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Freedom Flotilla   |   press release   |   No comment

Statement from the FFC re. Freedom Flotilla III

The plan for Freedom Flotilla III was to have three boats challenging the blockade and two accompanying/supporting boats. Of the three, the Marianne was on its way from Sweden since May while the Juliano was being prepared in Corfu and the Agios Nikolaos was being prepared in Athens, to start moving in June. All repairs and inspections were made and the two boats were ready to sail. As the Juliano started to move from Corfu to meet the Marianne south of Crete, the captain realized that there were vibrations in its propeller shafts and had to return to port, after a situation where the boat almost sunk. Upon inspection abnormal bends were discovered in both propeller shafts, a sign that the boat might have been subjected to sabotage. The third boat, the Agios Nikolaos, faced technical difficulties while sailing from the mainland to Crete as well. After repair, administrative obstacles combined with extraordinary political situation in Greece during that last period, delayed Agios Nikolaos' departure, despite the positive intervention by Greece’s Ministry of Marine Central Administration, until it was too late to catch up with the other boats. Due to these circumstances, in a short time we had a very different number of places for the 68 international delegates from 20...

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06 August
20
Freedom Flotilla   |   press release   |   No comment

Freedom Flotilla Coalition makes a call to restore the international law

Israel has not only taken over the sky, borders and Palestinian territorial waters, but has also extended its blockade in the Mediterranean Sea up to 100 nautical miles, violating international and maritime law. During the operation of hijacking  "Marianne" Israeli soldiers used violence, threats  and abuse against crew and passengers. The IDF referred to the operation as “uneventful” which can only be understood in the light of the levels of violence used in general in the upholding of the blockade and particularily in the routine hijacking of Palestinian fishing vessels. As always, the Freedom Flotilla sails to end the blockade of the Gaza Strip. This year Freedom Flotilla III applied a slightly different strategy than previous missions. The Flotilla consisted of four ships, one of which would sail towards Gaza and three more to accompany it to a certain safe point and then return back to their ports of origin. Two more ships were being prepared to sail together with the “Marianne” and carry more sailors.  They didn’t make it, however, due to technical issues that are currently being investigated. Their sailors, unfortunately, had to stay on shore, but their message of solidarity travelled with the rest of the Flotilla to the...

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08 July
18
Freedom Flotilla   |   press release   |   No comment

The detained Swedes will be deported during Sunday and Monday

At 3PM this afternoon Ship to Gazas lawyer informed that they have reached an agreement regarding the deportation of the remaining Swedish captives from the Israeli hijack of the trawler Marianne av Göteborg. The six pearsons are Able Seaman Charlie Andreasson Mate Gustav Bergström, Journalist and Author Kajsa Ekis Ekman, Composer and Musician Dror Feiler, Chef Jonas Kårlin, Captain Joel Opperdoes, They will be deported in three rounds of two persons each time during this coming Sunday and Monday. We have, at the moment no clear information on flight times. This will be presented in forthcoming press releases. ...

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02 July
24
Freedom Flotilla   |   press release   |   No comment

Three released tomorrow (02/07), Kevorkova and all Swedes retained

Ship to Gaza’s Israeli lawyer Gabi Lasky informed about 4PM today (01/07) that additionally three of those detained when the fishing trawler Marianne of Gothenburg was hijacked on international waters, will be deported early tomorrow morning. This concerns Norwegian mate Herman Recksten and the two Canadian citizens, activist Bob Lovelace and machinist Kevin Niesh. They have already been transferred from the Givon-prison to custody at Ben Gurion airport. Remaining in prison are currently the Russian journalist Nadya Kevorkova (RT-television) and the six Swedes: able-seaman Charlie Andreason, mate Gustav Bergström, journalist and writer Kajsa Ekis Ekman, activist and musician Dror Feiler, ship’s cook Jonas Kårlin and captain Joel Opperdoes. The detained are divided into two sections where Ekman and Kevorkova are separated from the rest. Israeli authority has previously pronounced that these people would be deported in turns during Thursday and Friday. According to Lasky the activists will oppose the deportation until they will be deported as a group. At previous actions the activists made similar standpoints as they didn’t want to leave anyone behind or in smaller groups, in care of these activists security and wellbeing. ...

