By John Haylett, Morning Star Online, June 24, 2011
Around 10 boats carrying 500 human rights activists will set sail for Gaza to challenge Israel’s ongoing illegal blockade of the Palestinian territory.
The Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara, which was attacked in May 2010 by Israeli special forces who killed nine humanitarian campaigners, will not be part of this year’s flotilla.
Announcing last weekend that the Mavi Marmara is unable to sail, the international coalition said that this would expose Israeli government misinformation that the flotilla is exclusively a “Turkish” and “Islamist” effort.
“This is a rainbow coalition of human rights defenders. It does not only concern Muslims but everyone, be they Muslim, Christian, Jew, Hindu, secular or whatever. This is world citizenry united,” it asserted.
The coalition added that Israel’s siege persists, pointing out that the “established channels” cited by world leaders to suggest that the flotilla is unnecessary do not meet the Palestinian people’s needs.
