Staying Human: Preparing to Sail to Gaza

international | anti-war / imperialism | opinion/analysis

Tuesday June 28, 2011 08:49

by Kathy Kelly - Co-coordinator, Voices for Creative Nonviolence

1249 West Argyle Street Chicago, IL 60640 USA

773-878-3815 (USA)

Last week, newly-arrived in Athens as part of the US Boat to Gaza project, our team of activists gathered for nonviolence training. We are here to sail to Gaza, in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, in our ship, "The Audacity of Hope." Our team, and nine other ships' crews from countries around the world, want Israel to end its lethal blockade of Gaza by letting our crews through to shore to meet with Gazans. The US ship will bring over 3,000 letters of support to a population suffering its fifth continuous decade of de facto occupation, now in the form of a military blockade controlling Gaza's sea and sky, punctuated by frequent deadly military incursions, that has starved Gaza's economy and people to the exact level of cruelty considered acceptable to the domestic population of our own United States, Israel's staunchest ally.

The international flotilla last year was brutally attacked and the Turkish ship fired on from the air, with a cherrypicked video clip of the resulting panic presented to the world to justify nine deaths, one of a United States citizen, most of them execution-style killings. So it’s essential, albeit a bit bizarre, to plan for how we will respond to military assaults. Israeli news reports say that their naval commandos are preparing to use attack dogs and snipers to board the boats. In the past, they have used water cannons, taser guns, stink bombs, sound bombs, stun guns, tear gas, and pepper spray against flotilla passengers. I’ve tried to make a mental list of plausible responses: remove glasses, don life jacket, affix clip line which might prevent sliding off the deck, carry a half onion to offset effect of tear gas, remember to breathe.

Israel Defense Forces are reportedly training for a fierce assault intended to “secure” each boat in the flotilla, the "Freedom Flotilla 2". As passengers specifically on the U.S. boat, we may be spared the most violent responses, although Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has not ruled out such violent responses and has preemptively certified any response we may "provoke" (in sailing from international waters to a coastline that is not part of Israel) is an expression of Israel's "right to defend themselves" (http://electronicintifada.net/blog/ali-abunimah/hillary...tilla). Israel says it is prepared for a number of scenarios, ranging "from no violence" (which it knows full well to expect) to "extreme violence" (http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=2...26655). We are preparing ourselves not to panic, and to practice disciplined nonviolence whatever scenario Israel decides to enact.

If they overcome our boat swiftly, they will presumably handcuff us and possibly hood us, before commandeering our ship toward an Israeli port, removing us from the ship, jailing us and (judging from their past actions) deporting us. I don't know what country I would be deported to, but I would eventually return to the U.S. and to my home city of Chicago, and to a safety I cannot share with the desperate people of Gaza, or friends from throughout this region so troubled by war, much of it instigated by my own country.

The slogan of our flotilla is "Stay Human." It's advice that exposure to violence, real or imagined, always tempts us to forget. Young friends I have met in Afghanistan, faced with pervasive everyday precarity I cannot easily imagine, have expressed this idea in a YouTube video which utterly takes my breath away: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkiMOPoU1qA They ask Gazan youth to hold on to hope and to the capacity for childlike joy: "To friends in Gaza: don't stay angry for too long, Stay together, and love from us in Afghanistan!"

My fellow passenger John Barber recently visited Gaza, and this morning he told me a harrowing story of a Gazan family, that of a farmer named Nasr, living near the Gazan-Israeli buffer zone. The first attack took place in June of 2010. To quote John's website: “…the Israeli army attacked the family home while the children were playing outside…Nasr’s wife, Naama, was in the front yard when a tank 500 meters from the home fired shells packed with nails at the home. Nasr's wife, torn to ribbons, bled to death in the yard when ambulances were not permitted down the narrow dirt road to his home.” Ambulance stoppages are a frequent punitive measure used against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza."

“After the second attack,” which occurred in April 2011, “Nasr’s family moved to a house in the village, near to the cemetery where his wife was buried. One night, around midnight, Nasr woke to find his children gone. He went outside and found them at their mother’s grave." The next day he took them away from that village and back to their land, to try and put the past behind them, and await a future they can barely hope will be kind.

