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Palestine Monitor Largest Ever Flotilla And Land Convoy To Reach Gaza ’After Ramadan’ Plans for the largest ever Freedom Flotilla bound for Gaza are well under way, with organisers having begun a scheduled 13 week planning process. Although numbers are yet to be finalised, former MP and prominent activist George Galloway told a Palestine Solidarity Campaign conference at the weekend 60 ships would converge in Gaza with a land convoy of around 500 vehicles, departing from London. Viva Palestina spokesman and passenger on the most recent flotilla Kevin Ovenden told us the convoy would be “considerably bigger” than any previous aid trip and would include the largest British contingent yet. Ruqqayah Collector of the British-based Palestine Solidarity Campaign said the PSC, along with Viva Palestina would be “organising and playing a leading role in the next flotilla”. The weekend’s conference, which outlined a vision for the next trip, spent time discussing the British government’s failure to support its activists, as well as its complicity in the blockade through its arms trading with Israel. The British Government receives around £30 million each year through weapon sales to the Jewish state, weapons which were heavily used during Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Last year a cross party coalition of MPs called for guarantees to “ensure that UK arms exports to Israel are not used in the occupied territories”. Further consternation greeted the news that the British consulate had only deigned to visit its nationals once they were already being deported, whereas consulates including Macedonia’s were in Ashdod within hours. The next flotilla will co-ordinate with a land convoy, aiming to converge simultaneously on Gaza, approximately three and a half weeks after the start date. Galloway had previously announced both trips would begin on Sunday September 12, but the date has yet to be officially decided. Ovenden hopes to depart “shortly after Ramadan”. The previous trip included representatives of over 40 nations but Ovenden believes ‘Freedom Flotilla 2” will have a far broader international presence. “Last time we had a strong Algerian, Jordanian and Turkish contingent, but now we are mobilising our friends in Bahrain and other gulf states as well, along with far greater participation from Italy, France and Spain. We are holding informal discussions with representatives of Morocco, Mauritania and many others on the Arab side. There has been great enthusiasm from new communities, not just solidarity movements. The full breadth of the coalition will emerge shortly”. Regarding passengers’ safety in light of the Mavi Marmara massacre, Ovenden said “we’ll be looking at that very carefully, but with outrage over the last flotilla so palpable, we think the navy will be extremely cautious.” This was not confirmed by IDF sources who said no decision had yet been made on how to handle the next convoy. Spokesman had previously suggested different methods might be employed such as “the timing of the boarding”, but warned “we will prepare as if it were a war”. Despite the obvious risks inherent a source from PSC’s weekend conference told us that “no participants had been put off. There is huge enthusiasm for the next mission.” Repercussions for the massacre which left nine Turkish citizens dead continue apace with news that Sweden has imposed a week long boycott on Israeli ships docking in its ports. Last week South Africa’s Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) announced a motion to declare every municipality in the country "an Apartheid Israel free zone" to ensure "no commercial, academic, cultural, sporting or other linkages whatsoever with the Israeli regime." The French charity, the Committee of Charity and Relief for Palestinians, which had six members on board the flotilla, has filed lawsuits against Israel on charges of violence, piracy, and abduction in international waters. Two Spanish activists, Manuel Tapial and Laura Arau, have initiated similar actions. While details are yet to be thrashed out, it is now clear that the scale and commitment of the next flotilla will pose a severe challenge to the illegal blockade of Gaza, as well as to the skills of Israel’s PR department. PSC’s Ruqqayah Collector is confident the convoy will be able to capitalise on the outrage which followed the massacre. “Following Israel’s latest atrocity, there has been a real shift in the solidarity movement. We are entering a new phase, and it’s up to the solidarity organisations to harness, nourish and include new forces in the work that we are doing to end the siege on Gaza, end the occupation and hold Israel accountable under international law.”
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