Flotilla struggles to bring aid to Gaza

Greece is now in the eye of the storm in the struggle to break the siege of Gaza.

In late June ten ships with hundreds of international activists were ready to sail in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla II from Greece. They sought to challenge and break Israel’s illegal naval blockade and occupation of the territory, to highlight the injustices and humanitarian crisis faced by the 1.5 million Palestinians there, and to show international solidarity. They were bringing 3,000 letters of support, medicine and other aid.

However, on July 1 the Greek government banned flotilla boats in Greek ports from sailing to “the maritime area of Gaza.” Officials gave no explanation.

On the same day, the Greek Coast Guard intercepted the U.S. delegates’ ship, the Audacity of Hope, one mile offshore from the port of Perama, claiming the boat and its documents were not in order. They arrested the boat’s captain, John Klusmire. Charges were dropped on July 5 and he was released

Ann Wright, a key organizer and a former U.S. Army colonel, said that the Coast Guard aimed loaded M-16s at passengers. The 36 people on board — who were all unarmed — included noted African-American writer Alice Walker and Hedy Epstein, an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor. Many U.S. journalists were there, too.

On July 4 the Greek Coast Guard stopped the Canadian flotilla ship Tahrir — which carried passengers from many countries — three miles from Crete’s Agios Nikolaos port as it sped toward international waters. Armed officials boarded the ship and steered it back to port.

Imperialists, Israel sabotage flotilla

Flotilla activists see the long arm of the U.S. government behind Greece’s ban on sailing to Gaza. They also point out that the U.S. State Department threatened the mission’s U.S. participants with arrest, fines and jail on their return.

Audrey Bomse, co-chair of the Free Palestine Subcommittee of the National Lawyers Guild, said that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton signaled “advance approval for Israel to violently attack [the flotilla].” (palsolidarity.org, July 1)

The organizers also blame the Greek government for caving in to Israeli pressure. Constant administrative delays and obstacles were put in the way of the flotilla prior to the ban and seizure of the ships. Ship captains were threatened with long prison terms, boats were prevented from refueling, and vessels were sabotaged.

The Irish Ship to Gaza campaign says about damage to their ship, the MV Saoirse, in the Turkish coastal town of Gocek that Israel “must be viewed as the chief suspect in this professional and calculating act of sabotage.” (freegaza.org, June 30) The Greek-Swedish-Norwegian boat, the Juliano, was similarly damaged in the Greek port of Piraeus. The Globe and Mail of Canada called these attacks “hallmarks of Israel’s secretive Mossad security agency.” (July 1)

The Israeli government made it clear that it would stop at nothing to prevent the flotilla from breaking its blockade and reaching Gaza. It prepared as if for a war campaign. Scores of cabinet meetings have been held on this subject and military maneuvers conducted on how to stop the ships. Diplomats and lobbyists pressured all countries tied to participation in the flotilla to stop it.

For months Israeli officials have vilified flotilla participants, accusing them of “harboring terrorists” and seeking a violent confrontation with Israeli military forces. Israel even accused the boats of carrying sulfur for mustard gas and other weapons to attack Israeli military forces, reports the National Lawyers Guild. (palsolidarity.org, July 1) The Israeli Defense Forces threatened to use any means necessary to stop the humanitarian mission.

Moreover, no one who supports the just struggle of the Palestinian people has forgotten that May 31 marked the one-year anniversary of the Israeli commandos’ assault on the Turkish Freedom Flotilla I ship, the Mavi Marmara, which resulted in the murder of nine Turkish activists and dozens of injuries.

It is important to emphasize the major role of the big imperialist powers in stopping this solidarity mission. In addition to the United States, the United Nations leadership and European Union pressed governments to deter Gaza-bound flotillas. (Associated Press, July 3)

Additionally, with the spiraling economic crisis in Greece, its government is bending to E.U. and International Monetary Fund demands to impose austerity cutbacks on the workers to obtain funds for interest payments on European loans. Even as the state is cracking down on the massive, militant revolt of the workers against the cutbacks, it is also blocking acts of international solidarity with the Palestinians, in line with the imperialist governments and bankers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, acknowledging governments that helped stop the flotilla, specifically thanked Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou, who “had been closely cooperating with Israel in coordinating moves related to the flotilla.” (New York Times, July 2)

Struggle to show solidarity goes on

However, the struggle to support Gaza goes on. Flotilla activists have demonstrated at Israeli and U.S. embassies in Athens and even aboard their docked ships. They’ve met with Greek anti-austerity protesters who are camped outside the Parliament building and who, in turn, have demanded their government let the ships sail.

Pro-Palestinian forces are protesting at Greek embassies in many cities, demanding the ships and delegates be allowed to leave for Gaza. They ask progressive organizations to do the same wherever possible.

The Free Gaza Movement vows to continue the struggle to break the siege of Gaza, whether by boat, plane or other means, to publicize the humanitarian crisis — despite Israel’s denials — and to show concrete support for its people.

On July 1 the FGM said, “[O]ur intention and determination to reach the besieged Gaza is not weakened; on the contrary, it strengthens. The coordinated efforts of Israeli and Greek governments do not scare us ... these efforts confirm that they fear us. They fear the friendship of populations, the international solidarity, the humanitarian sensitivity, our refusal to accept the theft of basic rights of Palestinians and our common fight for dignity and justice.” (freegaza.org)

This struggle has spotlighted once again the horrific U.S.-backed Israeli siege of Gaza. It has brought more world and media attention to the crisis there and is a display of genuine solidarity with the Palestinian people. Nothing will stop that. The more the U.S., Israel and other imperialist forces try to deter it, the more global solidarity will grow. Along with that more concrete campaigns of support will develop.

The imperialists have lost this battle in the court of public opinion. The people of the world want an end to the siege of Gaza.