I stand in admiration to those who have organised and facilitated the latest flotilla to Gaza. The hundreds of people on board are supported by thousands more from many, many countries around the world including Israel. The money they have raised for this phenomenal civic protest comes from individual donations and fundraising. They have no support other than from civil society. They have received plenty of threats and attempts to thwart their protest.
Boats are sailing from France, Norway, the US, Canada, the UK, and Greece amongst others.
While organizers of the flotilla emphasize that they are attempting to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza, unpacking the blockade itself points to urgent questions that must be resolved: the status of Palestinian refugees; the disastrous and unrelenting effects of over 40 years of occupation; and Israel’s utter lack of respect for the human rights of non-Jews. And that’s the discussion the Israeli government doesn’t want any of us to have.