The Freedom Flotilla Break the Siege mission is preparing to set sail. We are looking for individuals who are interested in joining the flotilla as participants, media, or medical staff. The goal of the mission is to deliver aid to the people in Gaza, but more importantly to break the illegal and inhumane siege placed on the people in Gaza by the state of Israel.
If you can be available in the Mediterranean for two weeks between the last week of May and the end of June – and we can only let you know which two weeks with one week notice, then we invite you to complete the application here.
Handala, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s 2023-4 boat has been sailing throughout northern Europe since April. She officially left on her journey on June 16, 2023 after introductory stops at ports throughout Norway. She then sailed across the North Sea to Scotland and down the Caledonial Canal.
Freedom Flotilla events were held in Glasgow and Inverness Scotland. Then she sailed down the Irish Sea to Liverpool and an event occurred also in Waterford, Ireland. Cardiff was her port visit in Wales before returning back to England in Bristol.
Join the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in Northern Europe!
We are looking for activists interested in being part of our ground crew, passenger delegation or boat crew (with proper experience) in Scotland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Germany and/or Sweden.
Want to be part of the 2023 Gaza Freedom Flotilla? Join us this summer in northern Europe to mobilize and educate communities about the criminal actions by the state of Israel against Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel.
Ground crew prepare for the boat’s arrival to a port and work with local activists to put on events and talk with the public.
Passengers travel on the boat between ports and participate in local port events.
Boat crew assist the captain in the operation of the boat.
In all cases participants need to provide their own transportation to the port(s), whether on ground crew, boat crew, or a passenger, and pay for ground expenses such as hotels and meals.
Join the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace & Justice Thursday January 26 @ 7pm PT for a presentation featuring Dr. Yasser Abu-Jamei, psychiatrist and Director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme.
TRAUMA & HOPE TOUR
Continuous Trauma and Social Devastation, or Caring for All?
Featuring Dr. Yasser Abu-Jamei,
Psychiatrist and Director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme
Thursday, January 26, 7 PM Pacific Time
St Mark's Episcopal Cathedral (Bloedel Hall)
1245 10th Ave. E., Seattle
And ONLINE. Register at: http://bit.ly/3k1AflvDr. Abu Jamei will be joined by these local panelists discussing social division and racisms globally, in the Gaza Strip, and in Washington, as well as anti-racism, equality and respect as core values going forward for all peoples—“no exceptions!”:
Imraan Siddiqi, Executive Director, Council of American-Islamic Relations (Washington Chapter)
The Honorable Damon Shadid, Seattle Municipal Court Judge
Dr. Jonathan Kanter, Director, Center for the Science of Social Connection (University of Washington)
Dr. Brian Baird, psychologist and former U.S. Congressman
This free event is organized by the Massachusetts-based Gaza Mental Health Foundation, the primary sponsor of Dr. Abu-Jamei’s national tour, with support from the following regional cosponsors:
WA Physicians for Social Responsibility Council on American-Islamic Affairs – WA Bishop’s Committee for Justice and Peace in the Holy Land – Episcopal Diocese of Olympia Jewish Voice for Peace – Health Advisory Council Jewish Voice for Peace – Seattle Jewish Voice for Peace –Tacoma Kairos Puget Sound Coalition Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice St. Mark’s Cathedral Mideast Focus Ministry Students United for Palestine Equality and Return – UW USA Palestine Mental Health Network US Boats to Gaza
Dr. Abu-Jamei has steered the GCMHP through devastating times. For 15 years, an Israel-imposed blockade has cut its two million people off from the wider world and all but destroyed the local economy. During that time the Gaza Strip has endured five major Israeli military attacks that have had a severe impact on the physical and psychological health of children and their caregivers. Save the Children International reports, “four out of five children in Gaza say they are living with depression, grief and fear.”
On July 21, 2014, Dr. Abu-Jamei lost 28 members of his extended family – including 19 children – in a single missile strike, and other GCMHP staff members have also suffered terrible losses.
As the leading Palestinian non-governmental organization providing mental health services to the Gaza Strip, the GCMHP works at the nexus of mental health and human rights, to alleviate trauma and instill hope.
In Dr. Abu Jamei’s words, “It is a joy to us when we see children recovering and able to go back to school. We are doing our best to ensure the children can be our future. We are calling for help from the international community to say these children need a future.”
US Boats to Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla had a booth at the 2022 Houston Palestinian Festival where visitors were updated on the Freedom Flotilla’s work and actions. The Houston Palestinian Festival is the largest in the United States. Younger visitors enjoyed making paper boats and decorating them as we have artists decorate our boats.
The Freedom Flotilla boothPictures of flotilla actions next to boat foldingSuccess! A new boat to break the blockade!A new freedom flotilla to break the blockade on Gaza!2022 Palestinian Festival booth tentsHer boat is off to break the blockade!
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.
Congratulations to Miles of Smiles and MEDICs Worldwide on such a monumental task of outfitting 37 ambulances and getting them across the Sinai, through the Rafah border crossing…and finally into Gaza!!!
We are so glad our US Boats to Gaza and other FFC national campaigns were a part of this!!
Thank you to all who contributed to this important effort!
Following are some pictures of the ambulances as they arrived.
Unloading the 27 ambulances on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing.
The ambulances enter Gaza.
The 1st ambulance passes through the Gaza border control.
The ‘Peace Train’ of ambulances head to their respective health care providers to serve the pressing needs of the people in the Gaza Strip.
We Are Not Numbers accepting the certificate of thanks for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
Certificate of thanks to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition
Following are webinars on a variety of topics on Palestine:
Webinar entitled “How to have conversations on Israel” held on April 1, 2021
Palestine Situation
Statement by Israeli journalist Amira Hass, on the future for the children of the West Bank – August 23, 2020 (Note: Turn on CC (Closed Caption) to see English translation)
RIP Two-State-Solution. An interview with Palestinian comedian, political activist, and law professor Amer Zahr – Hosted by Ariel Gold of Code Pink – July, 12, 2020
Veterans for Peace – Session on Palestine at the VFP 2020 Convention – Hosted by Col. Ann Wright with Asmaa Tayeh from Gaza & with We Are Not Numbers writers collective; Olivia Zemor from France with EuroPalestine; Miko Peled, Israeli-American with BDS solidarity; Mazin Qumseyah-Palestine-Museum of Natural History & Sustainability; Zohar Regev-Chamberlin-Gaza Freedom Flotilla
May 30: Held in the Palestinian ports of Acre and Jaffa with on line panelists who sailed in the past to challenge the blockade as well as various artists and a Palestinian from Gaza, this event in 1948 Palestine commemorated the 10th anniversary of the attack on the Freedom Flotilla and called for the lifting of the blockade on Gaza. Watch on Facebook
May 23: Award-winning film The Truth: Lost at Sea, followed by a discussion with film-maker and Mavi Marmara survivor Rifat Audeh and other Freedom Flotilla participants. Hosted by Canadian Boat to Gaza.
ndigenous people take a back seat to the land’s resources for colonizers. More information at: 
tor Iara Lee, internationally renowned author 
hosted by South Africa’s Palestine Solidarity Alliance.