Today, the Oakland Tribune has published an excellent op-ed ‘Despite the bullying, the flotilla will sail’ (7/4) by Medea Benjamin, a passenger on the US Boat to Gaza which was recently stopped by Greek officials. Medea discusses the motivation of flotilla participants “we refuse to sit at the docks of history and watch the people of Gaza suffer” and “we focus on Gaza because since 2007 the Israeli government has enforced a crippling blockade on 1.5 million residents.”
She explains how the world’s democracies either do nothing or help to facilitate Israeli impunity whether it was Operation Cast Lead, the killing of civilians on the Mavi Marmara, the routine shooting of Gazan farmers and fisherman, or the devastating consequences of the siege. And even now, there is significant international pressure to stop the flotilla, more threats of violence by the Israeli government, and at least two ships have likely been sabotaged. Yet Medea says, “all this bullying…only strengthens our resolve. We may have fewer boats, we may have fewer passengers, we may be threatened with violence, but we will sail.”
Please WRITE! your letter of support to the Oakland Tribune at triblet@bayareanewsgroup.com and participate in the action call below from the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. Letters should be kept under 200 words and be sure to include your name, address, and phone number for verification purposes.
For further information:
Take Action: US Boat to Gaza Stopped from Sailing
Al Haq: Israel’s Enforcement of the Buffer Zone in the Gaza Strip
IMEU: Fact Checking Israel’s Misinformation on the Flotilla
