Gaza Freedom Flotilla

Gaza Freedom Flotilla – Update 25 May 2010 Ismail Patel , Antalya, Turkey As with all other carefully crafted plans, we are having to revise our schedule. The boats setting sail from Greece have been delayed and since we all need to travel in a group we need to extend our patience for a further 24 hours before setting sail from Antalya. Meanwhile the Israelis have announced several measures to counter the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Apparently half of the Israeli navy has been placed on full alert to confront our peaceful mission to take humanitarian aid to Gaza. They also say spaces have been created in their prisons no doubt an implication to imprison the 700 foreign nationals who make up this contingent. All these threats from a heavily armed naval force against us civilians has simply further strengthened our resolve and we are more eager to set out earlier rather than later. Our spirits could not be higher and the Turkish team here is going out of their way to make our stay comfortable. The greatest concern is the announcement that Israeli ‘citizens’ are preparing to sail with hundreds of boats to confront us. This is of concern since this may provide an excuse for the Israeli navy to intervene under the pretext of aiding its citizens. However one can raise the legitimate question – are those Israeli’s without uniforms really civilians or soldiers disguised in civilian clothing? Stay up to date Regular updates will be posted on Facebook & Twitter/text Click here to Join the Friends of Al-Aqsa Fan Page on Facebook Get SMS updates by texting follow FriendsofAlAqsa to 86444 in the United Kingdom (powered by twitter) Itinerary Wednesday 26th May : Set sail from Antalya Friday 28th May : All 9 ships from the Flotilla to converge near Gaza waters in the Mediterranean, and dock at Gaza Port News Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Not Just another Middle East Crisis The Palestine chronicle 25 May 2010 The U.S. corporate media have provided little coverage on some important happenings in the Middle East during the past 18 months. You might ask what's the big deal -- bad stuff happens there all the time and it doesn't concern me. In this case, recent events have the potential to create an international crisis in the coming days. Before getting to the possible explosive situation, we first need some background information. Click here to read more Israel’s Navy will have its work cut out Al-Jazeera Ten thousand tons of cargo, 800 passengers, 50 nationalities, nine vessels - one aim - to break the siege on Gaza. Click here to read more Action Points The Israeli navy has declared that it will prevent the convoy from reaching Gaza at all costs. It has prepared half of its navy to intervene and stop the flotilla and has prepared special ‘prison’ spaces for what it calls ‘hundreds of protestors’, which seems to indicate that it intends to arrest all the peace activists and leaders who will be on the flotilla from 40 countries around the world. Please take action: 1. Contact your local MP NOW and inform them about the Gaza Freedom Flotilla and its aims. Put pressure on them to bring up a question in Parliament about what the British government will do to protect British peace activists on board. Also, contact the Prime Minister’s office and the Foreign Office. Click here to find your MP 2. Contact the Prime Minister David Cameron MP 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA camerond@parliament.uk 3. Contact the Foreign Secretary William Hague MP Foreign Secretary King Charles Street London SW1A 2AH private.office@fco.gov.uk, fcoresponsecentre@fco.gov.uk, MSU.PublicIn@fco.gov.uk msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk 4. Contact the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP House of Commons London SW1A 0AA cleggn@parliament.uk