MORE BOATS ON THE MOVE. TAKE ACTION NOW!
| MORE BOATS ON THE MOVE. TAKE ACTION NOW! |
Dear US Boats to Gaza / Freedom Flotilla family, As we shared in our last update, just days after Israel’s illegal assault on 22 civilian vessels on the high seas — during which over 175 participants from more than 50 countries were abducted and abused — the Freedom Flotilla Coalition launched additional boats from Sicily. This morning 30 GSF boats left Crete, en route to Marmaris, Turkiye to join with other flotilla boats. Our message is clear: Israel’s violence will not stop us or the growing global movement determined to end the genocide and break the siege of Gaza. Both Israel and the United States are actively attempting to stop the flotilla movement and criminalize international solidarity with Palestine. Israel continues to arbitrarily detain Global Sumud organizers Thiago Ávila and Saif Abu Keshek under bogus accusations, including the Orwellian charge of “aiding the enemy in a time of war,” as though delivering solidarity and challenging genocide are crimes. And, rather than condemn Israel’s illegal attack on unarmed civilians in international waters, including U.S. citizens, the U.S. State Department issued a shameful statement attacking the Global Sumud Flotilla, once again, placing Israel’s racist, colonial, expansionist agenda above the rights, safety, and lives of its own citizens. We cannot let up. Despite the so-called “ceasefire,” Israel continues to massacre Palestinians in Gaza, block desperately needed medical evacuations, and impose devastating restrictions on food, medicine, fuel, and humanitarian supplies. This manufactured catastrophe is not happening in isolation. It is being enabled every day by governments that continue to arm, fund, shield, and politically support Israel’s crimes. While our boats have not been able to reach Gaza since 2008, we know these direct actions matter. They pressure governments, expose complicity, mobilize people around the world, and remind Palestinians in Gaza that they are not alone. Watch this beautiful video of a call between a family in Gaza and our Adalah boat. If you have ever heard any of us speak about the flotillas, then you know we always emphasize this truth: the flotilla is not only the people at sea. Its strength comes from the collective action of thousands around the world who organize, amplify, pressure governments, confront weapons manufacturers, educate their communities, and refuse silence in the face of genocide. Every action you take helps build the political pressure necessary to challenge the impunity fueling Israel’s crimes. 1. Urge Congress to Sign Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s LetterCongresswoman Rashida Tlaib has initiated a congressional letter condemning Israel’s illegal attack on the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), denouncing the Trump Administration’s shameful attacks on the flotilla, and calling for:An end to Israel’s illegal blockade of GazaThe immediate release of Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago ÁvilaProtection for the remaining flotilla participants and vessels Contact your member of Congress today and urge them to sign on. Call the congressional switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to be connected to your representatives. 2. Demand Action from the U.S. GovernmentSince Rep. Tlaib’s letter, we have learned more about the violence inflicted on flotilla participants by Israeli soldiers, including beatings, medical neglect, and sexual assault. Call, write, and pressure elected officials to:Demand accountability for Israel’s crimesDemand safe passage for flotilla participants and civilian vessels sailing to GazaAct on the legal obligation to end Israel’s genocide and illegal blockadeUphold the right of innocent passage and the safety of civilians in international waters under the UN Convention on the Law of the SeaAffirm Palestinians’ right to free access corridors by land and sea, free from Israeli controlCall on the U.S. government to join the governments of Spain, Brazil, and others in condemning Israel’s illegal abduction and detention of flotilla participants in international waters 3. Mobilize Civil Society OrganizationsUrge your organizations, unions, faith communities, student groups, and political bodies to issue public statements condemning Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and its acts of piracy on the high seas, and to demand the immediate release of Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Ávila. Their detention is part of Israel’s broader system of violently targeting and criminalizing Palestinians. This includes the widespread use of “administrative detention” — a practice through which Palestinians are imprisoned without charge, trial, or due process, and subjected to systematic physical and psychological abuse, including torture, starvation, sexual violence, and other cruel and degrading treatment. The US must stop enabling these crimes! 4. Organize locallyJoin or start actions at ports, weapons manufacturers, and government officesOrganize or join an action for Nakba Day on May 15. Include awareness of the flotilla in your organizing. Demand safe passage for the flotilla and an end to the criminal siege on Gaza!5. Follow the BoatsTrack the flotilla vessels and stay updated on developments:Freedom Flotilla TrackerLivestream 6. Support the FlotillaYour donations help sustain the boats, crews, communications, legal support, and organizing needed to continue challenging the siege of Gaza.Donate today and help keep the flotilla moving forward. Despite violence and threats by Israel and the United States, we must keep pressing on. Gaza, Palestine, and our collective humanity demand no less. In solidarity and struggle for a liberated future, US Boats to Gaza team The U.S. Campaign of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition DONATE |
| The sail of the U.S. Boats to Gaza – sponsored boat—Adalah—is a tribute to the Palestinian activist, community leader, and father, Awda Hathaleen, who was shot dead by an Israeli settler in his village of Um il-Kheir in July 2025. Awda was a friend of Bob Suberi, who is crewing the Adalah boat. |
| US Boats to Gaza is the US arm of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, working to end the siege of Gaza through nonviolent direct action and international solidarity. |
Join Us in Supporting the Madleen Sail!
Despite Israel twice bombing our non-violent, humanitarian ship Conscience in international waters near Malta on May 2, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition will continue to sail to break Israel’s illegal blockade on Gaza.
