The beginning of smashing the medieval israeli-led siege

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 26 (day 27)

By Yvonne Ridley
Thursday 28 August,

I hope you have enjoyed reading my Gaza blog as much as I have writing it and sharing with you the amazing experience of me and my fellow passengers who took part in the historic free Gaza Movement.
However, this is not the end but just a beginning of smashing the medieval israeli-led siege which has enveloped the good people of Gaza.

Gaza boats: Mr Hosni Mubarak - time to rip down the borders

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 21 (day 24)

By Yvonne Ridley
Monday 25 August,

I still can not believe I am writing to you from Gaza. Since the Free Gaza Movement sailed its two boats into Palestinian waters the celebrations have not stopped and our groups have been very busy.
Today I joined some women whose husbands, fathers and brothers of the Israeli-held detainees in a protest rally as a sign of solidarity in the hope that the Zionist State might show a little bit of humanity and release these political prisoners.

Israel could NOT STOP the boats even if it tried

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 20 (day 23)

By Yvonne Ridley
Sunday 24 August,

Well, you would have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know that I am writing to you today from Gaza.
I really was too overwhelmed yesterday to put pen to paper after the magnificent welcome I and my fellow peace activists from SS Liberty and SS Free Gaza received as we entered the port of Gaza ... the first ships to sail in since 1967.
But I really want to make one thing very clear to you here and now.
Israel did not give us permission to enter Gaza - the reality is they could NOT STOP us even if they tried.
And believe me some of the tactics to scupper our historic voyage were unbelievable.
Some of us, our family and friends have received death threats by telephone, text and emails while the whole Free Gaza Movement was targetted by Zionists lawyers who tried to sink our mission beofre it even began.
We were accused of being a front for a Hamas operarted gun-running venture and even iran was accused of being party by supplying weapons.
Then Israel Foreign Minister Zvipi Livni made a snide comment a few days ago saying she hoped we could all swim while the Naval Commander announced he was running military exercises off the coast of Gaza and had thrown a 35-mile wide exclusion zone around.
As you know we set off from Larnaca, determined but a little nervous on Friday and, in the dead of night, all of our communications when down ... satellite phones, radar etc. There we were sailing in rough seas, in the pitch black without any form of communication to the outside world.
It was psychological warfare but the Zionist scare tactics failed and driven by nothing more than people power and a couple of seaworthy engines the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty sailed into a tumultus welcome in Gaza.
It was one of those defining moments in history - a bit like the first brick of the Berlin Wall being dislodged by ordinary citizens sick of the injustices imposed in a world run by political bullies.
All I could hear ringing in my ears was "Free, Free, Free Gaza and Allahu Akbar".
The emotion was unbelievable and the joy swept us all along on the crest of a gigantic Palestinian wave of delight and disbelief.
We have now smashed the medieval siege imposed by Israel but we will not stop.
Now we need to tear down the checkpoint and crossing at Rafah where so much humanitarian aid has arrived only to be refused entry.
The Egyptian Government should hang its head in shame that a bunch of largely white, non-Muslim westerners smashed the brutal siege by sea to reach the Palestinians and now they must do the same.
There were a few weasel words from Abu Mazen on the day we arrived ... why did the Palestinian leader take so long to send us a goodwill message? Was he waiting for the greenlight by his political masters in washington and Tel Aviv? 'Fraid it was too little too late from a man who is doing his best to ignore the people of Gaza ... shame, shame, shame on you!
And as for the words of goodwill from the Arab League - back them up with hard cash to make this whole Free Gaza Movement permanent so we can open a ferry between Larnaca and Gaza which will run regularly.
Finally, a big thank you to all of you out there who have given us unstinting solidarity, support and encouragement.
It is time for the politicians to move aside and let the people take over - the people united will never be defeated.
Must dash - I'm about to get my passport stamped with Gaza, Gaza City.

* Yvonne Ridley was on board the SS LIberty with film-maker Aki Nawaz producing a documentary for Press TV which will be shown later this year.

More info @ The Free Gaza Movement

We will all be held to account over the biggest crime against humanity in Gaza

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 19 (day 20)

By Yvonne Ridley
Thursday 21 August,


WHEN I was captured by the Taliban just after the horrific events of 9/11 my mother captivated the world's media for the entire 10 days I was held in Afghanistan.
She did better than any international diplomat as she briefed the press morning, noon and night and virtually became Britain's best known mum overnight.
Several days into my detention, the then Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called her to advise that her headline-grabbing over-the-garden-gate press conferences could jeopardise my life and so she should stop. Undeterred, she told the government minister to: "Get lost".

Yvonne: we are determined to smash the medieval siege of Gaza

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 18 (day 19)

By Yvonne Ridley
Wednesday 20 August,

IT IS NOT every day a boat gets an official escort into port but the Free Gaza and the SS liberty were given the VIP treatment by the Cypriot Coast Guard during the early hours of this morning as we headed towards Larnaca.
By 8.30am we pulled into the commercial port and there we were finally re-united with the rest of the Free Gaza Movement activists.

ur mission: to smash the medieval siege of Gaza with boats

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 16 (day 18)

By Yvonne Ridley
Tuesday 19 August,


I have been at sea now for more than 24 hours since the Free Gaza sailed from the last of the Greek island ports en route for Cyprus.
Life on board is beginning to test us all now but morale is still very high and our bonds as a team are growing stronger.
We probably all pong since there are no shower or bathing facilitities on board and I haven’t had a good scrub for three days at least.
There are a couple of toilets, but I’m feeling slightly queasy at the moment so we’ll skip those details.
Living conditions as you’ve probably gathered are very basic and below decks is so hot and humid that most of us prefer to sleep on deck.

Can Israel tolerate peaceful campaigners heading Gaza?