I hope that our ship will make it to Gaza. I hope Johnny Barber can again visit Nasr, and that I can visit the family and the trapped young men who sheltered me during the final days of the crushing December 2008 "Operation Cast Lead" bombardment. I hope that our ship will make it out of dock - acting on an "anonymous complaint," the government here has demanded an inspection of several days before they will allow our (entirely seaworthy) ship to sail. With its world-headline-producing economic troubles, Greece seems incredibly vulnerable to the intense pressure that the Israeli and U.S. governments seem openly prepared to exert: we hope that neither economic nor political blackmail will succeed at stopping our ship from leaving the spot near Athens where it is waiting to receive us.

“Please don’t lose the human capacity for happiness.” My Afghan friends in the video urge us to stay human. Ali, who speaks in the video, has been harassed by Afghan security forces since becoming active with the Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers. So has his family. Others of his companions have faced death threats, interrogation, arson and theft. Their persistence encourages and guides me, and I struggle to let their persistence urge me on, because staying human is also about doing what is right.

I think of Nasr's children watching their mother die, and I think that if they're going to stay human then I and my countrymen and women ought to help. We have to become more human than we've so far managed to be: We have to make sacrifices to stop the crimes that are ultimately being committed in our names. In different ways, we have to risk the consequences of being where we need to be when we need to be there. We have to stand up to injustice and with the victims of injustice, and rely on our opponents to find their humanity in time, given enough examples of what it can look like. When we find ourselves, against all odds, staying human, that example surprises us and helps sustain us in hope for the power of humanity. We hope we will be allowed through to Gaza, we hope that the siege will be lifted, and that in this time when humankind can so little afford the nightmares of greed and ignorance that rend the Middle East and that render our leaders incapable of uniting to address ever-more desperate, ever-more-frightening global crises, we as a species, one with no assurance of its perpetual survival, will somehow find some way to stay human.

Kathy Kelly (kathy@vcnv.org) co-coordinates Voices for Creative Nonviolence (www.vcnv.org)

save preference

Comments (6 of 6)

Following Sabotage of Irish Ship Israeli Embassy in Dublin Picketed All Night + full sabotage story

by Saoirse 4 Gaza

Sun Jul 03, 2011 15:30

Pat Fitzgerald, Engineer on board the MV Saoirse and a veteran seafarer for over two decades tells the full story about the damage to Saoirse at Gocek and that it could not have been anything else but sabotage.

Saoirse Engineer on Sabotage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mG4fEMc9sGI

Message from Trevor Hogan's Brother Mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VdTHmLcbuA

http://www.irishshiptogaza.org/ As the news broke about the sabotage of the MV Saoirse Mark Hogan, irish Ship to Gaza passenger and former Irish rugby player's brother, invited by a number of TD's, made a statement at a press conference in Dublin's Buswell's Hotel.

Following Sabotage of Irish Ship Israeli Embassy in Dublin Picketed All Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py3tmnfiM9k

Saoirse 4 Gaza

Caption: Video Id: mG4fEMc9sGI Type: Youtube Video
Saoirse Engineer on Sabotage

Caption: Video Id: Py3tmnfiM9k Type: Youtube Video
Following Sabotage of Irish Ship Israeli Embassy in Dublin Picketed All Night

U.S. Boat to Gaza Seized by Greek Authorities and Captain Jailed

by Arrested - Voices for Creative Nonviolence

Sun Jul 03, 2011 09:03

U.S. Boat to Gaza Seized by Greek Authorities and Captain Jailed

Passengers Determined to Free Captain and Set Sail Again
July 2, 2011

After a two hour stand off at sea, the U.S. Boat to Gaza – The Audacity of Hope – was seized by the Greek Coast Guard and forced to return to the port of Piraeus under military escort. The boat’s captain has been put in jail, charged with disturbing sea traffic–which includes endangering the lives of those on the ships– and disobeying a police order to remain at dock. The crew is being detained on the boat, which is being held at a military dock just outside Athens. Most of the 36 passengers remain on the ship in solidarity with the captain and crew.

Ann Wright, retired U.S. Army Colonel, responded strongly to the arrest of the American captain of the U.S. Boat to Gaza. “I think it’s outrageous what the Greek government is doing to our captain who was taking a group of Americans to challenge the illegal Israeli blockade. We call on the Greek government to release our Captain and dismiss all charges.”

