Freedom Flotilla and Gaza: The Fight Goes On!

One month ago, I arrived in Istanbul to join the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. My purpose was to be part of an operation that was organising the delivery of more than 5,000 tons of humanitarian aid and to challenge the illegal black of Gaza.

During the following week, more than 400 participants from different parts of the world arrived to take part in the mission. Among those who had decided to put their shoulders to the wheel were lawyers, doctors, teachers, human rights observers, international media, and more. Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela and Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona were present and supporting the campaign.

The theme we chose for the campaign was simple and direct: ''Break the Siege’’. By sailing to Gaza, we wanted to present a real and immediate challenge to the illegal and inhumane blockade of the Gaza Strip being carried out by the state of Israel – and ultimately to break the siege of Gaza.

Why is this so important now?

In October 2023, Israel intensified its genocidal policy toward Gaza by initiating indiscriminate bombing throughout the territory. Since that time, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed, hundreds of thousands face death from starvation and dehydration, and 90% of the population has lost their homes. And the bombing continues, along with sniper attacks and the destruction of the most basic health care and sanitation.

Ours is an emergency mission. The situation in Gaza is dire in the extreme, with catastrophic hunger resulting from the Israeli government’s deliberate policy of starving the Palestinian people. Time is critical, as experts predict that hunger and disease could yet claim more lives than have been killed in the bombing.

It may be hidden behind a see-through veil of lies and misdirection, but this, of course, is the real aim of the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu. And sadly, they have the collusion of other States.

On April 25, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition was contacted by the Guinea Bissau International Ships Registry (GBISR), requesting an inspection of our lead ship – Akdenez. This was a highly unusual request as our ship had already passed all the required inspections. However, we agreed.

On Thursday afternoon, even before the inspection was completed, in a blatantly political move, the GBISR informed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition that it had withdrawn the Guinea Bissau flag from two of the Freedom Flotilla's ships – one of which is our cargo ship, already loaded with over 5,000 tons of life-saving aid for the Palestinians of Gaza.

On April 26, the day that we were supposed to set off, a statement from the UN demanded safe passage for Freedom Flotilla to Gaza. ''The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a civilian peaceful initiative,” they said, "whose ships departing Türkiye will be carrying 5,500 tons of humanitarian aid and hundreds of international humanitarian observers to the besieged Gaza Strip.

"Comprising a diverse coalition of human rights activists, including lawyers, doctors, nurses, journalists, parliamentarians and politicians, the convoy aims to deliver life-saving aid directly to the besieged people of Gaza, legitimately challenging Israel’s control over the entry of humanitarian assistance. Besieging a civilian population is illegal."

Besieging a population is illegal. We know that. Everyone knows it – including Israel. But they do it anyway. That kind of deliberate flouting of humanitarian law must end.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s demands include an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire, unrestricted access to humanitarian aid, and an end to the illegal blockade of the Gaza strip. If a desperately needed ceasefire comes into place, we believe that we still should sail. Gaza has been under an illegal siege for more than 17 years; aiming to break it means triggering a political global discussion of Israel's control of every single 'needle' that goes to the Palestinians in Gaza.

Regardless of the reasons, we understand that there is political pressure against our campaign. The United Nations call for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s ships to have access to the port in Gaza has been met with bureaucratic skulduggery. The result is that, right now, we are looking for a new flag under which to sail – and we are positive that very soon we will. We are determined that we will not give up and we will sail to Gaza.

At the same time, the Israeli government is planning a ground attack on Rafah, and that would be catastrophic. Over, 34,000 people have been killed and 77,084 have been injured by the Israeli forces. About 72 per cent of those killed are women and children. And I ask, is this really what they are calling "the right to defence?"

No, it is not.

As a Brazilian photojournalist and human rights activist, I use our President Lula’s words: “What’s happening in the Gaza Strip isn’t a war, it’s a genocide,”

And yet, nothing happens for Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies. They represent dirty politics, violent politics that focuses only on profit.

In the meantime, I am going to Sweden to follow our fourth boat which is sailing to several countries in Europe, to challenge the complicity of the European Union, the illegal blockade and the cruel siege against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Soon, I will be heading back to Istanbul and we will sail onwards in our mission: to Break the Siege of Gaza.