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 15 (day 17)

By Yvonne Ridley
Monday 18 August,

Israel’s Foreign minister Tzipi Livni has warned the Free Gaza Movement that she will not tolerate plans by the international peace campaigners to sail in to Palestine.
In a long message sent to the peace activists yesterday, the foreign minister’s department was responding to an open invitation to Ms Livni to come on board either the SS Liberty or Free Gaza.
As you know, I am on board the Free Gaza which is presently heading for Cyprus where around 20 other international peace activists are waiting to join the floating peace mission.

Was neuroscientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui raped and tortured at US Bagram prison?

The mysterious case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui

Was neuroscientist raped and tortured at US Bagram prison in Afghanistan during a period of five years?

Ernesto Cienfuegos
La Voz de Aztlan

Alta California - August 14, 2008 - (ACN) It appear that the Bush Administration may have another "Abu Ghraib Prison" type torture scandal in its hands that it is desperately attempting to cover up. The disturbing human rights case involves a Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Brandeis University educated Pakistani national that mysteriously disappeared, along with her three children, in Afghanistan in 2003. This past week the seriously injured, frail, traumatized and confused Dr. Siddiqui re-appeared in a wheel chair in a New York federal court accused of terrorism and to face charges that she attempted to kill FBI and US soldiers in Afghanistan.

Israel might target Gaza boats which present absolutely no threat to Telaviv

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 14 (day 15)
By Yvonne Ridley
Saturday 16 August,

As we sail from one secret location in the Greek islands to another I must say I am a wee bit concerned about the colour of my lifejacket.
Now I know you would think my mind might be more focused on other burning issues ... like are we ever going to get to Cyprus to pick up the rest of our group?

ISRAEL will stop at nothing to thwart the Free Gaza Movement

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 13 (day 14)
By Yvonne Ridley
Friday 15 August,

ISRAEL will stop at nothing to thwart the Free Gaza Movement.
And as our two-boat mission continues to head towards Cyprus there have been several attempts to undermine the heroic campaign to smash the siege of Gaza.
For instance, earlier this week someone fired a rocket at Israel from Gaza in defiance of the Hamas-brokered truce.
I can also tell you that whoever did fire the rocket into the Zionist State was also working for the Zionist State.
Yes, sadly, there are collaborators inside Gaza and the rocket firing was not only an attempt to wreck the cease-fire, it was a deliberate ploy to scupper the Free Gaza Movement which is gathering world attention and support.
As someone who has written about and studied the activities of intelligence agencies across the world for more than two decades, I can tell you that since the demise of the East German Stasi, there is no other spy agency as skilled at the art of black propaganda as Israel's Mossad.
And I see my conclusion is also shared by a senior leader in Hamas, Dr Mahmud Zahar, who has criticised the rocket attack from Gaza in violation of a seven-week-old calm.
He said: "I think those who are responsible are those who collaborate with Israel because there is a consensus by all Palestinian groups to respect the truce."

The rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in an empty field outside the southern Israeli city of Sderot, causing no casualty or damage on Monday evening.

Speaking to Gaza radio station, Dr Zahar said whoever launched the rocket was "linked to Israel as they provide a pretext to exercise pressure on the Palestinian people."
And, of course, for every action there is a reaction by the Zionist State which uses such attacks to justify its vile actions. The following day Israel squeezed the immense pressure already exerted on the people of Gaza by closing the Nahal Oz crossing to Gaza Strip that is used to ferry in fuel and the Sufa passage for food deliveries to the impoverished and blockaded territory.
On his part, MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, strongly denounced the Israeli decision to close the crossings, statng that the Gaza commercial crossings are already paralyzed despite the calm.
In a press statement, Khudari underlined that the Gaza crossings especially Al-Mintar (Karni) crossing must remain open around the clock for more than a year in order to end the effects of the Israeli siege imposed on the Strip two years ago. The lawmaker also pointed out that Gaza needs more than 400 trucks laden with raw materials necessary for various industrial sectors.

Of course all this has given israel yet another excuse to tighten its merciless grip on the world's largest open air prison, and firing the rocket has given the israeli Navy a good excuse to try and stop our seaborne mission to smash the siege of Gaza using two boats - the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty.
Their efforts will, of course, be in vain because as regular readers of this blog know, the Free gaza Movement activists are determined to let nothing stop them in their peaceful mission to reach the people of Gaza by sea.
We are not asking permission to enter Israel. We pose absolutely no threat to Israel. We just want to reach the beach on the Gaza Strip with messages of peace, goodwill and some hearing aids for all those Palestinian children with hearing problems caused by Israeli bombs.
Of course the collaborators who fired the rocket into Israel earlier this week have not helped our cause, but I wonder just what pressure the Zionist State put on them to do this destructive action.
I only say this because of a report released just a few days ago which revealed Irael's secret police are pressuring Palestinians in Gaza to spy on their community in exchange for urgent medical treatment.
The report was released by an Israeli human rights organisation. Physicians for Human Rights says the Shin Bet began interrogating Palestinian patients seeking permission to travel from Gaza to Israel for crucial medical help after Israel blockaded and then declared the tiny territory an enemy entity more than a year ago.
Typically, patients are taken to a small, windowless room, underground, beneath the security terminal at Erez, the only passenger crossing that remains open between Gaza and Israel, where they are questioned by Shin Bet agents for hours, the report says.
Refusal to cooperate often results in the denial of medical treatment. Based on the testimonies of more than 30 Palestinians - 11 of which are published - the report says the Shin Bet is using coercion and extortion to force patients to collaborate.

So you see, israel's intelligence services are capable of anything and believe me, i could write much more on what they've tried to do to stop us but that can wait until another day.
In the meantime our focus is Gaza and getting there, insh'Allah.

* Yvonne Ridley and film-maker Aki Nawaz are on board the Free Gaza and the SS Liberty making a documentary for Press TV about the journey from the Greek islands to Cyprus and then on to Gaza.

