For Immediate Release: 11 November, 2024
As we grieve those massacred by Israel and its allies in the last year, the FFC continues to work to break the siege of Gaza and educate the world about the atrocities in Gaza.
Early in 2024 three “Break the Siege” ships were ready to overcome the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza, carrying more than 5,500 tons of humanitarian aid. Hundreds of FFC participants were in Istanbul ready to sail in April. The eyes of the world were on us, when, just 24 hours before we were due to sail, and after going through countless inspections and paperwork, Guinea Bissau withdrew its flag fromour ships. Supporters all over the world were outraged in the blocking of the Freedom Flotilla’s departure. Governments blocking the Flotilla’s departure exposed their complicity in the genocide and their violation of the International Court of Justice’s January 26, 2024 ruling. The Turkish government has also continued, for almost six months, to block the three ships from leaving Istanbul. FFC organizers, participants, and solidarity partners have led protests blocking the entrance to the port in Istanbul, in a sustained effort to get the boats released. The large cargo ship was allowed to sail, but only to offload humanitarian cargo in Egypt where it was blocked from entering Gaza.
This year we also continued another mission – ‘For the Children of Gaza’, which resumed in May after having visited more than a dozen ports in 2023. Handala visited twenty ports throughout Europe and was greeted by thousands of people. It generated awareness about the dire conditions in Gaza, focusing on the children and on the need to increase public pressure on governments to cause Israel to end the illegal siege.
Wherever we went, we were welcomed and hosted by local activists and associations, who rallied around us for the duration of our stay in a generous, solidarity-filled way. Events were planned around Handala’s port calls, including meetings with politicians from city councils up to a national parliament, visits to student encampments and universities as well as schools. We attended a conference on migration and were hosted by an anarchist community. We met politicians of a wide spectrum of political parties, some of whom were eager to be photographed with us, while others wanted no cameras in the room. We spoke at churches and cultural centers, visited mosques and community centers, met with trade unionists, agricultural cooperatives, and fishers. And wherever we went, we joined in demonstrations, rallies, and film screenings, and learned how to demand freedom for Palestine from the River to the Sea in many languages.
Our struggle for Palestine is universal – a world-wide movement where no one is alone. We helped to connect people and organizations and to reactivate grassroots campaigns, coming together stronger than before. The success of the campaign was undeniable. We are grateful for the generous hospitality received throughout our journey.
Each time Handala pulled into a port, we decked the ship with beautiful banners, flags, drawings, and ribbons in Palestinian colors streaming in the wind. The interior was decorated with children’s drawings. The exterior was regularly decorated in a number of ports with beautiful murals by local artists and attracted attention. The boat looked impressively inspirational and festive, as people came by the dozens to greet our arrival with signs and flags, cheers, music, song, dancing, celebration and excitement.
People brought gifts for the children of Gaza too, in the hope that Handala would reach Gaza: medications, baby formula, even toys. – supporting our efforts to show solidarity for Palestinians and their quest for freedom.
After its four-month journey, Handala has paused in the Mediterranean, undergoing maintenance needed for its next journey. As the horrific Israeli genocide of Gaza and the Israeli destruction in the West Bank and Lebanon continue unabated, and Israeli strikes across the region increase, we regularly assess how we can best attempt to break the blockade and work for Palestinian freedom.
A number of FFC participants have undertaken admirable actions. Many joined the encampments on college and university campuses. One went on a hunger strike in front of the White House. A number have gone to the West Bank to volunteer to protect Palestinians from Israeli military and settler aggression; one FFC participant was with Aysenur Ezgi Eygi when she was martyred by the Israeli military in September. Israel and its allies have blocked FFC participants’ entry into occupied Palestine. The German government has issued more than 20 arrests against one participant and held her under house arrest, while the UK government is prosecuting another on trumped-up charges.
Thank you for your stand for justice and human rights. Thank you to everyone who has contributed financially, physically and online fto the Freedom Flotilla, as organizers, crew, participants or volunteers, and. Our work is a team effort. Your financial generosity has enabled us to procure and maintain several ships and boats and we have reserved some to prepare for our next missions. We are also planning to use some of the monies raised to assist our partners in Palestine – watch this space.
We urge supporters to continue contacting their respective political leaders to demand an end to support for Israel’s genocide and an end to the illegal occupation and blockade. We look forward to Handala and our other boats being underway again.