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One of the passengers, Ramzi Kysia, told the Israeli news service, Ynet.org:
"We'll be back again and again....the Israeli regime should be careful, because we're coming. We won't stop until this blockade is broken forever and Gaza residents have access to the rest of the world." She also said the group's attorney will demand that Israel return its vessel.
Gaza Freedom Marchers' (GFM) Mission of Mercy
In late December, around 1,400 activists from about 43 countries gathered in Cairo, Egypt, preparing to travel to Gaza with humanitarian aid as a show of solidarity with its 1.5 million people needing all they can get - "put(ting) forth a global call to Israel to Lift the Siege of Gaza!"
Seven months in the planning, the group included doctors, lawyers, diplomats, students, artists, rabbis, priests, imams, and others, young and old, men and women, united to end the blockade, free the Gazan people, end their suffering, and highlight Israel's outrageous crimes of war, against humanity, and brutalizing oppression that continues daily against civilian "protected people" under international law.
The march was under the auspices of the International Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza, formed after Operation Cast Lead, representing a "diverse coalition that represents all faiths (and no faith) and is focused on human rights in conformance with international law."
On arrival in Egypt, they were harshly treated and prevented from entering Gaza, save for a token 24 hours offered 100 only that the group summarily rejected as outrageous and unacceptable. Some dozens, in fact, went, as explained below.
On December 27, 30 freedom marchers were held under house arrest at their hotel in El-Arish, and another eight at the bus station to prevent them from traveling to Gaza. At the same time, security police broke up a Kasr al Nil Bridge commemoration on the anniversary of Israel's attack, disrupting a peaceful protest against it.
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