More info @ The FreeGaza Movement

Now:breaking the siege of Gaza, Then: giving the US navy a demonstration in Persian Gulf

Diary 12 (day 13)
By Yvonne Ridley
Thursday 14 August,

The first leg of our seaborne journey was completed early this morning after a night sailing in stormy waters which really tested the endurance of the Free Gaza and SS Liberty following our departure from the port of Chania in Crete.
We are now docked in another secret location in the Greek islands - sorry but there are genuine concerns for the security of our two boats so I can say no more about our location.
We have already been delayed by a few days but am happy to say we are all as determined as ever to smash the brutal Israel blockade strangling the good people of Gaza.
News reports are scarce out at sea but I've just heard that America, Britain and France, fresh from their recent war games in the Atlantic Ocean are now preparing for a naval blockade of Iran giving rise to speculation in the region of war in the Persian Gulf area.
Well I know for sure that Iran is not Gaza. It is armed and has a capable navy ready to repel such nonsense on its own doorstep.
But, as I write I am told that the Western armada steaming towards Iran includes a US Navy supercarrier battle group, an US Navy
expeditionary carrier battle group, a Royal Navy carrier battle group, a French nuclear hunter-killer submarine plus a large number of US Navy
cruisers, destroyers and frigates playing the "enemy force".
I suppose it makes our little two-boat armada of the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty seem incredibly tiny, but I can tell you when it comes to determination, sheer guts and a total conviction of what we're doing is right then we totally out gun the bullying super powers.
You see all those sailors heading towards the Persian Gulf will have grave doubts about their mission and where it will end ... there's already talk of a Third World War erupting. US servicemen are increasingly going absent without leave and the suicide rate among the young military is increasingly high because of the Vietnam-style quagmire they've already got themselves into in Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, the crews of the Free Gaza campaign have no such doubts about our mission and why it must succeed. And, despite the enormous challenges we're still
together.
And who knows, after we break the siege of Gaza may be we should then head towards the Persian Gulf and give the US navy a demonstration of the power of peaceful resistance.
Well perhaps I am getting ahead of myself now.
The one thing I do envy though is the enormous military aid thrown at the Persian Gulf-bound armada - i don't suppose you'll ever see the US Navy trying to raise funds at a bring and buy sale.
Well I don;t mind admitting that our Free Gaza campaign was launched on a shoestring budget and floats thanks to cash gifts from our global supporters - but if you do fancy giving us some more help then go on to our website www.freegaza.com and buy a gallon or so of fuel or sponsor a leg of our journey.
And once we smash the Israeli blockade we really want to keep the shipping lanes open between Gaza and the rest of the world so intend to run a regular route to and grom Cyprus and other ports in the region. So please donate and help keep our boats afloat.

* Yvonne Ridley and film-maker Aki Nawaz are making a documentary about the Free Gaza campaign for Press TV.

More info @ The FreeGaza Movement

Israelis threaten peaceful activists heading Gaza

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 11 (day 12)
By Yvonne Ridley
Wednesday 13 August,

By the time you read this our two boats, the Free Gaza and SS Liberty should be sailing from Chania's old port in Crete despite a gloomy forecast of storms ahead.
Our captains have decided it's time to quit our dock for security reasons and so we are heading along the Crete coastline on our way to pick up the rest of our passengers who have been waiting patiently in Cyprus.
We could be in for a rough ride, but without going into too much detail, we probably are more at risk by not moving.
Israel has a history of using Mossad and Kidon to sabotage and destroy peaceful operations designed to help or show solidarity towards Palestinians.
From Crete we will head towards larnaca, Cyprus to pick up the rest of our group and then we are bound for Gaza to break the medieval siege imposed by Israel.
Media interest is once again gathering momentum and there are those who want to join us on board while others are considering hiring their own boats ... the more the merrier. Wouldn't it be great if we had a huge flotilla?
However, there are concerns from the media because Israel has a history of shooting, killing, arresting journalists who try to report the truth about the brutal occupation of Palestine.
I was reminded of this only this morning a I read a released a few minutes ago from Reporters Without Borders. The human rights20group were condemning today's announcement by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) to detain Ibrahim Hamad, a soundman employed by the Palestinian news agency Ramattan, for six months without bringing charges and without taking him before any court.
Hamad was arrested by Israeli soldiers at his home in Qalandiyah, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, on July 15.“The Israeli military may not under any circumstances arrest journalists or media assistants without giving a reason,” Reporters Without Borders said. “If they think a journalist has done something wrong, they must say what it is and they must explain why they are arresting him. We call for Hamad’s immediate release.”
When reached by Reporters Without Borders, the management of Ramattan firmly condemned his arrest and called for his release.


They also called on the Israeli authorities to explain why they are holding him. “This is not the first time that one of our employees has been arrested by the Israeli military,” the agency said.
Israeli boasts it is a democracy ... these are not the actions of a democratic state. These are the actions of a brutal state which tries to crush those dedicated to telling the truth about the full 20 horrors of the Zionist regime and its determination to see through its deliberate and slow genocide of the Palestinian people.
We will be able to see in a few days time exactly how the Israelis react to a group of peaceful activists who want to sail into Gaza armed with nothing more than love and support for their Palestinian brothers and sisters.
If israel is really a free and open democracy then its Navy will let us past, Mossad will stop trying to sabotage our journey and all of the journalists on board, including myself, will be able to report the truth about what is happening in the world's largest open air prison called Gaza.
In the meantime I would urge the IOF to release our brother Ibrahim Hamad and allow him to continue his media work.

* Yvonne Ridley and film-maker Aki Nawaz are on board the Free Gaza where they are making a documentary for Press TV about the siege-breaking, water-borne venture to Palestine.