ARTICLE CONTINUED......
http://ustogaza.org/latest/u-s-boat-to-gaza-seized-by-g...iled/

Saoirse evidence released + Irish media coverage of Israeli act of SABOTAGE

by Freedom for Gaza

Fri Jul 01, 2011 08:49

MV SAOIRSE SABOTAGE PHOTOS AND VIDEO
http://irishshiptogaza.org/?p=715

On Monday the ships 3 crew members, Shane Dillon, John Hearne and Pat Fitzgerald; along with Clr Gerry MacLochlainn, Charlie McMenamin (both from Derry) with John Mallon and Phil McCullough (both from Belfast) set sail on the MV Saoirse for re-fueling and a test run.

On the way back to port Pat Fitzgerald, ship’s engineer, noticed that something was very wrong with the boat. Upon returning to the dock the first inspections began, it was then we realised that sabotage had been done to Ireland’s boat...

vids:

fıntan lane speakıng about the sabotage to mv saoırse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLzBamUMtHw

Saoirse crew explain the damage done by sabotage
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=...XS38k

Irish media coverage of Israeli act of SABOTAGE:

Damaged Irish ship unable to travel to Gaza
http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0630/gaza.html

Calls for Israel to explain damage to aid ship 'Saoirse'
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0701/122....html

Israel denies damaging Irish ship bound for Gaza flotilla
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0701/122....html

Israeli act of sabotage on MV Saoirse - probably an underwater explosive, same as done to other ship

Caption: Video Id: ZLzBamUMtHw Type: Youtube Video
Fıntan Lane speakıng about the sabotage to mv saoırse

Caption: Video Id: GAByeeXS38k Type: Youtube Video
Saoirse crew explain the damage done by sabotage

INDEPENDENT - In further case of censorship, the BBC deny Palestine’s right to exist

by Song Censored BBC

Thu Jun 30, 2011 09:10

INDEPENDENT - In further case of censorship, the BBC deny Palestine’s right to exist
* By Jody McIntyre
*Thursday, 26 May 2011

It seems that the Mic Righteous controversy, in which the BBC censored the words ‘Free Palestine’ from his freestyle on 1Xtra radio, has opened a can of worms the BBC cannot ignore for much longer. Just one day after they released an official response to the hundreds of complaints over the drowning out of the term ‘Free Palestine’, a further case of censorship has emerged. On the very same radio segment, ‘Fire in the Booth’ with DJ Charlie Sloth, just a couple of months after the Mic Righteous freestyle, rapper Bigz made a guest appearance. Over a commercial hip-hop beat, he rhymes:

“Come on Joe, who you know as hard as this? Bringing more fire than the -”

And then silence. The term he used at the end of the line, ‘Gaza Strip’, has been censored out. Not a political statement, not a humanitarian statement, but the name of a geographical piece of land. A simple description of a place that does exist. The BBC’s seeming submission to the Zionist lobby has taken precedence over common sense. The BBC seem intent on completely eradicating any recognition of Palestine’s right to exist from their radio broadcasts, but their actions have had the opposite effect.

In a strong show of solidarity with the Palestinian cause, the BBC 1Xtra Facebook and Twitter have been flooded with page upon page of comments protesting against the blatant censorship. Every single time the radio station make any ‘status update’ online now, even if it’s content is completely unrelated, the floodgates are opened. ‘Free Palestine!’ ‘Don’t Censor Palestine!’ Some comments are demanding the BBC re-broadcast the Mic Righteous freestyle, this time un-edited. Many are demanding to hear Lowkey’s popular single ‘Long Live Palestine’ on radio; despite once reaching number one in the iTunes hip-hop chart, the song was consistently ignored by BBC radio.
ARTICLE CONITUES.....
http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/05/26/in-further-ca...xist/

My 2c worth......
Not content with refusing to broadcast charities' appeals for donations for Palestinians in the wake of 'Operation Cast Lead' the BBC has now taken to censoring hip hop "freestyle" lyrics which call for justice for Palestine and even a lyric which makes a fleeting reference to the Gaza bombing. See London Independent account: http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/05/26/in-further-ca...xist/

Faithless, The Durban gospel choir and others have created a radio friendly "we are the world" type tune which is set to expose the BBC s appalling record on reporting Israel / Palestine issues which has now deteriorated into censoring any mention of Palestinian rights. The tune is available for pre-orders over the next few days and if it makes the charts it will tie the corporation in knots as they will be obliged to play it or explain why they won't....
http://www.freedomoneworld.com

BUY It . AND PLEASE forward this to others.

