A Swedish aid ship is on its way to Gaza

[WhistleblowerIRL]

The Estelle has made its way to Naples. It now remains to be seen if Israeli authorities will allow her to deliver the much needed aid to the suffering people of Gaza.

ABOUT US
The blockade needs to be ended, not eased
The blockade of Gaza has been ongoing for almost four years, despite protests from all around the world. Following our initial attempt to break the blockade there have only been minor easings of the blockade--commodities such as spices which Israel had previously classified as "luxury goods" are now allowed into Gaza.There is still an acute shortage of medicine, medical supplies and building materials. Organizations such as the UN are continuously issuing reports on the emergency situation in Gaza.

WORLD LEADERS ARE FAILING--WE WILL NOT
The international community failed to act in the past four years, choosing insted to issue statements and what we call "quiet diplomacy". As human beings, we cannot stand by silently while witnessing what the blockade is doing to the people of Gaza; therefore we will act. During our first attempt we were stopped and nine people were killed, but that will not stop us from trying again. The only thing we can do is to load our ships again with materials that are urgently needed by the people of Gaza. The only thing we can do is to send more ships with many more people. Once again, we will bear witness to how the blockade is impacting Gaza and show our solidarity with the people of Gaza.

WE NEED YOUR HELP
We need your help to break the blockade once and for all, and to ensure that the human rights and human dignity of the people of Gaza are respected. New groups are being formed all over the world in support of Gaza--our coalition is growing. But we are up against one of the world's strongest military forces. The international community is not doing enough; people like you and I need to do what they can. Therefore, any contribution, whether it is financial or volunteer work, is extremely valuable. Find out how you can support Ship to Gaza.

”OUR VOYAGE IS A NATURAL, BROTHERLY ACTION; OUR OBJECTIVE IS HUMANITARIAN; OUR BASIS LIES IN INTERNATIONAL LAW; AND OUR METHOD IS NON-VIOLENCE."



http://shiptogaza.se/en/About%20us

Here is the latest update:

The Estelle reaches Naples

At 4 p.m. CET today, Thursday 4 October, Ship to Gaza and the Estelle put into Molo Beverello in the port of Naples. We were met by hundreds of activists cheering and waving Palestinian flags.

Our hosts have put together an extensive programme:

Thursday 4 October, evening:
Concert with various artists including the Baleno Band and the Malamurga Band

Catholic Mass will be celebrated on the pier

Friday 5 October:
9 a.m.:

Schoolchildren will show their support for Ship to Gaza and will be given a guided tour of the ship

11 a.m.:

The Mayor of Naples, Luigi de Magistris, will be visiting the Estelle and will explain why he has undertaken to be the Estelle’s official protector for the length of our stay in Naples

10 a.m. – 6 p.m.:

Nonviolence training on the quay led by Stellan Vinthagen

http://shiptogaza.se/en

[C. Flower]

The Estelle has made its way to Naples. It now remains to be seen if Israeli authorities will allow her to deliver the much needed aid to the suffering people of Gaza.

Here is the latest update:

Lovely ship. Hope they have a successful trip.

[Lapsedmethodist]

Catholic Mass will be celebrated on the pier

Papists for Palestine...what's not to love.

Meanwhile back in Sweden the Mayor of Malmo says citys Jews are responsible for any anti-semitic attacks because they don't distance themselves from Israel.

I hate Swedish Nazis.

[Sam Lord]

Meanwhile back in Sweden the Mayor of Malmo says citys Jews are responsible for any anti-semitic attacks because they don't distance themselves from Israel.

I think what you are refering to is some three years old, occuring during the Zionist assault that leveled the Gaza strip. Some component of the Jewish community in Malmo decided to have a demonstration in sympathy with "all civilian victims" in Gaza and Israel. This demonstration was attacked.

The mayor criticised the Jewish community for not taking a stand against what Israel was doing in Gaza. “Instead they choose to have a demonstration at the main square" he said "which can send the wrong signals.”

Quite sensible and measured remarks in my opinion.

[Sam Lord]

Meanwhile back in Sweden the Mayor of Malmo says citys Jews are responsible for any anti-semitic attacks because they don't distance themselves from Israel.

