Gaza boats travel back to Cyprus
Lizzie Bennett | 28.08.2008 20:06 | Palestine
SS Free Gaza & SS Liberty - the 2 boats that broke the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza last week are on their return journey, with Palestinian passengers on board and Israeli naval vessels in site.
The SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty left port in Gaza at 3:40 PM, and have begun their long voyage back to Cyprus. Aboard the ship are seven Palestinian passengers, including several children. We were able to speak with Paul Larudee on the SS Liberty just a few minutes ago:
"We're a little over an hour into our return trip to Cyprus and, unlike when we came in, there are several Israeli naval vessels in sight. We seem to be the focus of their activity, the center of their attention so to speak. However they're keeping a careful distance, not really approaching us. We expect to reach the twelve-mile limit around 7 PM this evening, and then cross over into international waters.
"When we arrived in Gaza last Saturday, it was the first time in forty-one years that anyone has freely entered Gaza. But our leaving is in a way even more significant. Last Saturday, two of our Palestinian members came into Gaza on these boats. Today, seven more Palestinians are leaving with them. They got exit stamps from the Palestinian government, they boarded the ships, and soon they'll be in international waters, and then in Cyprus. This is the first time, ever, that Palestinians have been able to freely enter and leave their own country. It's an incredible step forward, and a sign of greater things to come."
--Paul Larudee, aboard the SS Liberty, freely leaving Gaza
Lizzie Bennett
Additions
Doing What The World Refuses To ...
28.08.2008 22:02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SS FREE GAZA & SS LIBERTY TO LEAVE FOR CYPRUS WITH PALESTINIANS ON-BOARD
For More Information, Please Contact:
(Gaza) Paul Larudee: +972 598 765 370
(Gaza) Huwaida Arraf: +972 599 130 426
(Cyprus) Osama Qashoo: +357 97 793 595 /
osamaqashoo@gmail.com
(Jerusalem) Angela Godfrey-Goldstein: +972 547 366 393 / angela@icahd.org
(GAZA CITY, 28 August 2008) - After having shattered the Israeli blockade of
Gaza earlier this week, the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty will depart Gaza for
Cyprus at 2pm today. Several Palestinians who have previously been denied exit
visas by Israel will join international human rights workers on the journey.
Among the Palestinians leaving are Saed Mosleh, age 10, of Beit Hanoon, Gaza.
Saed lost his leg due to an Israeli tank shell and is leaving Gaza with his
father to seek medical treatment. Also on board are the Darwish family, who
will finally be reunited with their relatives in Cyprus.
“I can’t believe we’re finally able to leave for medical treatment,”
said Khaled Mosleh, Saed’s father. “This is a miracle of God.”
Nine international human rights workers will remain in Gaza to do longer-term
monitoring and accompaniment, and one, Dr. Bill Dienst of Omak, Washington,
will attempt to cross over into Israel later today via the Erez crossing.
By freely traveling to Gaza, on Saturday, August 23rd, in two, small, wooden
boats, the Free Gaza Movement forced the Israeli government to issue a
fundamental policy change regarding their military and economic blockade of
Gaza. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign affairs publicly announced that
humanitarian and human rights missions to Gaza will no longer be stopped or
threatened by Israel. With the end of the Israeli siege of Gaza, Palestinians
should be free to exercise their rights without fear of being stopped or killed
by the Israeli military.
Yvonne Ridley, a journalist and member for the Free Gaza Movement, summed up
her experience in Gaza by saying, “I missed the start of the Berlin Wall
coming down by just a few days, but now I know how people felt when they tore
down those first few bricks. This has been a huge victory of people over
power.”
Since the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement will not be entering Israeli
territorial waters, and since they will request an inspection from both the
Gaza Port Authority when they depart, and the Cypriot authorities upon their
return, they expect no interference on the part of the Israeli authorities when
they leave Gaza. By Israel’s own admission, it has no authority to inspect
the boats or the passengers when they leave Gaza.
With the collapse of the Israeli blockade, the Free Gaza Movement will quickly
return to Gaza with another delegation, and they would like to encourage the
United Nations, Arab League and international community to organize similar
human rights and humanitarian efforts. The Free Gaza Movement will continue to
work to ensure that safe passage between Gaza and the outside world will remain
free and open.
###
PALESTINIANS LEAVING GAZA ON THE SS FREE GAZA & SS LIBERTY
Maha M.S. Darwish, mother
Omar Darwish, age 5
Sami M.J. Darwish, age 14
Ayman M.J. Darwish, age 17
Tawfiq M.J. Darwish, age 18
Khaled Mosleh, father
Saed Mosleh, age 10
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS LEAVING GAZA
Greta Berlin, Los Angeles, USA
Nikolaos Bolos, Athens, Greece
Lauren Booth, London, UK
Maria del Mar, Vilanova i La Geltru, Spain
Musheir El Farra, Sheffield, UK
Eliza Ernshire, London, UK
Petros Giotis, Athens, Greece
Christos Giouanopoulos, Athens, Greece
Derek Graham, Ballina, Ireland
Mary Thompson-Hughes, Los Angeles & London
Fathi Jaoudi, Jendouba, Tunisia & London
Yiannis Karipidis, Komothnh, Greece
Giorgios Klontzas, St. Nicolaos, Greece
John Klusmire, Monterey, CA, USA
The Hon. Anastasios Kourakis, MP (representing Thessaloniki, Greece)
Dr. Paul Larudee, El Cerrito, CA, USA
Dr. Edith Lutz, Cologne, Germany
Theresa McDermott, Edinburgh, Scotland
Sr. Anne Montgomery, New York, USA
Aki Nawaz, Bradford, UK
Thomas Nelson, Welches, OR, USA
Peter Philips, New York, USA
Dr. Vaggelis Pissias, Athens, Greece
Panagiotis Politis, Volos, Greece
Yvonne Ridley, London, UK
David Schermerhorn, Deer Harbor, WA, USA
Huwaida Arraf Shapiro, Ramallah, Palestine
Courtney Sheetz, New York, USA
Kathy Sheetz, Woods Hole, MA, USA
Ren Tawil, Minneapolis, MN
Kathleen Wang, Diamond Bar, CA, USA
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS REMAINING IN GAZA
Vittorio Arrigoni, Bulciago, Italy
Georgios Karatzas, Pireas, Greece
Jenny Linnell, Totnes, UK
Andrew Muncie, Spean Bridge, Scotland
Ken O’Keefe, London, UK
Adam Qvist, Copenhagen, Denmark
Darlene Wallach, San Jose, CA, USA
Donna Wallach, San Jose, CA, USA
SS FREE GAZA & SS LIBERTY TO LEAVE FOR CYPRUS WITH PALESTINIANS ON-BOARD
For More Information, Please Contact:
(Gaza) Paul Larudee: +972 598 765 370
(Gaza) Huwaida Arraf: +972 599 130 426
(Cyprus) Osama Qashoo: +357 97 793 595 /
osamaqashoo@gmail.com (Jerusalem) Angela Godfrey-Goldstein: +972 547 366 393 /
angela@icahd.org (GAZA CITY, 28 August 2008) - After having shattered the Israeli blockade of
Gaza earlier this week, the SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty will depart Gaza for
Cyprus at 2pm today. Several Palestinians who have previously been denied exit
visas by Israel will join international human rights workers on the journey.
Among the Palestinians leaving are Saed Mosleh, age 10, of Beit Hanoon, Gaza.
Saed lost his leg due to an Israeli tank shell and is leaving Gaza with his
father to seek medical treatment. Also on board are the Darwish family, who
will finally be reunited with their relatives in Cyprus.
“I can’t believe we’re finally able to leave for medical treatment,”
said Khaled Mosleh, Saed’s father. “This is a miracle of God.”