An Open Letter to Illinois/USA Senator Mark Kirk from three constituents on the flotilla

by from Kathy Kelly

Thu Jun 30, 2011 07:44

An Open Letter to Illinois Senator Mark Kirk
from three constituents
responding to his call for U.S. Special Forces to attack a flotilla of ships that will sail to Gaza

Senator Mark Kirk

524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington DC, 20510
June 29th, 2011

Dear Senator Kirk,

We are Illinois residents writing to you from Athens, Greece. Just before leaving the United States, we wrote to inform your office about our intent to sail on "The Audacity of Hope," as part of the US Boat to Gaza project. In our letters, we explained why we were traveling to Gaza. We told you of our previous experiences living among Palestinians who lack access to basic necessities, such as clean water, because of the blockade. Referring to Gaza as the world's largest open-air prison, we mentioned how hard it has been for people to rebuild after previous lethal assaults, especially the Operation Cast Lead attack which ended, after 23 days, on January 18, 2009. According to B'tselem, the foremost Israeli Human Rights Organization, Operation Cast Lead caused the deaths of 1,389 Palestinians in Gaza. Of those, 344 were children. Of the 13 Israelis who were killed, four were soldiers killed by friendly fire.

Knowing that you and your staff care deeply about the consequences of unemployment, poor education and dangerously limited health care delivery, we pointed out related statistics affecting people in Gaza where 45% of the population is unemployed and hospital administrators are sounding the alarm because they are running out of crucial medicines. Half of Gaza's 1.6 million people are under age 18.

As you've recently noted, a flotilla of ships plans to arrive in Gaza. Our ship will carry 3,000 letters addressed to Gazan children and families. Other boats are carrying humanitarian assistance.

Greek authorities have been checking into various complaints which have stalled the flotilla's progress. In our case, a complaint was lodged by the Israel Law Center, located in Tel Aviv, suggesting that our boat is not seaworthy. Two of the boats have been sabotaged while docked in the harbor, causing further delays.

A website, www.military.com, reports that you said the United States should "make available all necessary special operations and naval support to the Israeli Navy to effectively disable flotilla vessels before they can pose a threat to Israeli coastal security or put Israeli lives at risk."

You have an unusual opportunity to demonstrate thoughtful reconsideration of your earlier decision. Op-ed pieces have appeared in Israel's Haaretz newspaper, encouraging the Israeli government to let the flotilla pass.

"There is nearly nothing which more effectively delegitimizes Israel - and makes Israel look more like an uncaring blockhead state - than does the siege of Gaza," wrote Bradley Burston, Senior Editor of Haaretz and a former Israeli Defense Force medic. "The siege benefits Hamas in a thousand ways and Israel in none. But there is one thing that does the work of delegitimization even better: attacking civilians in order to protect the siege. Enter the 21st century. Before it's too late. You're not young commandos anymore... Do your nation a favor - act your age. The flotilla is not a terrorist fleet. It is not an arms shipment. The flotilla is, however, a statement about Israel, a judgment of its policies, and, in the end, the verdict will come directly from you."

Senator Kirk, we are your constituents. It's not too late for you to acknowledge that your earlier call for military action against us jeopardizes our safety and to reverse your claim which insinuates that we are dangerous people. We write with utmost respect for our collective responsibility to secure a better world, breaking the irrational cycle of military aggression and upholding basic human rights of all people.

Sincerely,

Max Suchan, Chicago IL
Kathy Kelly, Chicago IL
Robert Naiman, Champaign-Urbana
Kathy Kelly
Co-coordinator, Voices for Creative Nonviolence
1249 West Argyle Street
Chicago, IL 60640
773-878-3815
www.vcnv.org

SONG YOUTUBE (3 mins 43 secs) - Freedom for Palestine - OneWorld

by Song Palestine

Tue Jun 28, 2011 09:00

SONG YOUTUBE (3 mins 43 secs)

Freedom for Palestine - OneWorld
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V28HnPTYz-I

Number of comments per page

Upcoming Events

New Events

Other Press

User Preferences

Feeds

Blog Feeds

Anti-Empire

The Saker

Public Inquiry

Voltaire Network

Staying Human: Preparing to Sail to Gaza

Comments (6 of 6)