More info @ The FreeGaza Movement

American captain Ken leads the boats to free Gaza

Diaries from Free Gaza Movement boats
Diary 10 (day 11)
By Yvonne Ridley
Tuesday 12 August,

Apologies to all, I was just too depressed to relay my latest news about the Free Gaza campaign ... our seaborne mission to smash the Israeli siege has been delayed yet again, by bad weather.
Ken O'Keefe, one of the several captains to skipper the SS liberty and SS Free Gaza, reckons that conditions in the Mediterranean would prove too risky to set sail from Crete for Cyprus until later in the week.

'SS Liberty' Sails to Gaza to Challenge Israel

July 30, 2008
Military.com
by Bryant Jordan

Forty-one years after the American surveillance ship USS Liberty was napalmed, torpedoed and strafed by Israeli naval and air forces during the Six-Day War, another "Liberty" will be setting out from a Cyprus port in August to try to break through the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The "SS Liberty" is one of two ships -- along with "SS Free Gaza" -- that will be carrying an international group opposed to Israel's blockade of Gaza. Israel imposed the blockade just over a year ago.

Karin Pally, a spokeswoman in Los Angeles for the group Free Gaza Movement, said the ship was named in honor of 34 Sailors and Marines killed in the attack and to help bring the Gaza issue home to Americans.

Jim Ennes, an officer aboard the original Liberty and author of the book Assault on the Liberty said he was invited to take part in the protest sailing to Gaza but was not able to make it.

Until contacted by Military.com for comment, Ennes was unaware that organizers had named one of the ships after the Liberty, but he said he is "absolutely" pleased with the move and wishes he could be there.

Israel attacked the Liberty on June 8, 1967, later saying they thought it was an Egyptian vessel -- though survivors and others have long said the Israeli pilots and sailors knew exactly who they targeted.

The U.S. Navy began telling families of the American dead that the attack was accidental even before it convened an official board of inquiry, which about 10 days later delivered that same finding, according to Navy documents.

Six years ago the legal affairs adviser to the board, retired Capt. Ward Boston, broke his silence to say the investigation was a sham, and that the final version was altered to exonerate the Israelis. Boston died in June.

Pally said the two ships will include about 40 passengers from 16 countries, including Israel and the United States.

"Everyone is committed to non-violence," she said of the participants. "The Free Gaza Movement has arranged with a third party security expert to completely secure and search the boats before they leave Cyprus to make sure there are no weapons or anything dangerous aboard."

The larger of the two ships, the SS Free Gaza, will be equipped with a Web cam and will be posting streaming video to their Web site -- www.freegaza.org -- during the voyage, Pally said.

More info @ Military.com

This slow genocide of the people of Gaza is a shame to all of us.

By Yvonne Ridley
Day 9 diary
Free Gaza Movement Boats
August 10

I STARTED becoming politically aware as a child when I heard mention of the name Nelson Mandela and, depending on your viewpoint, he was either a heroic freedom fighter or a terrorist.
As I began entering my teens the whole grotesque business of Apartheid South Africa became more and more apparent and even more abhorrent in my eyes.
Why should someone be discriminated against on the colour of their skin ... well that's like picking on someone because they're of a different faith, I thought.

Public awareness, boycott campaigns, political pressure, ordinary folk mobilising and putting their lives at risk to highlight the struggle of black South Africans made headlines.
Of course we know how the brutality of that Apartheid regime came crashing down and today no one speaks about Nelson Mandela other than in glowing terms.
Parallels are now being drawn with the Anti-Apartheid struggle in South Africa and the demand for justice for Palestinians.

Israel is no longer seen as a victim but a jack-booted thug, bully and oppressor.
International outrage and cries for justice are growing ever louder and I can see public opinion turning away from the Zionist State on a daily basis – gone are the days of 'plucky little Israel' fighting for its very existence.
No one believes anymore that it will be driven into the seas. (Personally I believe it will implode. It is a failed state which can only thrive on the misery and injustice of others).
Judging by the positive media our Free Gaza Movement is receiving it is quite obvious the tide of public opinion is turning just as it did against the oppressive regime in South Africa.
But in the meantime it has to be said that Mahmoud Abbas is no Mandela. he sits, almost in silence as the atrocities against his own people are continuing which makes me realise how vital is the success of our peaceful mission.
Despite a few minor hiccups delaying our launch, we will be sailing from Crete for Cyprus and then on to Palestine to smash the siege of Gaza using two boats crewed by an international brigade of peace activists from across the world.
We have been told to expect thousands of Palestinians taking to the beaches in Gaza to give us a welcome when our two boats SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty arrive.
Sadly, one face not among the crowds will be that of 12-year-old Mohamed Bahloul who is lying in a shabby, hospital ward in Gaza.
He is suffering from kidney failure and is hooked up to a dilapidated dialysis machine which barely operates.
Sadly Mohamed's case is all too common.
Welcome to the reality of life in Gaza - despite the ceasefire between the Hamas government in Gaza and Israel that ensured that homemade rockets are no longer fired at southern Israeli towns. Despite this ceasefire there is no respite from poverty and the medieval siege in Gaza. And what's more the situation is getting worse by the day.
Hospitals are lacking equipment and medicine, and neither Israel nor Egypt allows Palestinians fro m Gaza suffering from life threatening illnesses to travel freely, and on a regular basis. Now even water in Gaza is polluted beyond foreseeable remedy.
"If there is a stronger word than catastrophe, I would use that word," said Nader Al-Khateeb, the Palestinian director of Friends of the Earth Middle East. The catastrophe is a "result of Gaza's dilapidated water and sewage infrastructure undermined by [Israeli] attacks and fuel blockades."
This slow genocide of the people of Gaza is a shame to all of us.
And if, in any tiny way, our little peace mission to smash the Israeli blockade of Gaza, can relieve some of the suffering then we will have achieved a minor victory.
Because what I do know is that the Arab leaders in the region are doing nothing to help the plight of their brothers and sisters in Palestine.