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01 July
23
Freedom Flotilla   |   press release   |   No comment

Press Release: “Marianne” sailors still imprisoned in Israel

It has been more than 50 hours since Israeli navy attacked the “Marianne” in international waters, 100nm from Gaza, during one of its usual acts of State piracy, always behaving as the bullying state of eastern Mediterranean. 18 participants on board were kidnapped and brought by force and against their will to the military Ashdod port. During the operation of seizure of the “Marianne”, which IDF called “uneventful”, Israeli soldiers used violence against participants on board. Dr. Bassel Ghattas (Member of Knesset), Dr. Moncef Marzouki (ex-President of Tunisia), Ana Miranda (Member of European Parliament) and Ohad Hemo (Channel 2 journalist), were released and the rest were moved to Givon prison at Ramla area, where they remain hostages until this moment. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition stands with all sailors of the “Marianne” who are illegaly kept in the Israeli prison. We demand that the State of Israel immediately releases them and also returns the “Marianne of Gothenberg”. We demand that our governments condemn violence of the State of Israel against peaceful citizens and stand by the rights of the Palestinian people. The remaining “Marianne” passengers still in Israeli prison are:   Nadya Kevorkova Russia Kajsa Ekis Ekman Sweden Robert Lovelace Canada Joel Opperdoes Sweden Gustave Bergstrom Sweden Herman Reksten Norway Kevin Neish Canada Jonas Karlin Sweden CharlieAndreasson Sweden Ammar Al-Hamdan Norway Mohammed El Bakkali Morocco Dror Feiler Sweden Ruwani Perera New...

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01 July
21
Freedom Flotilla   |   press release   |   5 Comments

Israel once again commits an act of state piracy in the Mediterranean

At 02:06AM today (Gaza time) the “Marianne” contacted Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and informed us that three boats of the Israeli navy had surrounded her in international waters, while sailing approximately 100NM from Gaza coast. After that we lost contact with the “Marianne” and at 05:11AM (Gaza time) the IDF announced that they had “visited and searched” Marianne. They had captured the boat and detained all on board “in international waters” as they admitted themselves. The only positive content in the IDF announcement was that they still recognize that there is a naval blockade of Gaza, despite Netanyahu’s government recent denial that one exists. We have no reason to believe that Marianne’s capture was “uneventful”, because the last time the IDF said something like that, in 2012, the people on board the “Estelle” were badly tasered and beaten with clubs. Back in 2010, ten passengers of Mavi Marmara were murdered by the IDF during a similar operation in international waters. It is disappointing that the Israeli government chose to continue the absolutely fruitless policy of “no tolerance”, meaning it will continue to enforce an inhumane and illegal collective punishment against 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's repeated acts of state piracy in...

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29 June
34
Freedom Flotilla   |   press release   |   No comment

Freedom Flotilla III: Marianne approaches Gaza, sailing boats return back

According to Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s latest contact with the “Marianne” at 2AM (Gaza time), the boat is aproximately 105 nautical miles and continues on its course towards the Palestinian territorial waters and the port of Gaza. It is expected to reach its destination during the next 24 hours.   As the “Marianne” enters the final segment of its trip, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has decided to reveal its strategy. At this moment the three sailing boats accompanying and supporting the “Marianne” (“Rachel”, “Vittorio” and “Juliano II”) are changing their course and will be heading back to their ports of origin.  Political representatives, journallists, peace activists on board, a total number of 29 sailors, have assisted the Marianne and its people towards their long and difficult journey, which has always remained to end the illegal and inhumane blockade of Gaza.   We demand that our respective governments act with humanity and to ensure the safety of all of the delegates on board the “Marianne”. We call once again on the government of Israel to finally lift the blockade on Gaza and let the peaceful ship, the “Marianne”, reach its destination in order to deliver its cargo of dignity and hope. We urge all international organizations...

