A ship called Dignity
December 2008
News Release: A ship called Dignity
The little guy “comes good” in the form of a small boat full of peace activists up against one of the best armed military forces in the world.
For over 41 years no ship has been allowed to dock on the tiny piece of land, 360 sq km that is home to 1.5 million Palestinian residents. Since June 2007, Gaza has suffered from an Israeli blockade that controls everything aspect of Gazan Life, limiting the flow of food, medicine, fuel and people.
The first mercy mission was organized by Tom Lochner, piano tuner from Richmond. The ship had on board peace activists from 17 nationalities and four major religions. The ship successfully breached the siege and delivered urgently needed humanitarian aid.
Adam Dean from the SPSC said “This story of David, (actually Tom) versus Goliath truly was of a historic event of Biblical proportion that can give the world hope for a better future for all, no matter what race or religion”.
Since that historic first voyage an number of other countries have been inspired to deliver aid in a similar fashion. A ship from Libya carry aid was turned away by the Israeli navy. A ship from Qatar was denied permission from Israel to sail through international waters and dock at Gaza.
But a ship called “Dignity” managed to breach the siege a total of 4 times, bringing not only humanitarian aid but hope to the starving millions!
ENDS
Notes for editors:
1. Free Gaza Movement
Aim: to break the siege of Gaza, to raise international awareness about the prison-like closure of the Gaza Strip and pressure the international community to review its sanctions policy and end its support for continued Israeli occupation. To uphold Palestine's right to welcome internationals as visitors, human rights observers, humanitarian aid workers, journalists, or otherwise.
Free Gaza Movement: are these human rights observers, aid workers, and journalists. Who have years of experience volunteering in Gaza and the West Bank
http://www.freegaza.org/
2. The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) started in autumn 2000 in response to the Palestinian second uprising against Israeli occupation (intifada). The SPSC has branches and groups of supporters in several Scottish cities and universities, as well as individual members across Scotland.