And Western politicians may dismiss our efforts as amateurish, but at least we are doing something positive.
Their achievements have amounted to very little after 60 years of diplomacy.
Some of the most disgusting behaviour has come from neighbouring Egypt as I mentioned yesterday when I attacked Hosni Mubarak a man who dances to the tunes played by the US and Israeli pipers.
In the meantime, Hamas is regularly derided for human rights violations reported in Gaza, which are now being used retrospectively to justify the brutal Israeli siege. At the same time Mahmoud Abbas's party hardly receives any reprimand for its brutality towards its own people.
In truth, Abbas is a US controlled puppet who sits over an extremely corrupt regime bank-rolled by America and other donors.
According to some western media reports you might be forgiven for thinking that the conflict is entirely the fault of rival Palestinians, with the Zionist State being nothing more than an innocent observer which has to put up with its noisy neighbours.
However, let me remind you of the words of UN Special rapporteur on human rights, John Dugard who wrote last year: "The question whether Gaza remains an occupied territory is now of academic interest only. In the course of the cynically named "Operation Summer Rains" that commenced on 25 June, the IDF has not only asserted its control in Gaza by means of heavy shelling, but has also done so by means of a military presence."
Make no mistake, Israel is presiding over a slow genocide of the people who exist in the Gaza Strip.
Meanwhile, I'm told to watch out for new tactics from the Zionist military as they attempt to stop our boats from sailing into Gaza in a few days time.
Reports have just reached me that a couple of days ago as Palestinians, internationals and Israeli activists demonstrated against the Israeli Apartheid wall in Bi’lin. soldiers began to spray an unknown substance over the demonstrators from a truck.
The liquid was discoloured and foul smelling and a number of demonstrators vomited and many had to leave the area as the stench was so unbearable. As demonstrators withdrew, soldiers also fired tear gas canisters at them.
This, apparently is a new low in the tactics deployed by the fourth largest army in the world ... a cowardly army which uses live rounds to kill and maim women and children. Activists are awaiting results from analysis of the liquid samples that were collected during the demonstration and naturally, I have a personal interest in knowing their contents.
But all of this behaviour from these silly men in uniforms only makes me more determined than ever to step on to the beach of Gaza.
And once I get there the first person I'm going to ask about is our little brother who is hooked up to a dialysis machine.
Hang in there, Mohamed.
Yvonne Ridley


PS: Apologies to the wonderful Uri Davies who I interviewed the first day I arrived in Cyprus to join the Free Gaza Movement. I referred to him as an Israeli Jew.
He says he is neither – he is in fact a Palestinian-Hebrew (citizen of the apartheid State of Israel and of the allegedly democratic monarchy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland - NOT an "Israeli").
Glad that's sorted!

* Yvonne Ridley a broadcaster and presenter for Press TV will be giving daily updates on the progress of the Free Gaza Movement as it heads for Gaza to challenge the Israeli siege.

More info @ The FreeGaza Movement

Ceremony for all killed by the Israelis on board the Liberty ship in 1967

By Yvonne Ridley
Day 8 diary
Free Gaza Movement Boats
August 9

HOORAH! The hour has arrived ... by the time you read this I should be onboard one of the two boats bound for Gaza to break the Israeli-enforced siege.
At around 9pm on Saturday evening the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty sailed in to the idyllic port of Chania on the Greek island of Crete, where film-maker Aki Nawaz and myself have been marooned for the past few days.
Actually we can't complain too much - this is an amazing location ... and completely free of the drunken British drongos who usually engulf the mediterranean at this time of year.
We linked up in Chania with fellow passengers journalist Lauren Booth (aka Tony Blair's sister-in-law), Palestinian-American Huwaisa Arraf who lives in Ramallah and the remarkable Jeff Halper, an Israeli Jew nominated for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for opposing demolitions of Palestinian homes.
It's a very exciting day for Aki Nawaz and myself - not only do we finally get to find our sea legs, but it is the first time that the two boats have been publically displayed.
On board already to greet us was co-organiser of the Free Gaza Movement, Paul Larudee and a group of other activists.
The plan now is to sail to Larnaca in Cyprus where we will pick up the bulk of the other Free Gaza campaigners who number nearly 40 and represent 15 different nationalities - our country's flags will be hoisted up the masts.
But before we head to Gaza from Cyprus there's another more poignant ceremony to do.
As you know, one of our boats is called the Liberty in memory of the USS Liberty which was bombed, napalmed and torpedoed by Israel during the Seven Day War.
I wrote about the incident in a previous blog about how 34 US naval men were killed and 172 injured. Well it turns out that some of the survivors have heard about our plans to smash the siege of Gaza and they've made a request.
One wrote: “What is the possibility of you and the crew of the SS Liberty throwing 34 long stemmed roses into the sea as a memorial to the 34 Americans killed aboard the USS Liberty?
"The survivors of the Liberty and their families would be eternally grateful to you and your ship mates for this gesture as no one has ever done anything like this before.” Another wrote: “I am one of the survivors of the USS Liberty. A very tired man, who woke up somewhat when I heard of the SS Liberty. I was the petty officer in charge of the body recovery and identification, and I remember it almost like it was yesterday. May God Be With You.”
So, when we leave Cyprus early next week, we hope to have a ceremony for all of those killed by the Israelis on board the ship in 1967.
Co-organiser Greta Berlin says the names of the dead will also be read out.
Jim Ennes, an officer aboard the original Liberty and author of the book Assault on the Liberty was invited to take part in Free Gaza campaign to smash Israel's siege by peaceful means.
Until our project was launched he was unaware that organizers had named one of the ships after the Liberty, but he is said to be "absolutely" pleased with the move and wishes he could be there.