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29 June
32
Freedom Flotilla   |   press release   |   2 Comments

Freedom Flotilla III : 47 Participants on Four Boats Sailing Now

Freedom Flotilla III, consisting of four boats, the converted fishing trawler "Marianne of Gothenburg" and the supporting sailing vessels “Rachel”, “Vittorio” and “Juliano II”, carrying 47 people from 17 countries, has been sailing since Saturday morning (Gaza time) to challenge the blockade of 1.8 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Our primary goal is to break the illegal and inhumane blockade of Gaza and to call on opening the port of Gaza, the port of Palestine to the world.   Three sailing vessels are accompanying the Marianne, her freedom sailors and cargo on her way to Gaza. Their names (Rachel, Vittorio and Juliano II) were given in memory of peace activists Rachel Corrie, Vittorio Arrigoni and Juliano Mer-Khamis, while Juliano II also recalls the Juliano, another boat that was about to leave port but had to stay, due to technical reasons. It is not yet clear whether this boat has been sabotaged, as happened in 2011, and this suspicious case is still under investigation.   While the Flotilla bears much-needed aid, our main cargo is, as always, human solidarity and non-violent direct action for the respect of human rights.   Since Saturday, the Marianne has been under surveillance by what crew described as military vessels and...

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28 June
36
Freedom Flotilla   |   logbook, press release   |   4 Comments

Unidentified vessel and military reconnaissance plane near Marianne

Marianne of Gothenburg can now be located 279 nautical miles from Gaza. -Military vessels and reconnaissance planes appeared near Marianne during Saturday afternoon, says Joel Opperdoes kaptain onboard Marianne. Opperdoes informs that an undentified vessel and what in his opinion appears as a military reconnaissance aircraft, which during Saturday afternoon could be located near Marianne. The crew could not identify nationality for neither the vessels or the planes. - The vessel and plane disappeared around 5pm today and we haven’t seen any signs of them since, the kaptain says....

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27 June
29
Freedom Flotilla   |   news, press release   |   3 Comments

Freedom Flotilla III sets sail: #NextPortGaza

Today, June 27th 2015, four boats of the 2015 the Freedom Flotilla III set sail from their final European points of departure. Through nonviolent resistance they will challenge the illegal blockade of the Palestinian Gaza strip, which is running on its 9th year, sailing as always from international waters directly into Palestinian waters. The Flotilla is due to reach Gaza in just a few days. Participants on board include about 50 human rights activists, journalists, artists, and political figures representing 17 countries. This is the third Freedom Flotilla to sail, in addition to nine single boats that have undertaken to sail to Gaza, beginning in 2008 when several voyages reached Gaza City harbor and returned to Europe from their mission of bringing supplies and solidarity to the people of Gaza. A converted fishing trawler, the 'Marianne of Gothenburg'  left Sweden in May to join the flotilla and has made numerous stops along its journey around Europe. Marianne is carrying solar panels that would help alleviate the serious problem of electricity in Gaza, as well .as medical equipment. Three other sailing vessels (Rachel, Vittorio and Juliano II) are accompanying Marianne in its mission to break the blockade of Gaza, in solidarity to the...

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27 June
23
Freedom Flotilla   |   news, press release   |   4 Comments

Freedom Flotilla III is Sailing to Open the Port of Gaza

More than three boats, with more than 50 crew and passengers from about twenty countries are prepared to reach the port of Gaza and call on the international community to open it This year’s mission, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition against the blockade and the siege of Gaza, is about to sail to highlight the violation of the rights of 1.8 million Palestinians living in the world’s largest open-air prison. The Israeli government claims that there are ‘unauthorized boats trying to illegally enter Israeli territorial waters’. There are no ‘unauthorized boats’, only an illegal and inhumane blockade; the UN has recently called to end it and Freedom Flotilla III sails to challenge it, without any need or desire to enter Israeli territorial waters. This fact is highlighted by the practices of Israeli naval forces against previous sea missions, which have intercepted all boats since 2009 in international waters, headed towards Palestinian waters off Gaza, never towards Israel or Israeli waters. Freedom Flotilla III is invited by Palestinians in Gaza through various organizations that work for a relief of the thousands that were left heavily wounded, homeless, jobless, and displaced after recent Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip. We also have among our...

