting in Gaza, you can't think about anything else."

Free Gaza organizer Paul Larudee said it's "highly unlikely" the Israeli navy would fire on the boats to stop them. But he said the group expects Israeli authorities to intercept the boats and arrest those onboard

http://ap.google.com/arti...

'SS Liberty' Departs for Gaza

LARNACA, Cyprus - Two boats - one of them named for a U.S. Navy ship attacked by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967 - left Cyprus for Gaza early today to try to break Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.

The boats - the 60-foot SS Liberty and 70-foot SS Free Gaza - left the southern port of Larnaca carrying members of a U.S.-based activist group for the roughly 30-hour journey. The Liberty is named for USS Liberty, a surveillance ship sailing in international waters when it was attacked by Israeli air and naval forces.

http://www.military.com/n...

Human rights activists are planning to break Israel's blockade on the Gaza Strip by sailing in two yachts from Cyprus this morning to the Gaza Strip.

The ships, Free Gaza and Liberty, had originally planned to set sail three weeks ago, but technical problems and bad weather anchored the ships in Crete. Advertisement

This week, the group managed to sail from Crete to Cyprus, and yesterday completed their preparations for the voyage.

They also held a memorial ceremony for the 34 sailors on the U.S.S. Liberty, an intelligence gathering ship attacked by Israel during the Six-Day War in 1967.

They said sailors from the Liberty contacted them and asked them to note the attack, as one of the ships bears the same name.

They tossed 34 flowers into the sea as a memorial.

http://www.haaretz.com/ha...

Going to get there? I could have crossed the atlantic in a sailboat by now.

that part of the med is not that big...

Sorry not a troll, but I follow this thread alot and would like to see an end story to this. First mechanical, then weather, then weather. I mean comon.

I wish them luck or gods speed.

Freedom may be worth searching for.

Remember, Dont battle the govt with guns(ALONE), Beat them in court, in state legislature, or hire Ron Paul for president.

Here's the story of John Spicher (pronounced "Spiker") who went to school with my mom at Sacred Heart back in the fifties.

"There was a very happy day in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania. The date...February 15, 1937. The day began normally for John and Marion Spicher but a special event would forever etch this date in history. Their son, John, was born and he fulfilled their dreams.

John attended St. Joseph's school in Natrona, PA, and was given the nickname Butch. This was a fond acknowledgment of a gentle giant who liked to fish. He was a great cook to boot and baking was his specialty. He also enjoyed auto mechanics and was known to take his car apart and put it back together, just for fun. His reputation was known throughout the community and the name, John Spicher, was recognized by all.

In 1954, at age 18, John joined the Navy and served proudly for four years until his discharge in 1957 when he joined the civilian ranks. It was nice to have Butch at home, his mom recalls, but itchy feet prompted him to re-enlist in the Navy in 1961. He was a postal clerk and earned a second nickname, "PC," during his second enlistment. PC loved his job and usually worked at the local post office in Brackenridge when home on leave during the holidays.

In 1963, PC married the former Linda Mayberry who hailed from Texas. His love of the Navy prompted him to re-enlist in 1965 for six more years. His son, Frank, was born in 1965. Frank, wife Sharon and their children live in Savage, Maryland.

PC came from a Navy family. His father, John Spicher, Sr. was a Sea Bee and served during WWII from 1943 through 1945. His uncle Frank Russell served on the USS Rowan and was lost at sea in 1943. His brother was also in the Navy for four years.

Frank Spicher doesn't remember his father because he was only two years old when his dad was killed senselessly . PC was a loving father and his son missed so much by not knowing him.

PC lived a short, good life and we sadly miss him every day."

See his photo at:

http://www.ussliberty.org...

See his grave at:

http://www.arlingtoncemet...

Memorial Service in Larnaca Today

For Immediate Release Date : 08-21-2008

Today at 1:30 pm, the passengers and crew of the SS FREE GAZA and the SS LIBERTY will hold a memorial service at the Northern end of the commercial port in Larnaca. This service will commemorate the 14 fishermen of Gaza who have been killed by the Israeli Navy over the past four years as they were fishing off their coast.
The service will also be held for the 34 American sailors killed aboard the US LIBERTY by Israeli forces in 1967.

We will lay flowers in the water for these forgotten seamen from two countries, the Palestinians killed while trying to feed their families and the American sailors who were attacked by Israeli fighter jets and submarines for 75 minutes on June 8, 1967.

Please join us for this short memorial service. Afterwards, we will be available for interviews. We will also be able to announce when we are leaving for Gaza.
--
Greta Berlin
Media Team
Free Gaza Movement

http://www.freegaza.org/

At 8:30 am Cyprus time, the Free Gaza and the Liberty rounded the last corner of this lovely island, escorted by the Cypriot Coast Guard, and pulled into the Northern side of the commercial port in Larnaca.

“We’ve been waiting a long time to unify our group, which has been split between Cyprus and Crete. We are excited to combine both groups who have worked so hard on this project and are so enthusiastic about setting out for Gaza. On the way in today, we had the Cypriot authorities escorting us. Now, it’s time for the world to escort us to Gaza,” said Paul Larudee, one of the organizers.

After a thorough inspection of both boats, the port authority will let the 20 passengers from Cyprus on board to make final preparations, including a memorial service for the more than 5000 Palestinians who have lost their lives since September 2000 as well as the 34 sailors aboard the USS Liberty who were killed by Israel in 1967. They, like the Palestinians, will not be forgotten. That service should be on Thursday, August 21 just before the boats begin their final journey to Gaza.

http://english.pnn.ps/ind...