Just to fill you in a little more on the background of the USS Liberty - this is one massacre the White House never commemorates because there has been, and continues to be, a huge cover-up.
While the Bush Administration loves to make a big deal about the terrorist bombing of the USS Cole on October 12 2000 while it was berthed in Aden, Yemen, in which 17 American sailors were killed, nothing is ever mentioned about the deliberate attack on the Liberty.
You tell me what is the difference between an act of state sponsored terrorism or terrorism carried out by individuals - innocents die in both and the death of innocents is to be condemned at all times.
The fact is Israel deliberately attacked the Liberty on June 8, 1967, later saying they thought it was an Egyptian vessel - though survivors and others have long said the Israeli pilots and sailors knew exactly who they targeted.
The US Navy began telling families of the American dead that the attack was accidental even before it convened an official board of inquiry, which about 10 days later delivered that same finding, according to Navy documents.
Only six years ago the legal affairs adviser to the board, retired Capt. Ward Boston, broke his silence to say the investigation was a sham, and that the final version was altered to exonerate the Israelis. Boston died in June.
Personally, I think we should also drop a rose into the water for him for finally having the courage to tell the truth.

A lot of deceit and lies have floated to the surface since the Free Gaza Movement launched its campaign two years ago.
Now, at last, the dream and vision of the organisers has become a reality - we are on our way to Gaza armed with nothing more than a vision of peace and a desire to expose the truth.
And, as we are beginning to find out, telling the truth in these treacherous times is becoming an act of resistance in itself.
* For more information: www.freegaza.org – live video streaming will soon be available. And since funds are now running low, if you can donate towards this amazing project then please do so. This breaking the siege og Gaza is not a one off - the aim of the campaign is to raise awareness as well as open a direct sailing route between the people of Gaza and Cyprus.


More info @ Press TV

Insh'Allah we'll all meet in Gaza, Says Yvonne Ridley

By Yvonne Ridley
Seventh diary
August 8

This Sunday, around the time our peace flotilla will be attempting to smash the siege of Gaza by sea, a group of Scottish activists will be launching their own protest on land.
A Tartan army is gathering at 2pm in Mound Precinct on Princes Street to show support for another group of blockade breakers who are desperately trying to get urgent medical aid through to Palestinians.
And the rally is also being held to show their outrage as well towards the Zionist State, which can no longer shake off its reptilian image to ordinary people across the world.

Israel says it pulled out of Gaza two years ago, and there is NO siege. Poppycock!
The Zionist State is lying, and with the help of Egypt's despicable President Hosni Mubarak, they are exerting more pressure on the weakest members of the Gaza community.
Mubarak, who makes some of the most brutal, oppressive Pharaohic dynasties look like a bunch of Tupperware Agents, is a disgrace to humanity.
Great leaders are respected for their courage and wisdom - Mubarak, a man who bellydances and contorts himself to please his Zionist masters in Tel Aviv, has neither of these qualities.
Of course, his real masters are in Washington, and it's their dollars that have turned him into the Chief Pimp of Arab politics.

The latest example of Mubarak's craven behaviour surfaced when humanitarians Linda Willis and Khalil al Niss were kept waiting at the Rafah-Gaza border to deliver medical supplies to a hospital in Gaza.
They spent 10 days driving across Europe with 1.5 tonnes of medical supplies donated by kind-hearted Scots but for the past two weeks their van has been held up by officials.
Mubarak's men are refusing them entry saying they do not have the correct paperwork.
I feel ashamed that only yesterday I was writing to you all, complaining that some high winds had delayed our own peace mission by a couple of days - I really do salute the stamina of Linda and Khalil.
Sadly Linda, 51, a nurse has now been forced to return to Edinburgh leaving Khalil, 49, who is from Jerusalem, to wait, and wait and wait.
One of the hospitals is just five minutes from the border where these jumped up soldiers of Mubarak are refusing to let him pass.

The venture is supported by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and they have now enlisted heavyweight political leader Alex Salmond.

The van is packed with medical supplies including medication for heart conditions and diabetes, as well as syringes, bandages, swabs, antibiotics, blood bottles for taking samples, and more advanced equipment such as endotracheal tubes for use in surgery.

As I said before, this aid mission is stuck at the Rafah crossing, the only Egypt-Gaza gateway which has been continuously closed since June 2007, with brief openings for extreme cases. They were initially made to wait more than 24 hours at the border town of Nuweiba, where Egyptian authorities sent them to six departments to fill out forms.



The couple have been interviewed by numerous officials from the Egyptian border, Egyptian intelligence, and the weak and feckless Palestinian Authority, but still lack the permission to deliver the medical supplies.

The two recently submitted to Egypt's Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman a letter with the signatures of six Scottish MPs supporting their mission. Although the letter was requested by the Egyptian authorities handling the case, no reply has been forthcoming.

They have also faced down threats to impound their van.
Well I will be making dua for my brother Khalil's patience and I hope he succeeds in his mission, just as we are determined to suceed in ours.

Insh'Allah we'll all meet in Gaza to exchange stories and tales about over-coming the pettiness of the Zionists and their feckless supporters.
The parallels being drawn between israel and Apartheid South Africa are growing stronger by the day.
This is not the way to win over the international community and the more Israel stamps its jackboots and refuses peace missions and initiatives the more damaged is its reputation.
Might is not right. But our determination to succeed smashing the siege by land and sea is far more powerful than any red tape, petty politics or artillery.
Well done to everyone who turns up to protest in Edinburgh on Sunday - please continue to protest, shout and highlight the brutality of the Zionist State.

And as for you Khalil - well, we'll see you in Gaza soon, insh'Allah.