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26 June
22
Freedom Flotilla   |   news, press release   |   1 Comment

More than a hundred MEPs call for end to Gaza blockade

More than a hundred MEPs from all European political groups have signed an open letter to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini to call EU countries to fully support peaceful actions of the Freedom Flotilla, to ask from Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza, and to take steps towards ensuring that Israel fulfills its responsibilities in the international community. The initiative has been announced to the press today by MEPs Martina Anderson (Sinn Fein), Josu Juaristi (EH Bildu), Miguel Urban (Podemos), Angela Vallina (IU) and Jordi Sebastia (Compromís).   "Within the last eight years Gaza has been subjected to three large military onslaughts by Israel," Martina Anderson, Member of the European Parliament for the Nordic Green Left, said. "The Gaza strip is some of the most densely populated urban areas; it is blockaded by land, air and sea by Israel," "There is little wonder as to why Gaza is described as the world’s largest open air prison." "The many thousands of people who protested in Ireland and across Europe against Israel's onslaught on Gaza, almost a year ago, illustrate clearly the solidarity of the people to Palestine and their rejection of Israel's blockade and occupation. As an...

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24 June
31
Freedom Flotilla   |   logbook, press release   |   5 Comments

Next stop: Gaza

Around 10 pm Friday, Ship to Gaza's trawler Marianne of Gothenburg left the port of Messina at the east coast of Sicilia and sailed out on to the Ionian sea through the strait of Messina. During the coming week Marianne will meet up with the other boats who are part of Freedom Flottila III. Together they will try to break the illegal blockade on Gaza through a peaceful non-violent action. The short stop in Messina was an intensive one with meetings with peace activists and a press conference at the city hall with the mayor of Messina, the famous corruption fighter enemy Renato Accorinti. On board at Marianne, to participate in this action, you will find: The Swedish journalist, author and social critic Kajsa Ekis Ekman The Swedish-Israeli composer and activist Dror Feiler The Canadanian scholar and activist Robert "Bob" Lovelace, a veteran within movements in support of the Indigenous peoples' rights The Spanish Member of the European Parliament Ana Maria Miranda Paza (Bloque Nacionalista Galego) Professor Gerd von der Lippe norwegian sport sociologist and former athletics stare. The following journalists will be attending: The Russian journalist Nadia Kevorkova A New Zealand team from Maoria Television, consisting of the reporter Ruwani Perera and the cameraman Jacob Bryant ...

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20 June
24
Freedom Flotilla   |   logbook, press release   |   1 Comment

Marianne reaches Messina

Ship to Gaza's fishing ship "Marianne of Gothenbug" has reached the city of Messina, Sicilia. Messina will be the last stop before the ship joins the Freedom Flottila at sea and takes part in the joint effort to sail to Gaza. Among the Freedom flottila crew you find the Swedish journalist Kajsa Ekis-Ekman and the Canadian scholar Robert "Bob" Lovelace, a life-long activist in the movements for the Indigenous peoples' rights. At Friday the "Marianne of Gothenburg" crew will take part in non-violence training. At lunch time a press conference will take place, on the initiative of the Messia city mayor. In the late afternoon, the crew will leave Messia in order to join the Freedom Flottila.   VÍDEOS...

