NICOSIA: Activists with medical supplies set sail for Gaza from Cyprus yesterday in defiance of the naval blockade Israel tightened on the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave after it began its Gaza offensive 17 days ago.
Members of the US-based Free Gaza Movement said they would take doctors, aid workers and European parliamentarians to Gaza. “We cannot wait until Israel decides to stop the killing and then open up Gaza for the international community and aid workers to pick up the pieces,” said Huwaida Arraf, one of the organizers. “We insist on the right to enter, we are not going to let the violence Israel may use against us stop us,” she told Reuters.
Medical officials said the Palestinian death had risen past 900 and included at least 380 civilians. Israel says 13 Israelis have died — three civilians hit by rockets and 10 soldiers.
The 66-foot (20-meter), Greek-flagged boat is carrying 34 passengers, including six doctors and Greek, Belgian and Spanish lawmakers. Dried food, flour, baby formula, diapers and medical supplies are also on board. Free Gaza organizers said they have notified Israeli authorities of the trip.
“I can’t anticipate what the Israelis are going to do, but I know we won’t be turned back easily,” said Arraf. “If they ram us again or use force against us, it will be nothing less than a premeditated attack against a defenseless boat.”
Arraf said organizers had been told that Israel sent a message to authorities in Cyprus saying the boat would be turned back. Dubai-based eye surgeon Ali Dabbagh, 54, a Palestinian raised in Glasgow, Scotland, said he planned to work in Gaza for four weeks. “I’m not afraid,” he said. “There’s more fear of me looking back in the mirror and seeing someone who hadn’t done anything.”
Metal paneling was fitted to the body of the vessel before leaving. Some activists said it was for security reasons. A representative of the activists said Israel, which tightened the naval blockade when it launched its offensive on Dec. 27, had been made aware of activists’ intentions to enter the territory.
British doctor Sonia Robbins, who has worked at hospitals in Gaza, said the situation in the enclave was a humanitarian disaster. “They have declared war on a virtually defenseless population,” she said. “The defense the Palestinians have are homemade fireworks ... which can kill like any firework fired directly at you. They can only dent a wall and not demolish a 15 story house and the family in it.”
The trip, including parliamentarians from Greece, Spain and Belgium, is expected to take about 25 hours. Free Gaza has sent regular shuttles of aid to Gaza from Cyprus since August.
Protesters from the Free Gaza group tried to break Israel’s blockade on the region late last month, but its boat collided with an Israeli vessel and turned back. Free Gaza organizers accused the Israelis of ramming the boat, but Israeli officials said the collision occurred when the protesters’ boat tried to outmaneuver the Israeli vessel. “Doing nothing is not an option — as a Palestinian doctor and human being, this is what I tell everyone,” said Dabbagh.
He described as “beyond horrific” what has been happening to Gaza’s civilians, particularly its children, since Israel unleashed its war on the Hamas Islamist movement in late December.
“We have to make sure the people of Gaza do not feel forgotten but that message is hard to get across when you’re living in hell,” Dabbagh said.
