<p>Two boats carrying women activists and humanitarian aid are poised to set sail from Lebanon for Gaza in spite of Israel’s threats to forcibly prevent them from breaking through Israel’s blockade of the besieged coastal enclave. Other ships have been bought and loaded with urgently needed supplies in Europe and elsewhere with the aim of challenging Israel’s policy of isolating Gaza and depriving its 1.5 million people of a decent life.<br /><br />These vessels are being prepared for the journey in spite of the fatal interdiction by the Israeli navy of a flotilla of six ships on May 31. When Israeli commandos boarded the ships at four in the morning, Turkish activists on an Istanbul cruise ship resisted the raiders. Nine were killed, 36 injured and nearly 700 detained and deported. There was a loud chorus of international disapproval of Israel’s heavy-handed military response to the flotilla and Israel was compelled by pressure from the US and Europe to ease its blockade by allowing all foodstuff and a limited amount of construction materials into Gaza.<br /><br />The Free Gaza movement which initiated the expanding blockade-busting campaign has denounced Israel’s proposal. The UN and certain governments are also demanding the total lifting of the blockade and the free movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza. Free Gaza and its camp followers are determined to carry on with their drive to free Gaza until Israel capitulates.<br /><br />Partial victory<br />Nevertheless, Israel’s decision to ease its blockade is a partial victory for the Free Gaza movement, for concerned individuals and for civil society organisations round the world. A handful of peace activists in California had the idea of sending boats to Gaza in 2006.<br /><br />Their aim was to open the enclave to maritime trade and sea travel for its citizens. This group swelled through internet contacts with like-minded individuals elsewhere in the US, Palestine, Greece, Britain, Sweden, and Germany, transforming Free Gaza into an international human rights enterprise endorsed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Mairead Maguire of Ireland. Mahathir Mohamad, former premier of Malaysia, sponsored three ships in the flotilla.<br />Free Gaza raised some $3,00,000 to purchase their first vessels, repair and equip them and to hire captains and seamen ready to make the risky voyage. Greta Berlin, one of the founders of Free Gaza, told Deccan Herald, “When we started we knew nothing about boats, about seafaring, regulations. We went in at the deep end. We made many mistakes and we are still learning.”<br /><br />Free Gaza lifted the spirits of Gazans and made media headlines round the globe on August 23, 2008, with its first successful voyage from Cyprus to Gaza in two fragile Greek fishing vessels. This venture was followed by four further blockade-busting sailings. But since Israel conducted its military offensive against Gaza in late 2008 early 2009, no Free Gaza boats have made it through the blockade. One was rammed and eventually sank in port, one turned back due to threats, and eight have been boarded at sea, commandeered, taken to Ashdod port, and held by Israel.<br />During this period, the Israeli siege and blockade not only continued but tightened. By the time the Free Gaza flotilla of six boats made its failed attempt to reach Gaza at the end of May, Israel was allowing only 17 per cent of the volume of goods into Gaza in comparison with the amount entering before the siege took hold in early 2006. This siege was progressively imposed after Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian legislature in the election of January that year.<br /><br />Israel’s objective is to squeeze the people of Gaza economically so that they would deprive Hamas, the largest party in parliament, of its right to form a government and, ultimately, drive Hamas from power.<br /><br />Hamas is unacceptable to Israel because it refuses to recognise its ‘right to exist’, a ‘right’ accorded to no other state in the world. But Israel seeks such recognition from Palestinians, the people whose land Israel occupies, because this would confer political and moral legitimacy on Israel and deprive the Palestinians of their right to resist occupation.<br /><br />As long as Hamas and other Palestinian groups stand against such recognition, Israel feels its case for legitimacy is questioned.<br /><br />Instead of bringing about its ouster, Israel’s policy has strengthened Hamas as well as the will of Gazans to stand against the siege and blockade in spite of deprivation and despair over their lack of a future. Israel’s policy has also been extremely counter-productive on the international level as it has alienated many people who were formerly supportive of Israel’s stand on Gaza or activated people who were not interested in the issue. The attack on the Turkish ship has, in particular, planted the seeds of Free Gaza franchises the world over.</p>
