Break the Siege Explained
In April 2024, and roughly two hundred days into Israel’s siege and genocidal violence, multiple ships were prepared to sail from Istanbul to Gaza, carrying hundreds of volunteers, 5,500 tons of urgently needed food, medical supplies, and other essentials. In the absence of meaningful action from international bodies, the hundreds of global human rights defenders, including lawyers, doctors, nurses, journalists, parliamentarians, and politicians, came together in an emergency act of solidarity to do what governments would not – challenge Israel’s long-standing, unlawful control over Gaza.
Within the same month, Israel’s public policies of collective punishment and extermination had been met with widespread international condemnation, including but not limited to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), United Nations human rights experts, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the UN Commission of Inquiry. Dozens of governments and parliamentary bodies worldwide also denounced Israel, including those in South Africa, Ireland, Bolivia, Chile, and Colombia, which called for accountability and sanctions, all of which yielded no profound results. [Insert hyperlinks]
On April 26, UN experts demanded safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, issuing the following statement:
“As the Freedom Flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, Israel must adhere to international law, including recent orders from the International Court of Justice to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid… The FFC has the right of free passage in international waters and Israel must not interfere with its freedom of navigation, long recognised under international law. As the Freedom Flotilla approaches Palestinian territorial waters off Gaza, it is essential for Israel to adhere to international law, including recent orders from the International Court of Justice to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian aid.”
In compliance with maritime law, all registration and documentation were approved. The ships were ready to sail. But a few days before departure, Israel and the United States applied pressure for the ship’s registered flag to be withdrawn. We were unable to secure an alternate flag. Eventually Turkish port authorities, also under pressure, blocked the ships from leaving. These actions further exposed the complicity of Israel’s allies in maintaining the illegal blockade and denying Palestinians access to aid.
The FFC rejects Israel’s control over humanitarian aid. The Israeli military, responsible for the genocide, for enforcing this blockade and for creating this calculated famine, cannot be trusted to determine who or what enters Gaza. The FFC will continue to challenge these politically motivated obstructions and expose the systems that uphold apartheid, occupation, and genocide.
More information on the “Break the Siege” Fact Sheet.
