There is nothing more refreshing than hearing of interesting and courageous actions taken by those who see injustice in the world. Today, the Free Gaza Movement is holding a press conference in Nicosia, to publicly introduce its international team that will take a group of volunteers from Cyprus to Gaza in popular solidarity with Palestinian human rights.
The group on the ship is an interesting combination that deserves the best media coverage. On the ship there will be an 81 years old Catholic nun, Hedy Epstein (an 83 years old Holocaust Survivor) , Palestinians from Gaza, and people representing 17 nationalities and four major religions. There will be a big media crew on board. On the ship, with the media crew there will be Lauren Booth, Tony Blair sister in Law who is also a journalist.
Gaza has been under seige since June 2007, putting 1.5 million Palestinians in dire state. There has been few resources allowed into Gaza, creating a humanitarian crisis. Patients in serious need for medication are not even allowed to leave to get necessary and vital medical care, leading to the death of more than 50 critical Gazan patients. Today, the Guardian reported on the kind of pressure the patients go through to be able to exit Gaza. According to Physicians for Human rights (PHR), an Israeli NGO, Israelis put pressure on Gazan patients needing to exit Gaza to get medical care to spy on their own people. Those who refused have been denied exit.
A few weeks ago, Amnesty International, issued a document describing the situation of Palestinians trapped in Gaza. It is sickening to see how everyone has turned a blind eye. But I have hope in today’s initiative, it is one that will break the silence on atrocities committed by Israel.