FreeGaza Movement bio photo

FreeGaza Movement

Human rights group that sailed 5 times into port of Gaza.

Twitter Newsletter Facebook Youtube Flickr

Paypal Donation

Amount: 

Contact:

London: Alex Harrison, 07594 857448
Mary Thomas, 07542 358318
Munir Nuseibah, 07521 378029 (Arabic)

London, 3 July 2011 - On Monday the 4th of July at 12:30 activists from Free Gaza, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al Aqsa, Britain to Gaza, Palestine Forum in Britain, and Action Palestine will go to the Greek Embassy, 1A Holland Park, London W11 3TP with a request to see HE Mr Aristidis C Sandis. We will deliver a letter from the above groups demanding the release of the Freedom Flotilla boats to Gaza.

We are calling for you to join us!

July 4th 12:30 pm: Embassy of Greece, 1A Holland Park, London W11 3TP

Following the intense pressure from the United States and Israeli governments, Greece has announced that they will prevent the sailing of Freedom Flotilla II - Stay Human boats to Gaza.

This goes directly against international law, and means that Greece, a member of the EU alongside Britain, is now directly complicit in the immense suffering caused by the illegal blockade of Gaza. This is totally unacceptable.

The captain of the US boat has been arrested, and is now held in jail for trying to sail out of the Greek port.

Join us on Monday 4th July at 12:30pm at the Greek Embassy in London to deliver a letter to the Greek Ambassador, demanding free and immediate passage of the peaceful civilian boats out of the port.

We need to make clear to Greek Ambassador that we will not accept this severe breach of the rights of the passengers on the boats, and the population of Gaza.

press release to follow:

</p>

For Immediate Release:

British Peace groups to deliver letter to Greek Ambassador demanding the release of the Freedom Flotilla boats to Gaza.

Contact:
London: Alex Harrison, 07594 857448
Mary Thomas, 07542 358318
Munir Nuseibah, 07521 378029 (Arabic)

London, 3 July 2011 - On Monday the 4th of July at 12:30 activists from Free Gaza, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al Aqsa, Britain to Gaza, Palestine Forum in Britain, and Action Palestine will go to the Greek Embassy, 1A Holland Park, London W11 3TP with a request to see HE Mr Aristidis C Sandis. We will deliver a letter from the above groups demanding the release of the Freedom Flotilla boats to Gaza.

Organisers of the Gaza-bound flotilla said Sunday in Greece they have not abandoned their plans to breach Israel's sea blockade of the territory despite a Greek government ban on their vessels leaving the country's port. The organisers of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla 2 have called on world citizens to request their governments advocate for the release of the boats and their safe passage to Gaza. A call has also been put out for citizens to protest at Greek embassies around the world and demand they release the boats.

The campaign experienced a major setback when Greece announced its restrictions on Friday stating that no boats in Greek ports would be allowed to leave. Several protesters from the American vessel that was intercepted by Greek authorities began what they described as an "open-ended fast" outside the U.S. Embassy and planned to stay there overnight. They want Washington to pressure Greece to release their American captain, John Klusmire, and allow them to depart for Gaza.

Activists believe that Israel, which has extensive economic trade and investments in Greece, is exerting pressure on the Greek government. According to an American passenger, Medea Benjamin, "It is unconscionable that Israel would take advantage of the economic hardship the Greek people are experiencing to try to stop our boat or the flotilla."

Copy of the letter:

HE Mr Aristidis C Sandis
Embassy of Greece
1A Holland Park
London W11 3TP

4th July 2011

Dear Ambassador,

We, members and supporters of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla II, are outraged by your government?s decision to close the ports of Greece to our initiative. In doing so, it has allowed Israel to export the blockade of Gaza to Greece.

The Israeli Government siege of Gaza has been declared illegal collective punishment by the International Red Cross. We remind the Greek government that it has a responsibility to prevent the commission of war crimes such as this. Participating in Israel?s naval blockade and illegal siege on the Gaza Strip is against international law and humanity.This decision not only violates the consecrated principle within international law of the freedom of the seas and the ancient tradition of freedom of the Mediterranean, but also disregards the claim to self-determination of the people of Palestine.

The Freedom Flotilla seeks to peacefully challenge the unlawful siege of Gaza. Greece?s obstruction is unjustifiable and immoral. It places Greece in the position of being a collaborator with injustice.

Flotilla passengers have come from across the globe to the shores of Greece in order to put into practice our solidarity with the oppressed people of Gaza. The members of this international human rights mission demand, on behalf of the people of Gaza, the same right to move that has been granted for centuries to the Greek people in our countries.

Do not allow Israel to export the blockade to Greece. Do not collaborate in the siege of Gaza. Let us sail immediately!

Sincerely,

Alex Harrison, for the Board of Free Gaza
Sarah Colbourne, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Ismail Patel, Friends of Al Aqsa
Zaher Birawi, Britain to Gaza, Palestine Forum in Britain
Action Palestine

Free Gaza Movement Board of Directors
Huwaida Arraf, (chair)
Greta Berlin
Audrey Bomse
Eliza Ernshire
Alex Harrison
Ewa Jasiewicz
Fathi Jaouadi
Niamh Moloughney
Adam Shapiro


Share: