The Free Gaza boat the “Spirit of Humanity” departed Cyprus at 7:30am
on Monday, 29 July. Twenty-one human rights and solidarity workers
representing eleven different countries were aboard. The passengers
include Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. congresswoman
Cynthia McKinney. The ship also carries three tons of medical aid,
children’s toys, and rehabilitation and reconstruction kits for twenty
family homes.
on Monday, 29 July. Twenty-one human rights and solidarity workers
representing eleven different countries were aboard. The passengers
include Nobel laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. congresswoman
Cynthia McKinney. The ship also carries three tons of medical aid,
children’s toys, and rehabilitation and reconstruction kits for twenty
family homes.
The Spirit of Humanity and The Dignity in Cyprus
Over 2,400 homes were destroyed in Gaza during the Israeli massacre in
December/January, 490 of them by F-16 airstrikes, as well as 30
mosques, 29 educational institutions, 29 medical centers, 10
charitable organizations, and 5 cement factories.
Each kit carries a small amount of supplies for a single family,
representing sectors of civil society currently being blockaded by
Israel: Agriculture, Building & Reconstruction, Education,
Electricity, Health, and Water & Sanitation. Although over 4 billion
dollars in aid was promised to Gaza in the aftermath of the Israeli
onslaught, little humanitarian aid and no reconstruction supplies have
been allowed in.
Quotes:
Mairead Maguire, co-winner of the 1977 Nobel Peace prize for her work
in Northern Ireland:
“[The Palestinians of Gaza] must know that we have not and will not
forget them.”
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney:
“[T]he U.S. should send a message to Israel reiterating the reported
White House position that the blockade of Gaza should be eased, and
that medical supplies and building materials, including cement, should
be allowed in … Will [President Obama] stand by his own words and
allow us to provide relief for Gaza or will he back down?”
Huwaida Arraf, Chairperson of the Free Gaza Movement:
“Israel’s closure policy is a blatant violation of international law.
We call upon our governments to take action to uphold their
obligations under the Fourth Geneva Conventions. Until they do, we
will act.
Passengers aboard the Spirit of Humanity include:
Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrain
Khalad is an engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association
of Bahrain.
Othman Abufalah, Jordan
Othman is a world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.
Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain
Khaled is a lecturer with the University of Bahrain.
Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen
Mansour is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.
Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain
Fatima is a relief worker and community activist from Bahrain.
Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain
Juhaina is a journalist & human rights activist.
Huwaida Arraf, US
Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation co-
coordinator for this voyage.
Ishmahil Blagrove, UK
Ishmahil is a Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and
founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries
focus on international struggles for social justice.
Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain
Kaltham is a community activist.
Derek Graham, Ireland
Derek Graham is an electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate
aboard the Spirit of Humanity.
Alex Harrison, UK
Alex is a solidarity worker from Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to
do long-term human rights monitoring.
Denis Healey, UK
Denis is Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth
voyage to Gaza.
Fathi Jaouadi, UK/Tunisia
Fathi is a British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation co-
coordinator for this voyage.
Mairead Maguire, Ireland
Mairead is a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.
Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel
Lubna is a Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.
Theresa McDermott, Scotland
Theresa is a solidarity worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza
to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Cynthia McKinney, US
Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken advocate for human rights and social
justice issues, as well as a former U.S. congressperson and
presidential candidate.
Adnan Mormesh, UK
Adnan is a solidarity worker from Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to
do long-term human rights monitoring.
Adam Qvist, Denmark
Adam is a solidarity worker from Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to
do human rights monitoring.
Adam Shapiro, US
Adam is an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.
Kathy Sheetz, US
Kathy is a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights
monitoring.
December/January, 490 of them by F-16 airstrikes, as well as 30
mosques, 29 educational institutions, 29 medical centers, 10
charitable organizations, and 5 cement factories.
Each kit carries a small amount of supplies for a single family,
representing sectors of civil society currently being blockaded by
Israel: Agriculture, Building & Reconstruction, Education,
Electricity, Health, and Water & Sanitation. Although over 4 billion
dollars in aid was promised to Gaza in the aftermath of the Israeli
onslaught, little humanitarian aid and no reconstruction supplies have
been allowed in.
Quotes:
Mairead Maguire, co-winner of the 1977 Nobel Peace prize for her work
in Northern Ireland:
“[The Palestinians of Gaza] must know that we have not and will not
forget them.”
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney:
“[T]he U.S. should send a message to Israel reiterating the reported
White House position that the blockade of Gaza should be eased, and
that medical supplies and building materials, including cement, should
be allowed in … Will [President Obama] stand by his own words and
allow us to provide relief for Gaza or will he back down?”
Huwaida Arraf, Chairperson of the Free Gaza Movement:
“Israel’s closure policy is a blatant violation of international law.
We call upon our governments to take action to uphold their
obligations under the Fourth Geneva Conventions. Until they do, we
will act.
Passengers aboard the Spirit of Humanity include:
Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrain
Khalad is an engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association
of Bahrain.
Othman Abufalah, Jordan
Othman is a world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.
Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain
Khaled is a lecturer with the University of Bahrain.
Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen
Mansour is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.
Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain
Fatima is a relief worker and community activist from Bahrain.
Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain
Juhaina is a journalist & human rights activist.
Huwaida Arraf, US
Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation co-
coordinator for this voyage.
Ishmahil Blagrove, UK
Ishmahil is a Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and
founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries
focus on international struggles for social justice.
Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain
Kaltham is a community activist.
Derek Graham, Ireland
Derek Graham is an electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate
aboard the Spirit of Humanity.
Alex Harrison, UK
Alex is a solidarity worker from Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to
do long-term human rights monitoring.
Denis Healey, UK
Denis is Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth
voyage to Gaza.
Fathi Jaouadi, UK/Tunisia
Fathi is a British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation co-
coordinator for this voyage.
Mairead Maguire, Ireland
Mairead is a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.
Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel
Lubna is a Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.
Theresa McDermott, Scotland
Theresa is a solidarity worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza
to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Cynthia McKinney, US
Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken advocate for human rights and social
justice issues, as well as a former U.S. congressperson and
presidential candidate.
Adnan Mormesh, UK
Adnan is a solidarity worker from Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to
do long-term human rights monitoring.
Adam Qvist, Denmark
Adam is a solidarity worker from Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to
do human rights monitoring.
Adam Shapiro, US
Adam is an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.
Kathy Sheetz, US
Kathy is a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights
monitoring.
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1.5m Gazans ‘trapped in despair’
30.06.2009 05:33
Israel’s restrictions on the enclave’s crossing points, most of which it controls, and its stringent limitations on imports such as building materials, spare parts and basic medicines are making it “impossible” for Gazans to rebuild their lives, the Geneva-based group said in a report. It warned that should the restrictions not be lifted, the $4.5bn in aid pledged in March by international donors to help reconstruct Gaza will be of little use.
Israel launched its military operation in Gaza in December to curtail rocket barrages fired on its southern communities by militants from the territory that is ruled by Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group that seized control of the region in June 2007. Human rights groups claimed that some 1,400 people were killed in the assault, while thousands of homes were partly or wholly destroyed and much of the infrastructure damaged.
The group said the amount of goods Israel is allowing into Gaza is much lower than the quantities needed by its population. According to the report, 2,662 truckloads of merchandise entered Gaza from Israel last month, 80 per cent less than the imports in April of 2007, before Hamas took over the territory.
The ICRC cautioned that neighbourhoods in Gaza “will continue to look like the epicentre of a massive earthquake” unless Israel allows in cement, steel and other building materials. The group, which has 109 staff members working in Gaza, added: “Until that happens, thousands of families who lost everything will be forced to live in cramped conditions with relatives. Others will continue to live in tents, as they have nowhere else to go.”
According to the report, the water and sanitation networks are nearing collapse and raising the risk of a “major public health crisis”, while hospitals are rundown and constantly short of basic items ranging from painkillers and X-ray film developers to artificial limbs for dozens of people wounded in the attacks.
Furthermore, the ICRC said, the region’s economy is fast deteriorating with unemployment in April reaching 44 per cent, 96 per cent of industrial operations shut down and more than 70 per cent of Gazans living in poverty.
The group added: “Most of the very poor have exhausted their coping mechanisms. Many have no savings left. They have sold private belongings such as jewelry and furniture and started to sell productive assets including farm animals, land, fishing boats or cars used as taxis.” The report said that the declining living standards will especially hurt the long-term health and well-being of children, who make up more than half of Gaza’s population.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2009
Vita Bekker in Tel Aviv
Homepage:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cd8bae1e-64db-11de-a13f-00144feabdc0.html