More info @ The FreeGaza Movement

The aim: breaking Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza

Boats towards Gaza
Day six diary
By Yvonne Ridley

ONE of the Free Gaza campaigners is an extremely feisty journalist and friend of mine called Lauren Booth who also happens to be the sister-in-law of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Lauren and I first met through the heroic charity InterPal which raises awareness, funds and aid for Palestinian kids and their communities.
We've been out to the refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan, though not together.
In fact I ended up going to the Jordan refugee camps after the Israelis refused to let me in through the Jordan River Crossing entry point where I was going to cover the elections which swept Hamas to power.
They strip searched me, interrogated me for 10 hours and then called me a terrorist and refused me entry. it was a bizarre experience but this treatment is meted out to anyone who shows interest, kindness or curiosity towards Palestine.
83-year-old Hedy Epstein had the same treatment a couple of years ago, but not only did her questioners strip search her they also snapped on the rubber gloves and internally checked her as well ... what a disgusting way to treat a Holocaust survivor! Hedy's in trusive treatment was at the hands of Israeli security in the Ben Gurion airport.

Sorry, I digressed. Let's get back to Lairen Booth.
Well, we've talked in the past about doing a project together for Palestine and now it seems the Free Gaza Movement has provided the platform we need.
Apart from the fact she's feisty and in the same profession, I'm a big admirer of Lauren because she does something too few journalists are prepared to do these days ... she tells the truth, which is almost an act of resistance in itself.
It would have been very easy for her to jump on the Blair Bandwaggon for a free ride, but instead she stood shoulder to shoulder with the rest of us in the anti-war movement and called her infamous brother-in-law a liar over his ridiculous claims of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq.

Shooting from the lip is not that easy where family is concerned, but Lauren - who writes for the Mail on Sunday - did exactly that through Blair's Downing Street years.
And she's got Tony in her sights again, highlighting his inadequacies in his present role at the Quartet's Middle East envoy. He has yet to step in Gaza and was warned off by the Israelis recently because of so-called security threats.
Well Lauren has issued a challenge to Blair. She's told him to: "Show some guts!" and come and join us. And he does have a choice if he doesn't want our company there are two boats The Free Gaza or The Liberty.
Blair has the backbone of an amoeba so I don't expect him to come on board with the likes of Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, or the Christian peace activists, or the 70+ years Roman Catholic nun because then he would have to do something he is not used to - he would have to face the uncomfortable truth of the suffering of the people of Gaza.
The nearest Blair has been to Gaza is looking out of his air-conditioned room in the King David Hotel in Jerusalem.
And while I think the good citizens of Gaza have already suffered enough without having to endure his Cheshire Cat-like grin and weasel words, it would do the impotent peace envoy the world of good to have a reality check.
He might not want to share a boat with Lauren or myself - but we have two boats. In fact he could bring his own as long as he agrees to abide by our rules ... no weapons, no violence, no armed body guards - just peaceful activism.

And there's plenty of time, bad weather has blighted the start of the voyage but we should be able to sail from Larnaca, Cyprus once we pick up the 36 activists there in the next couple of days.

Our aim is to break Israel’s illegal siege of the gaza Strip and establish a permanent sea-link from there.

As yet Israel's Navy has not said openly how it will try and stop us, but they do have previous for bombing, attacking and shooting at anyone who floats a boat in those waters.
In the meantime the government of the Zionist State is trying to bully and cajole the Cypriot Government into stopping us from sailing.
Film-maker Aki Nawaz and myself will be joining the crew of the boats as they come sailing past our own secret location in the Greek islands, and I've just heard that the captains of the 21-metre Free Gaza and the 18-metre Liberty, are both Irish.
Don't you just love the Irish? If anyone knows anything about resistance and standing up to a bullying, imperialistic state it's the Irish.
And I note there is a great deal of solidarity between the Irish people and the Palestinians - go for a stroll down the Falls and you will see Palestinian flags on wall murals and hanging from some windows.
Members of the 32 County Sovereignty Committee often send messages of solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Palestine.
Well, I am really cheered - you must have all heard of the "Luck of the Irish".

More info @ The Free Gaza Movement

Endorsers of Free Gaza Movement on breaking the siege

Break the Siege of Gaza Convoy

“Please accept my support for your forthcoming peace boat journey to break the Siege of Gaza. You carry with you the hopes and wishes of many people around the world.”

Mairead Maquire, Nobel Peace Laureate

Who are the endursers of this massive movement?

Palestine/Israel

• Alternative Information Center, www.alternativenews.org
• Bishop Munib Younan (Jerusalem), www.elcjhl.org
• Gaza 3ala Bali (Gaza on My Mind),from Ramalla area
• Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP), www.gcmhp.net
• Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (ICAHD), www.icahd.org
• Palestinian Centre For Human Rights (PCHR), www.pchrgaza.org
• Palestine Medical Relief Society, www.pmrs.ps
• Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), www.palestinercs.org
• Palestinian Youth Network
• Popular Committee Against the Siege, Jamal El-Khoudary
• The One Democratic State Group, Gaza, www.odsg.org

Africa

§ Archbishop Desmond Tutu

§ Salahuddeen – The Voice of Palestine (South Africa)