Please join us for an action for Madleen‘s departure. The action will be in Catania, Sicily May 30-June 1. You can find the Madleen here.
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Swim With Gaza
Great opportunity to join our friends in Gaza by swimming on or before August 26th. Take a video of yourself and friends to show your solidarity for human rights for the people in Gaza. Go to swimwithgaza.com to be registered on the world map, get a T shirt, and or donate for swim lessons for children in Gaza.
Handala Completes Its 2023 Sailing
The Freedom Flotilla 2023 took to the seas again in a 58-foot converted Norwegian fishing boat called Handala! Halted by COVID for a few years, the Gaza Freedom Flotilla sailed this summer in northern Europe. With port visits in Norway, the UK, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden the Freedom Flotilla Coalition did educational events with local Palestinian solidarity organizers. In 2024, Handala will sail to Gaza with educational port visits in Europe and the Mediterranean with a final push to Gaza to break the illegal Israeli blockade!
Handala has handled the sea well, coming across the North Sea in high seas from Oslo to Scotland in mid-June. A 200-year old broken bridge in the Caledonian Canal in the Scottish Highlands halted her progress for several days, but the crew was warmly welcomed by all who passed the locks! Unfortunately, the delay caused cancellation of stops in Glasgow, Dublin and Waterford, but Freedom Flotilla members and local Palestine Solidarity groups held wonderful and well-attended events in the other stops.
One silver lining from being stuck at Laggan Locks in Scotland, was meeting a captain from Inverness, more than an hour away. He is a member of a Palestinian solidarity group and was thrilled to meet us. By great fortune, when he learned Handala needed a captain for an upcoming leg of our trip he introduced us to one! He was both an excellent captain and engineer!
So many have supported the journey along the way. A doctor in Fort William, Scotland graciously brought us multiple dinners and groceries. He has done medical training in Gaza, the West Bank, and Rwanda. A merchant along the canal gave crew members free dinners when he learned about Handala and our efforts to break Israel’s illegal blockade.
Four Scottish border police officers came aboard in the middle of Scotland, divided us, interrogated the crew and inspected the boat. A local told us that in all the years he had worked there he’d never seen the border police come. It turned out to be a great way to attract local attention and solidarity!
Throughout the UK, local Palestine Solidarity Campaigns (PSCs) have been great. We were greeted in Liverpool by the local PSC who had organized events where local officials, firefighters, union organizers, and others spoke about their solidarity work for Palestine. We also had an event at the oldest mosque in Britain where Alex McDonald from Houston, a US Boats to Gaza steering committee member spoke after prayers; later we were part of a panel in an event at a local church. The outreach in Liverpool was excellent!
Cardiff PSC also welcomed us as we approached the lock. Seeing banners and Palestinian solidarity signs in both English and Welsh was impressive! As soon as Handala docked, a local TV station interviewed captain Clive Haswell in Welsh and later he had an English radio interview on BBC. Good exposure for the campaign!
Cardiff organized a demonstration downtown in response to the violent attack on the Jenin refugee camp by more than a thousand Israeli troops. We marched with their solidarity group through the town to the BBC offices to deliver a letter condemning their biased coverage of the Israeli/Palestinian situation.
There have been further stops in Bristol and Southampton England as well as Rotterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Halmstad, Gothenburg, and Oslo.
US Boats to Gaza was well represented in the flotilla’s crew. Alex McDonald and Tighe Barry sailed with Handala from Oslo, through Scotland. Alex continued to Cardiff and Bristol. Ann Wright was part of the ground crew in Liverpool. Kit Kittredge and Keith Meyers represented the Freedom Flotilla at the events in Waterford, Ireland. All US Boats to Gaza volunteers paid their own expenses and we have incredible gratitude for their efforts.
Thank you for your continuing support in raising awareness of the situation in Gaza, and in holding our governments accountable for their complicity in the violations of Palestinian human rights! We join together globally to let Palestinians know that they are not forgotten or alone!
You can see more details of each of the port visits (including pictures and videos) at: https://freedomflotilla.org/freedom-flotilla-ports/
or some inspiring photos on the Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition/ and https://twitter.com/GazaFFlotilla.
Please continue to donate to the 2024 Gaza Flotilla through our US Boats to Gaza donation link.
Holding Our Ground: Resisting Colonialism and Environmental Destruction
Join us Sunday April 3 at noon ET to hear about indigenous peoples in British Columbia and Palestine and how history, culture and needs of the i
ndigenous people take a back seat to the land’s resources for colonizers. More information at: https://mideastcrisis2.blogspot.com/2022/03/zoom-panel-on-holding-our-ground.html.
Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUucOqgpz4rHN2qPEXaBBHd6xzC38A8N3ug
Event co-sponsored by: Jewish Voice for Peace – Hudson Valley, Middle East Crisis Respons, NYC Veterans for Peace, US Boats to Gaza, Women in Black – New Paltz.
Join us at All The Walls Must Fall March 25-28, 2022
Please join us in “All The Walls Must Fall Conference” https://www.allthewallsmustfall.com/
on March 25-28, 2022, to explore the realities, the struggles, and the vision we must mobilize around, so that walls indeed fall, connecting our lives and similarities despite the thousands of miles of distance.
From the US/Mexico border to the borders around Palestine – walls and militarization, dispossession of lands and cultural genocide, brutality and murder, mass detentions and lack of rights, forced migration and criminalization, environmental damage – these and other shared abuses, have all defined these experiences.
Members of US Boats to Gaza at the “All the Walls Must Fall” action.