Why are you not exercised about the Mayor and the rest of the city council being blamed for an anti-semitic attack because they "have not distanced themselves enough ...".

Last month there was an attack on a Jewish community centre. The Mayor condemned this as "a criminal act".

However, opposition city council member Anja Sonesson of the Moderate Party blamed Reepalu and the rest of the city's political leadership from the Left, Green, and Social Democrat parties for contributing to the heightened tensions.

"They have a responsibility because for many years they haven't distanced themselves enough and haven't chosen to actively reduce the tensions," she told TT.

http://www.thelocal.se/43516/20120928/

[Holly]

Although Human Rights Watch has reported that Palestinian prisoners of the Hamas regime in Gaza suffered torture and summary executions, this should not prevent efforts such as the Estelle from attempting to reach and help the ordinary people who are blockaded by the Israelis. I fear for those on board that they will become victims of Israeli commandos making a nighttime raid in international waters.

[WhistleblowerIRL]

Here is the latest:

Estelle is now on course towards Gaza

Publiceringsdatum: 2012-10-07

Yesterday, Saturday, just after 17:00 CET, Ship to Gaza and Estelle slipped their moorings from the quay in Naples and took off for Gaza. A demonstration that assembled several hundred participants marched through the central parts of the city and then collected in the port where Estelle loaded the last items and completed the last paperwork. An unparellelled atmosphere of festivity reigned, and people danced, sang and cheered uninterruptedly. When the Italian harbour board let us load the 300 footballs that had been stored in Athens for the last year the enthusiasm knew no bounds.

In spite of Israeli pressure to stop Estelle from leaving the port the Italian authorities remained umovable. During the days in Naples the ship was a hundred percent protected. No saboteurs had found their way to the schooner, but loads of enthusiastic sympathizers did. That Estelle now made out for the last stretch of the 5000 nautic miles from the start in the Baltic Sea does of course not mean that we have reached our goal. The blockade is still there. But the resistance is growing, every hour, every day, every week.

Our claim sounds high and clear: stop the blockade!

Ship to Gaza – Sverige

www.shiptogaza.se

[Ephilant]

While heading for Gaza, the Estelle past South of Crete on thursday, where it was joined by SYRIZA MPS Dimitris Kodelas and Vangelis Diamantopoulos.

The Greek government is in knots about this because of the recent agreements between Israel and Greece being endangered by this irresponsible behaviour.
It's better being irresponsible than being immoral...

[fluffybiscuits]

While heading for Gaza, the Estelle past South of Crete on thursday, where it was joined by SYRIZA MPS Dimitris Kodelas and Vangelis Diamantopoulos.

The Greek government is in knots about this because of the recent agreements between Israel and Greece being endangered by this irresponsible behaviour.
It's better being irresponsible than being immoral...

You needent even call it irresponsible,it was the correct move on behalf of the MPs to do that. Men like Kodelas and Dianatopolous are to be admired for their tenacity in facing adversity for such decisions.

Meanwhile nice blog piece here on the ship

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/cana...gaza-our-minds

They are a little more prepared this time if faced with Israeli aggression.They have had training in using non violence Wish them the best of luck and that they arrive safely

[WhistleblowerIRL]

Here is the latest:

Estelles position, 14:30 october 19th
Publiceringsdatum:*
2012-10-19
New Position Update.
Estelle traveling at 5 knots, now about 135 nautical miles from Gaza City!

*http://shiptogaza.se/en

Will UN support the siege?
Publiceringsdatum:*
2012-10-17
Israel’s UN ambassador Ron Prosor has sent a letter calling on the UN and other representatives of the international community to stop the Ship to Gaza sailing vessel Estelle from reaching its destination. If this means that Israel has decided to leave control over Palestinian territorial waters to the UN it is a fall forward.
The UN and many other representatives of the international community have for years characterized the siege of the Gaza strip as inhuman and incompatible with international law.
Ship to Gaza Sweden assumes that that UN will not take over the implementation of this policy by preventing a peaceful vessel from delivering humanitarian supplies.
Ship to Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla have never opposed lawful inspections of cargo and vessel from representatives of the UN, or from national authorities in the ports and waters we have passed through and we welcome further inspections of this kind from the UN when we have anchored in Gaza City. What we refuse to accept is something which also the UN and the majority of the international community oppose: the illegal and in a humanitarian perspective devastating siege of the Gaza strip.