Nine international human rights workers will remain in Gaza to do longer-term
monitoring and accompaniment, and one, Dr. Bill Dienst of Omak, Washington,
will attempt to cross over into Israel later today via the Erez crossing.
By freely traveling to Gaza, on Saturday, August 23rd, in two, small, wooden
boats, the Free Gaza Movement forced the Israeli government to issue a
fundamental policy change regarding their military and economic blockade of
Gaza. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign affairs publicly announced that
humanitarian and human rights missions to Gaza will no longer be stopped or
threatened by Israel. With the end of the Israeli siege of Gaza, Palestinians
should be free to exercise their rights without fear of being stopped or killed
by the Israeli military.
Yvonne Ridley, a journalist and member for the Free Gaza Movement, summed up
her experience in Gaza by saying, “I missed the start of the Berlin Wall
coming down by just a few days, but now I know how people felt when they tore
down those first few bricks. This has been a huge victory of people over
power.”
Since the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement will not be entering Israeli
territorial waters, and since they will request an inspection from both the
Gaza Port Authority when they depart, and the Cypriot authorities upon their
return, they expect no interference on the part of the Israeli authorities when
they leave Gaza. By Israel’s own admission, it has no authority to inspect
the boats or the passengers when they leave Gaza.
With the collapse of the Israeli blockade, the Free Gaza Movement will quickly
return to Gaza with another delegation, and they would like to encourage the
United Nations, Arab League and international community to organize similar
human rights and humanitarian efforts. The Free Gaza Movement will continue to
work to ensure that safe passage between Gaza and the outside world will remain
free and open.
###
PALESTINIANS LEAVING GAZA ON THE SS FREE GAZA & SS LIBERTY
Maha M.S. Darwish, mother
Omar Darwish, age 5
Sami M.J. Darwish, age 14
Ayman M.J. Darwish, age 17
Tawfiq M.J. Darwish, age 18
Khaled Mosleh, father
Saed Mosleh, age 10
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS LEAVING GAZA
Greta Berlin, Los Angeles, USA
Nikolaos Bolos, Athens, Greece
Lauren Booth, London, UK
Maria del Mar, Vilanova i La Geltru, Spain
Musheir El Farra, Sheffield, UK
Eliza Ernshire, London, UK
Petros Giotis, Athens, Greece
Christos Giouanopoulos, Athens, Greece
Derek Graham, Ballina, Ireland
Mary Thompson-Hughes, Los Angeles & London
Fathi Jaoudi, Jendouba, Tunisia & London
Yiannis Karipidis, Komothnh, Greece
Giorgios Klontzas, St. Nicolaos, Greece
John Klusmire, Monterey, CA, USA
The Hon. Anastasios Kourakis, MP (representing Thessaloniki, Greece)
Dr. Paul Larudee, El Cerrito, CA, USA
Dr. Edith Lutz, Cologne, Germany
Theresa McDermott, Edinburgh, Scotland
Sr. Anne Montgomery, New York, USA
Aki Nawaz, Bradford, UK
Thomas Nelson, Welches, OR, USA
Peter Philips, New York, USA
Dr. Vaggelis Pissias, Athens, Greece
Panagiotis Politis, Volos, Greece
Yvonne Ridley, London, UK
David Schermerhorn, Deer Harbor, WA, USA
Huwaida Arraf Shapiro, Ramallah, Palestine
Courtney Sheetz, New York, USA
Kathy Sheetz, Woods Hole, MA, USA
Ren Tawil, Minneapolis, MN
Kathleen Wang, Diamond Bar, CA, USA
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS REMAINING IN GAZA
Vittorio Arrigoni, Bulciago, Italy
Georgios Karatzas, Pireas, Greece
Jenny Linnell, Totnes, UK
Andrew Muncie, Spean Bridge, Scotland
Ken O’Keefe, London, UK
Adam Qvist, Copenhagen, Denmark
Darlene Wallach, San Jose, CA, USA
Donna Wallach, San Jose, CA, USA
'Free Gaza' Shames World Governments