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19 June
21
Freedom Flotilla   |   logbook, press release   |   No comment

Marianne arrives in Palermo, Sicily

On June 15th, ca 4 PM, the trawler Marianne av Göteborg, will be welcomed in Palermo in Sicily, Italy at the port of Cala. At 6 PM there will be a possibility for interested to meet the crew and passengers. The ship, which is headed towards the eastern Mediterranean where she will team up with other ships of the third Freedom Flotilla, carries a cargo of a solar panel and medical equipment. Lastly, the boat is solidarity cargo itself: “On arrival in Gaza port we will donate the ship to a local Fisherman’s union” says Charlie Andreasson, sailor and member of the steering committee in Ship to Gaza Sweden, one of the organizations in Freedom Flotilla Coalition. On June 16th at noon there will be a press conference to meet the activists of Marianne, with the presence of Rosario Crocetta, President of the Region of Sicily, Vincenzo Cannatella, Special Commissioner of the Port Authority of Palermo, Zaher Darwish, President of the Coordination of Solidarity with Palestine of Palermo and Paola Mandato of Freedom Flotilla Italia. Next destination of Marianne, before sailing to Gaza, will be announced during the press conference. For more about the programme Local contacts: Tiziano Ferri - Freedom Flotilla Italy +39 334 1737274...

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14 June
21
Freedom Flotilla   |   logbook, press release   |   No comment

Friday 5th of Jun, 2015 [Lisbon-Motril]

Last port of call: Lisbon, Portugal Next port of Call: Motril, Spain Position: N 38° 08.6´ , W 009° 13.2´ Speed: 7,7 Knots Course: 167° Remaining distance to Motril: 362Nm Estimated time of arrival, Motril: Sunday 7th 12:00 CET Remaining distance to Gaza: 2361 NM Estimated time of arrival, Gaza: Before the end of June We departured from Lisbon this morning at 6 AM. Due to tidal conditions and draft restrictions it was either this time or chose to wait for the next high tide. Eager to go and put some more distance behind us we decided to leave our beds at 5 AM and prepare the ship for sailing. So far the weather has been fair with a breeze from the North and a small swell from Northeast. There are 14 persons onboard and during our introductory meeting yesterday with our new guests it struck me how many people we are from all around the world and different backgrounds, but with one common aim. To end the Blockade! People who would never had met or talked to each other if it wasn’t for the blockade. We all have one thing in common, the belief in human rights and that all human beings have the same right to exist...

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05 June
22
Freedom Flotilla   |   logbook, press release   |   No comment

Marianne is near to reach Mediterranean sea

Marianne, the Scandinavian trawler who is headed to meet up with other boats of the third #Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, is about to enter the Mediterranean Sea. After its departure from Sweden, Marianne has stopped in Norway, Germany, France, Spain and Portugal where welcoming committees organized a reception in the town hall, as well as film and music events. The passenger’s list on the first part of the travel includes European MEPs, authors, politicians, and activists from the different countries where the Freedom Flotilla tops. Marianne is a trawler who will give the people of Gaza better possibilities to fish in their own waters, something that is now heavily restricted by the Israeli occupation forces. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is in an emergency state and its society totally depends on external aid. The goal of Marianne's journey is to end the blockade, goal shared by the other Freedom Flotilla boats....

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04 June
28
Freedom Flotilla   |   logbook, press release   |   No comment

Marianne approaches Brest, France.

The trawler Marianne av Göteborg, acquired by Ship to Gaza Sweden and Ship to Gaza Norway, is on her way to the Mediterranean, where she will join other ships in a new #Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, Palestine. Next stop on the way is Brest, where associates will welcome the ship and its crew. Media and public are invited to a reception at Quai la Pérouse au Port du Château, on Tuesday May 26th, at 6 PM. Two young Swedes, Magdalena Almawed, chairperson of Palestine House in Göteborg and Jesper Hillbom, member of the board of Young Left in Sweden, have accompanied the crew on the way from Germany to France. Hillbom says: - To travel with Ship to Gaza now feels very important. Marianne is a trawler who will give the people of Gaza better possibilities to fish in their own waters, something that is now heavily restricted by the Israeli occupational forces. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is in an emergency state and society totally dependent on external aid. The goal of Marianne’s journey is to end the blockade. Contact in Brest is Claude Léostic. Phone: +33672516490...

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25 May
22