<p>Two boats carrying women activists and humanitarian aid are poised to set sail from Lebanon for Gaza in spite of Israel’s threats to forcibly prevent them from breaking through Israel’s blockade of the besieged coastal enclave. Other ships have been bought and loaded with urgently needed supplies in Europe and elsewhere with the aim of challenging Israel’s policy of isolating Gaza and depriving its 1.5 million people of a decent life.<br /><br />These vessels are being prepared for the journey in spite of the fatal interdiction by the Israeli navy of a flotilla of six ships on May 31. When Israeli commandos boarded the ships at four in the morning, Turkish activists on an Istanbul cruise ship resisted the raiders. Nine were killed, 36 injured and nearly 700 detained and deported. There was a loud chorus of international disapproval of Israel’s heavy-handed military response to the flotilla and Israel was compelled by pressure from the US and Europe to ease its blockade by allowing all foodstuff and a limited amount of construction materials into Gaza.<br /><br />The Free Gaza movement which initiated the expanding blockade-busting campaign has denounced Israel’s proposal. The UN and certain governments are also demanding the total lifting of the blockade and the free movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza. Free Gaza and its camp followers are determined to carry on with their drive to free Gaza until Israel capitulates.<br /><br />Partial victory<br />Nevertheless, Israel’s decision to ease its blockade is a partial victory for the Free Gaza movement, for concerned individuals and for civil society organisations round the world. A handful of peace activists in California had the idea of sending boats to Gaza in 2006.<br /><br />Their aim was to open the enclave to maritime trade and sea travel for its citizens. This group swelled through internet contacts with like-minded individuals elsewhere in the US, Palestine, Greece, Britain, Sweden, and Germany, transforming Free Gaza into an international human rights enterprise endorsed by Nobel Peace Prize laureates Desmond Tutu of South Africa and Mairead Maguire of Ireland. Mahathir Mohamad, former premier of Malaysia, sponsored three ships in the flotilla.<br />Free Gaza raised some $3,00,000 to purchase their first vessels, repair and equip them and to hire captains and seamen ready to make the risky voyage. Greta Berlin, one of the founders of Free Gaza, told Deccan Herald, “When we started we knew nothing about boats, about seafaring, regulations. We went in at the deep end. We made many mistakes and we are still learning.”<br /><br />Free Gaza lifted the spirits of Gazans and made media headlines round the globe on August 23, 2008, with its first successful voyage from Cyprus to Gaza in two fragile Greek fishing vessels. This venture was followed by four further blockade-busting sailings. But since Israel conducted its military offensive against Gaza in late 2008 early 2009, no Free Gaza boats have made it through the blockade. One was rammed and eventually sank in port, one turned back due to threats, and eight have been boarded at sea, commandeered, taken to Ashdod port, and held by Israel.<br />During this period, the Israeli siege and blockade not only continued but tightened. By the time the Free Gaza flotilla of six boats made its failed attempt to reach Gaza at the end of May, Israel was allowing only 17 per cent of the volume of goods into Gaza in comparison with the amount entering before the siege took hold in early 2006. This siege was progressively imposed after Hamas won a majority of seats in the Palestinian legislature in the election of January that year.<br /><br />Israel’s objective is to squeeze the people of Gaza economically so that they would deprive Hamas, the largest party in parliament, of its right to form a government and, ultimately, drive Hamas from power.<br /><br />Hamas is unacceptable to Israel because it refuses to recognise its ‘right to exist’, a ‘right’ accorded to no other state in the world. But Israel seeks such recognition from Palestinians, the people whose land Israel occupies, because this would confer political and moral legitimacy on Israel and deprive the Palestinians of their right to resist occupation.<br /><br />As long as Hamas and other Palestinian groups stand against such recognition, Israel feels its case for legitimacy is questioned.<br /><br />Instead of bringing about its ouster, Israel’s policy has strengthened Hamas as well as the will of Gazans to stand against the siege and blockade in spite of deprivation and despair over their lack of a future. Israel’s policy has also been extremely counter-productive on the international level as it has alienated many people who were formerly supportive of Israel’s stand on Gaza or activated people who were not interested in the issue. The attack on the Turkish ship has, in particular, planted the seeds of Free Gaza franchises the world over.</p>