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A Final Comment
On June 14, Huwaida Arraf, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), committed to Palestinian liberation, emailed followers an update on Freedom Flotilla II, a 15 ship convoy with over 1,500 activists sailing in late June to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
"Unfortunately and incredibly," she said, "Israel is threatening to" interdict it with "even greater violence" than against Freedom Flotilla I in May 2010, slaughtering nine or more activists and injuring dozens more.
This time "Israel's threats include the use of snipers and canine units. Even more deplorable, world leaders, rather than demanding that Israel halt its provocative behavior towards us and refrain from again attacking unarmed civilians, have called the Flotilla initiative a provocation and have asked countries....to prevent us from sailing."
Nonetheless, "(w)e are determined to sail to Gaza. Our cause is just and our means are transparent. (We present no) imminent threat to Israel nor do we aim to contribute to (an anti-Israeli) war....thus eliminating any claim by Israel to self-defense....We will - and must - continue to sail until the illegal blockade....is ended and Palestinians have the same human and national rights those of us sailing enjoy."
Four supportive women Nobel Peace laureates, including Mairead Maguire, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, and Rigoberta Menchu Tum, sent UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon an open letter asking him to:
"support the people of Gaza with two key actions. First, by appointing a representative to inspect and seal the cargo of the (flotilla's) boats," providing proof it contains humanitarian supplies, and to "call on all governments to support the (flotilla's) safe passage...."
Sadly, Ban is an imperial tool, serving Western/Israeli interests. As a result, he'll do more to discourage the initiative than support it.
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