It is a shame that the Greek authorities have gone all out to prevent Freedom Flotilla 2 from sailing from Greece to Gaza. In the latest incident, a French motor yacht, the Dignite al Karama that managed to slip out of Greek waters on the 5th of July 2011 has been stopped by Greek coast guards. Earlier, the captain of a US boat, the Audacity of Hope, was detained after the boat was intercepted while attempting to break the Greek ban. The captain, John Klusmer, was released on the 5th of July. A Canadian ship, Tahrir, with activists from Canada, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland and Turkey, was also prevented from leaving for Gaza on the 4th of July.
The Greek government, it is alleged, has succumbed to tremendous pressure from not only the Israeli regime but also certain governments in Europe and the United States. It has sworn to “prevent breach of Israel’s naval blockade.” Greece’s current economic woes have made it even more vulnerable to external pressures.
Turkey, it appears, has also yielded to pressure from the US and Israel. The Mavi Marmara, which was at the forefront of Flotilla 1 in May 2010,was supposed to join Flotilla 2. At the eleventh hour, it cancelled its participation.
It is not just pressure upon governments that has hobbled Flotilla 2. Two of the ships berthed at Piraeus, the port of Athens, were damaged, it is believed, by saboteurs. A law suit filed in a Manhattan Court in the US by a father and son claiming to be victims of a Palestinian terrorist attack in 2002 sought to delay the flotilla from sailing. A warning letter was also sent to maritime insurance companies that had provided insurance to the flotilla. Another warning letter was sent to the giant communications firm, Immarsat, not to provide communication services to the flotilla.
The US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, accused the flotilla of provocation. United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, tried to persuade governments to stop the delivery of humanitarian aid via the Freedom Flotilla 2. Leading US media outlets criticised the flotilla for allegedly threatening Israel’s security.
In spite of all this, we would regard Flotilla2 as a relative success for a variety of reasons — even if it has not been able to deliver its much needed aid to the besieged people of Gaza. The flotilla drew 300 over activists from 22 countries which in itself is an achievement. The passengers on the US ship, the Audacity of Hope, included a notable holocaust survivor, Hedy Epstein, among other Jews. It is significant that on the 4th of July— US Independence Day— the American passengers on the boat called for the independence of the US from Israel. The flotilla also elicited the support of Nobel Peace laureates. Four of them, all women — Mairead Maguire, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Jody Williams and Shirin Ebadi— in an open letter to the UN Secretary-General called upon him to “ support this non-violent, international humanitarian effort.” A number of NGOs from all over the world have expressed support for, and solidarity with, Flotilla2. Even a segment of the mainstream media— not always sympathetic to the Palestinian cause— was appreciative of the flotilla’s attempt to help the Palestinians.
The men and women who were part of Flotilla2 and all the others who made it possible deserve our applause for their commitment and their courage. Today, more than at any other time in the past, we have reason to be optimistic about their struggle and the valiant struggle of the Palestinian people and all those who champion their noble cause.
What is important is to ensure that this struggle remains peaceful and non-violent— and perseveres till it triumphs.
Dr. Chandra Muzaffar,
President,
International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
Malaysia.
8 July 2011.