Europe

• Abrahams Tochter9D), www.abrahams-toechter.org
• A Different Jewish Voice (Een Ander Joods Geluid) – Amsterdam, NL, www.eajg.nl
• Antonine Friendship Link, UK
• “Aristera” (“Left”) Greece, www.Koel.gr
• Banias, Yannis, Member of Parliament in Greece – Syriza Partie
• Blincoe, Nicholas, author (UK), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Blincoe
• Corrigan-Maquire, Mairead, Wikipedia
• Friends of Al-Aqsa, UK, www.aqsa..org.uk
• Gallaway, George (UK) RESPECT MP for Bethnal Green and Bow
• Halpin, Dr. David, co-ordinator Dove and Dolphin aid voyage to Gaza
• Halifax Friends of Palestine, Yorkshire (UK), http://halifaxfriendsofpalestine.org.uk
• Intersindical Alternativa de Catalunya (IAC), www.pangea.org/iac
• Intifada Solidarity Association of the Palestinian People – Greece, www.intifada.gr
• ISM France, www.ism-france.org
• ISM Switzerland, www.ism-suisse.org
• ISM Italy
• ISM Spain, www.internacionalesporpalestina.org
• ISM London UK, www.ism-london.org.uk
• Jeremy Hardy, star of “Jeremy Hardy versus the Israeli Army,” and comedian, UK, Wikipedia
• Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in Middle East – EJJP Germany, www.juedische-stimme.de
• Jews for Justice for Palestinians (UK), www.jfjfp.org
• Loach, Ken (FILMMAKER UK)
• Lucas, Dr. Caroline, Green Party MEP South East England, www.carolinelucasmep.org.uk
• Mahon, Alice, retired UK Labour Party MP, Wikipedia
• Meulenbelt, Anja Kifaia Foundation, Amsterdam
• Meyer, Dr. Hajo G. (Netherlands), Holocaust survivor, author of “The End of Judaism”
• Morgantini, Luisa MEP, Vice President of the European Parliament
• Nabulsi, Dr. Karma, Oxford University, commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/karma_nabulsi/profile.html
• Nazir, Ahmed Baron Ahmed, member of the House of Lords (UK)
• NOVA – Social Innovation Centre (Catalonia/Spain) www.nova.cat
• Olive Cooperative, UK
• Palestine Solidarity Campaign, UK, www.palestinecampaign.org
• Pau Ara Madrid
• Pau Ara Valencia
• Paz Ahora, www.pazahora.org
• The Ramadhan Foundation (UK), www.ramadanfoundation.com
• Sansour, Leila, film director, founder of Open Bethlehem (UK), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Leila_Sansour
• www.openbethlehem.org
• Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign www.scottishpsc.org.uk
• Tromso, Norway
• Union Juive Francaise pour la paix (France), www.ujfp.org
• Unison (UK), www.unison.org/international/pages_view.asp?did=7382
• Women in Black, Edinburgh, Scotland, www.wibs.org.uk
• Women in Black, Netherlands, www.vrouweninhetzwart.nl
• Women in Black, Vienna, Austria, www.fraueninschwarz.at
• Xarxa de Solidaritat amb Palestina del Pais Valencia
• Zaytoun, UK, www.zaytoun.org

USA/Canada

§ 14 Friends of Palestine, www.14friendsofpalestine.org

§ Adams, Miriam and Steve, New Mexico, (USA)

§ American-Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) www.progressiveportals.com/aifc

§ Arab-Jewish Partnership for Peace and Justice in the Middle East (Chicago), www.arabjewishpartnership.org

§ Americans For A Just Peace In The Middle East, www.ajpme.org

§ Americans For A Palestinian State, CA, http://americansforapalestinianstate.org

§ American Muslims for Palestine, www.ampalestine.org

§ Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights (Oregon, USA)

§ Bay Area Peace Navy, www.docspopuli.org

§ Center for Theology and Social Analysis (Missouri, USA)

§ Chomsky, Noam, www.chomsky.info

§ Citizens for Justice in the Middle East (Kansas, USA)

§ Code Pink, www.codepink4peace.org

§ Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine CJPIP (USA), www.cjpip.org

§ Conscience International (USA), www.conscienceinternational.org

§ Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), www.cair.com

§ DePaul Academic Freedom Committee (Chicago), www.academicfreedomchicago.org

§ Global Exchange, San Francisco, CA, www.globalexchange.org

§ International Action Center, San Diego, CA

§ International Solidarity Movement Northern California, www.norcalism.org

§ International Solidarity Movement Chicago chapter

§ ISM, Michigan

§ I-Witness Palestine, Southern California, www.iwitnesspalestine.org

§ Jewish Voice for Peace, www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org

§ Justice for Palestinians, San Jose, CA, U.S.A., website

§ LA Jews for Peace, www.LAJewsforPeace.org

§ Middle East Crisis Response, Woodstock, NY, http://mideastcrisis.org

§ Middle East Study Group (California, USA)

§ MidEast:JustPeace, Michigan, www.mideastjustpeace.org

§ Nonviolent Action Community of Cascadia, http://seanacc.org

§ Olympia/Rafah Sister City Project – Olympia, WA/Rafah, Gaza, www.orscp.org

§ Palestine Solidarity Committee – Seattle, www.palestineinformation.org

§ Pax Christi Metro New York, www.nypaxchristi.org

§ Rachel Corrie Foundation (Washington, USA), www.rachelcorriefoundation.org

§ Resource Center for Nonviolence, Santa Cruz, CA, www.rcnv.org

§ Rivero, Michael (USA), http//whatreallyhappened.com

§ Sheehan, Cindy, anti-war campaigner, Congressional candidate (US), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cindy Sheehan

§ Stand Up Seattle, Seattle, WA, www.standupseattle.org

§ SUSTAIN:Stop US Tax Aid to Israel Now

§ http://sustainphilly.blogspot.com

§ US Academics For Peace (USA)

§ “We Refuse to Be Enemies, Jews, Muslims and Christians in Coalition for Peace,” Connecticut

§ The Western New York Peace Center, www.wnypeace.org

§ Women in Black – Amherst, Massachusetts

§ Women in Black – Green Valley, Arizona

§ Women in Black – Los Angeles, www.wib-la.net

§ Women in Black – St. Louis, MO

§ Women in Black – Victoria BC, Canada

§ Women of a Certain Age (WCA), New York, NY

§ The Working Group on the Middle East, Metropolitan Chicago Synod-ELCA

Asia, Australia, India

• Australians for Justice and Peace in Palestine, www.ajpp.canberra.net.au
• Australians for Palestine, www.australiansforpalestine.com
• Palestine Relief Fund, Sydney Australia, www.palestiniansunited.org/palrelief
• Women in Black-Armidale, Australia
• Women in Black, India

More info @ Free Gaza Movement