[WhistleblowerIRL]

More from the Estelle:

Israel is threatening Estelle through Finland. The Foreign Ministry of Sweden hope that the procedures will be peaceful

Publiceringsdatum:
2012-10-19

The Israeli government is continuing its politics of threat and pressure in order to defend its inhumane and illegal siege of the Gaza strip. A moment ago a man named Teemu Turunen, declaring himself being from the Finish foreign ministry, phoned Estelle and forwarded a message which he had received from the Israel foreign ministry, saying that ESTELLE WILL BE BOARDED ON INTERNATIONAL WATER AND THAT THE CREW WILL BE ARRESTED AND BROUGHT TO THE ISRAELI PORT OF ASHDOD, accused of illegally entering Israel, which never was the crews wish or intention. If the crew would confess to this accusation they would immediately be thrown out of the country, if they would refuse to confess they would be put to trial.

In a responding e-mail to one of the Ship to Gaza activists, Swedish Foreign Ministry writes that (translated from Swedish):

“SWEDEN DOES NOT SHARE THE ISRAELI INTERPRETATION that an armed conflict prevails and that Israel by that would have the right to uphold a blockade. The European Union and Sweden are acting to abolish the isolation of Gaza. The government has consistently put forward that the border crossings would be immediately and unconditionally opened – for humanitarian aid, trade and people.”

At the same time the Swedish Foreign Ministry writes that they assume that an inspection of Estelle’s cargo space would be peaceful.

http://shiptogaza.se/en/Pressrum/Pre...sweden-hope-pr

[Holly]

Let's hope the Swedes back up their words with continued condemnation of Israel's illegal blockade. We can expect no such m Ireland's Labour Party and its leader, Eamon Gilmore.

[WhistleblowerIRL]

Israeli defence sources confirm that Estelle will be attacked tonight

Anonymous Israeli defence sources, cited by the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang, confirm that Israel intends to attack Estelle tonight, if the ship doesn’t change her course. The source states that Estelle will not be let closer to Gaza’s coast than 12 Nautical miles.

Source: http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/midtosten/artikkel.php?artid=10047340


http://shiptogaza.se/en/Pressrum/Pre...tacked-tonight

[simonj]

Just hearing Estelle being warned by Israeli Navy on the radio over here - last warning given to their approacj to the security zone around Gaza, sounds like the Navy is going to board the vessel.

http://www.ipsc.ie/press-releases/eu...aza-by-weekend

[WhistleblowerIRL]

I'm proud to say that my friend Yonatan Shapira is on board the Estelle. At least some Israelis have a sense of morality....


The ship's website has been un accessible for the last 2 hours. I wonder why?

-----

Gaza-bound ship Estelle 'under attack'

Freedom Flotilla comes under attack after being approached by Israeli vessels, says spokeswoman

AFP Published: 13:28 October 20, 2012

Occupied Jerusalem: A ship carrying pro-Palestinian activists seeking to breach Israel's naval blockade on Gaza has "come under attack" shortly after being approached by Israeli vessels, a spokeswoman told AFP on Saturday.

"The Estelle is now under attack - I have just had a message from them by phone," Victoria Strand, a Stockholm-based spokeswoman for the Ship to Gaza Sweden campaign told AFP.

"Some time ago, they said that they had military ships following them, but we don't know exactly what they mean" when they say they were attacked, she said of the vessel which is carrying five parliamentarians and a former Canadian lawmaker.

The Israeli military confirmed that navy vessels were in the vicinity of the MV Estelle but denied the ship had been attacked or boarded.

"The Israeli navy has attempted to make initial contact with them, but they have not answered and nothing further has happened at this stage," a spokeswoman said.

Asked whether any attempt had been made to stop or board the Estelle, she said: "Not at the moment."

http://gulfnews.com/news/region/pale...tack-1.1091762